Bette Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Bette Mildred Stephenson, OC
, O.Ont
(born July 31, 1924) is a Canadian
medical doctor and former politician in Ontario
. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
governments of Bill Davis
and Frank Miller
.
, she attained her medical degree from the University of Toronto
in 1946. Stephenson practised medicine
for more than 40 years. She was a member of the medical staff, a Director of the Outpatient Department, and Chief of the Department of General Practice at Women's College Hospital
. She was also a member of the medical staff at North York General Hospital.
She was a founding member of the College of General Practice in Canada, now known as the College of Family Physicians Canada
. She was also the first female member of the board of directors of the Ontario Medical Association
and the Canadian Medical Association
, and served as the first female president of both organizations.
in the 1975 provincial election
, representing the constituency of York Mills in North York
. She was appointed to Bill Davis's cabinet
as Minister of Labour on October 7, 1975, and won a convincing re-election victory over Liberal
candidate Wilfred Caplan in the 1977 election
.
On August 18, 1978, she was named Minister of Education and Minister of Colleges and Universities
. As Minister, she ordered Toronto schools to use the Lord's Prayer during opening or closing exercise instead of silent meditation. Stephenson was not informed of Davis's decision to extend full-funding to Catholic high schools until the policy had already been decided, and was privately opposed. She was returned to the legislature was the largest majority of her career in the 1981 provincial election
.
Stephenson was a prominent supporter of Frank Miller's bid to become party leader in 1985. When Miller replaced Davis as Premier of Ontario
on February 8, 1985, he named Stephenson as the Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet.
Under Miller's leadership, the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government
in the 1985 provincial election
. Stephenson, who was personally re-elected without difficulty, was named as Ontario's first female Treasurer and Deputy Premier
on May 17. She accomplished little in these roles before the Miller government was defeated by a motion of non-confidence in June 1985. She is the only Finance Minister/Treasurer who has not presented a budget in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
. In opposition, she served as her party's Critic for Health. She retired from politics at the 1987 provincial election
.
, and in recent years has been an advocate of privately owned and financed universities. Stephenson herself has attempted to start a private business university in Queensville
, Ontario. She endorsed Christine Elliott for the leadership of the PC Party in the 2009 leadership race.
in recognition for having "made exceptional contributions to society throughout her career". In 1999, she was awarded the Order of Ontario
. The Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning was also named after her.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born July 31, 1924) is a Canadian
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...
medical doctor and former politician in 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....
. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1975 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
governments of Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
.
Medical career
Born in Aurora, OntarioAurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
, she attained her medical 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 1946. Stephenson practised medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
for more than 40 years. She was a member of the medical staff, a Director of the Outpatient Department, and Chief of the Department of General Practice at Women's College Hospital
Women's College Hospital
Women's College Hospital, or The New Women's College Hospital is a teaching hospital in downtown Toronto. It currently functions as an independent ambulatory care hospital. The Physician-in-chief is Dr. Jim Ruderman....
. She was also a member of the medical staff at North York General Hospital.
She was a founding member of the College of General Practice in Canada, now known as the College of Family Physicians Canada
College of Family Physicians Canada
The College of Family Physicians of Canada is a professional association and the legal certifying body for family medicine in Canada. This national organization of family physicians was founded in 1954 and currently numbers over 25,000 members....
. She was also the first female member of the board of directors of the Ontario Medical Association
Ontario Medical Association
The Ontario Medical Association is a professional organization for physicians in Ontario, Canada founded in 1880. It represents and, to a certain degree, governs approximately 24,000 physicians in Ontario. The association's main office is located at 150 Bloor St. West in Toronto. The current...
and the Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian Medical Association , with more than 70,000 members, is the largest association of doctors in Canada and works to represent their interests nationally. It formed in 1867, three months after Confederation...
, and served as the first female president of both organizations.
Political career
Stephenson was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
in the 1975 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, representing the constituency of York Mills in 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...
. She was appointed to Bill Davis's cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Minister of Labour on October 7, 1975, and won a convincing re-election victory over Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
candidate Wilfred Caplan in the 1977 election
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
.
On August 18, 1978, she was named Minister of Education and Minister of Colleges and Universities
Minister of Colleges and Universities (Ontario)
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities is one of many departments within the government of Ontario. The ministry is responsible for administration of laws relating to postsecondary education and skills training. This ministry is one of two education ministries, the other being the...
. As Minister, she ordered Toronto schools to use the Lord's Prayer during opening or closing exercise instead of silent meditation. Stephenson was not informed of Davis's decision to extend full-funding to Catholic high schools until the policy had already been decided, and was privately opposed. She was returned to the legislature was the largest majority of her career in the 1981 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
.
Stephenson was a prominent supporter of Frank Miller's bid to become party leader in 1985. When Miller replaced Davis as Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
on February 8, 1985, he named Stephenson as the Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet.
Under Miller's leadership, the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
. Stephenson, who was personally re-elected without difficulty, was named as Ontario's first female Treasurer and Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier of Ontario
The Deputy Premier of Ontario is the representative of the Premier of Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario when the current Premier is unable to attend functions executed by the Premier...
on May 17. She accomplished little in these roles before the Miller government was defeated by a motion of non-confidence in June 1985. She is the only Finance Minister/Treasurer who has not presented a budget in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
. In opposition, she served as her party's Critic for Health. She retired from politics at the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
.
After politics
In the 1990s, Stephenson was appointed as a Board Member on the province's new Education Quality and Accountability Office, which monitors and reports to the public on the performance of the education system. From 1997 to 2005, she was Chairman of the Learning Opportunities Task Force. She is a founding member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced ResearchCanadian Institute for Advanced Research
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research enables Canadian researchers to work on international research teams that are custom built to transform their fields of study...
, and in recent years has been an advocate of privately owned and financed universities. Stephenson herself has attempted to start a private business university in Queensville
Queensville, Ontario
Queensville is a village within the Town of East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada.Among the private homes, the village proper contains the Queensville Cemetery, a post office, a United Church of Canada, and a complex containing a fire hall, a community centre, a public park with softball diamond,...
, Ontario. She endorsed Christine Elliott for the leadership of the PC Party in the 2009 leadership race.
Honours
In 1992, she was made an Officer of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in recognition for having "made exceptional contributions to society throughout her career". In 1999, she was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. The Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning was also named after her.