Robert Yuill
Encyclopedia
Robert Frederick Murray Yuill (1924—May 17, 2006) was a municipal politician in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. He served on the North York
city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.
Yuill was born in Toronto, and served in the Canadian reserve forces during World War II
. He received a Commerce
degree from the University of Toronto
in 1948, and later operated a business forms company for twenty-five years.
Yuill was first elected to the North York Council in 1964, following a failed bid in 1962. He remained a ward councillor until 1976, when he campaigned successfully for a seat on the North York Board of Control. He served as a controller until 1988, when the position was eliminated. Yuill's controller position also gave him a seat on the Metro council, where he was a close ally of Paul Godfrey
. He served on the powerful Metro budget committee in the late 1970s, and was also parks committee chair a member of the Canadian National Exhibition
Association Board. Yuill was also chair of the North York Papal Visit Committee in 1984, during John Paul II's visit to the city.
Yuill was a fiscal conservative. He opposed plans for Metro Toronto to provide financial aid to university students, and once described a proposed 34% raise for Metro managers as "baloney". He also supported an extension of the Spadina Expressway
to downtown Toronto, arguing "Suburbs were designed for cars".
He also held socially conservative
views on some issues. During the 1970s, he recommended that North York Mayor Mel Lastman
give a Mayor's Medallion to anti-gay rights advocate Anita Bryant
during her visit to the city. Lastman declined. In 1985, he tried to convince Metro Council to cancel its grant to the Toronto Counselling Centre for Lesbians and Gays. Yuill also supported an early workfare
scheme in 1979, which was rejected by the Metro Council. In 1988, he supported a ban on Now Magazine from parts of city hall as a response to the journal's adult-themed personal ads. He also argued that Toronto's police should be allowed to use "strong-arm tactics" to combat the city's drug problem. He opposed the extension of Sunday shopping
, and was skeptical of affirmative action
. In 1986, he was one of seven Metro Councillors to oppose a boycott of goods from South Africa
.
Yuill opposed the construction of the Skydome in downtown Toronto, arguing that its location would lead to increased traffic jams.
Toronto's municipal government system was significantly changed in 1988, with the introduction of direct elections to the Metro Council and the elimination of control boards. Yuill campaigned for a ward seat in North York, saying "I don't want to go down to Metro. I don't like it anymore. They're reckless spenders." He was defeated by Joanne Flint, a political newcomer, and was subsequently appointed as chair of the newly-created North York Parking Authority.
Yuill was known both for his frugality and his love of practical jokes. He once wore a sailor
's cap to a Metro Toronto budget debate, to argue that council was spending money like drunken sailor
s.
He died of heart failure in May 2006, at age 82. He was buried in Elmville, in south Georgian Bay
.
His son, Donald Yuill, is also a municipal politician in Toronto.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served on the North York
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.
Yuill was born in Toronto, and served in the Canadian reserve forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He received a Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1948, and later operated a business forms company for twenty-five years.
Yuill was first elected to the North York Council in 1964, following a failed bid in 1962. He remained a ward councillor until 1976, when he campaigned successfully for a seat on the North York Board of Control. He served as a controller until 1988, when the position was eliminated. Yuill's controller position also gave him a seat on the Metro council, where he was a close ally of Paul Godfrey
Paul Godfrey
Paul Victor Godfrey, CM, OOnt is a businessman and former Canadian politician. During his career, Godfrey was a North York alderman, Chairman of Metro Toronto, President of the Toronto Sun and head of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was instrumental in bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Toronto and has...
. He served on the powerful Metro budget committee in the late 1970s, and was also parks committee chair a member of the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
Association Board. Yuill was also chair of the North York Papal Visit Committee in 1984, during John Paul II's visit to the city.
Yuill was a fiscal conservative. He opposed plans for Metro Toronto to provide financial aid to university students, and once described a proposed 34% raise for Metro managers as "baloney". He also supported an extension of the Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
to downtown Toronto, arguing "Suburbs were designed for cars".
He also held socially conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
views on some issues. During the 1970s, he recommended that North York Mayor Mel Lastman
Mel Lastman
Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
give a Mayor's Medallion to anti-gay rights advocate Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant
Anita Jane Bryant is an American singer, former Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant winner, and gay rights opponent. She scored four Top 40 hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Paper Roses", which reached #5...
during her visit to the city. Lastman declined. In 1985, he tried to convince Metro Council to cancel its grant to the Toronto Counselling Centre for Lesbians and Gays. Yuill also supported an early workfare
Workfare
Workfare is an alternative model to conventional social welfare systems. The term was first introduced by civil rights leader James Charles Evers in 1968; however, it was popularized by Richard Nixon in a televised speech August 1969...
scheme in 1979, which was rejected by the Metro Council. In 1988, he supported a ban on Now Magazine from parts of city hall as a response to the journal's adult-themed personal ads. He also argued that Toronto's police should be allowed to use "strong-arm tactics" to combat the city's drug problem. He opposed the extension of Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping refers to the ability of retailers to operate stores on Sunday, a day that Christian tradition typically recognizes as the Sabbath, a "day of rest". Rules governing shopping hours, such as Sunday shopping, vary around the world but some European nations continue to ban Sunday shopping...
, and was skeptical of affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
. In 1986, he was one of seven Metro Councillors to oppose a boycott of goods from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Yuill opposed the construction of the Skydome in downtown Toronto, arguing that its location would lead to increased traffic jams.
Toronto's municipal government system was significantly changed in 1988, with the introduction of direct elections to the Metro Council and the elimination of control boards. Yuill campaigned for a ward seat in North York, saying "I don't want to go down to Metro. I don't like it anymore. They're reckless spenders." He was defeated by Joanne Flint, a political newcomer, and was subsequently appointed as chair of the newly-created North York Parking Authority.
Yuill was known both for his frugality and his love of practical jokes. He once wore a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
's cap to a Metro Toronto budget debate, to argue that council was spending money like drunken sailor
Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?It begins with the question, "What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?" Each verse thereafter suggests a method of sobering—or castigating, or simply abusing—the sailor.The song...
s.
He died of heart failure in May 2006, at age 82. He was buried in Elmville, in south Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
.
His son, Donald Yuill, is also a municipal politician in Toronto.