Bob MacQuarrie
Encyclopedia
Robert Waldron MacQuarrie (November 24, 1926 – January 11, 2007) was a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1981 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
MacQuarrie was born in Rexton
, New Brunswick
, educated at Princes of Wales College (later renamed the University of Prince Edward Island
), and practiced law with the firm of Cuzner, MacQuarrie.
He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as reeve of Gloucester Township
in Ontario from 1972 to 1978, and as a councillor in the Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton from 1969 to 1978. In 1980-81, he was director of the Eastern Ontario Development Corporation.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1981 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
candidate Bernard Grandmaitre
and New Democrat Evelyn Gigantes
in a close three-way contest for Carleton East
. MacQuarrie served as a government backbencher for the next four years, acting as parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor-General and Attorney-General. In January 1985, he supported Roy McMurtry
's bid to succeed Bill Davis
as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government
in the 1985 provincial election
, and lost power to David Peterson
's Liberals. MacQuarrie was defeated in Carleton East, losing to Liberal candidate Gilles Morin
by 7,033 votes.
The City of Ottawa named a sports complex after Bob Macquarrie - The "Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex" located at 1490 Youville Drive in Orleans, Ontario, Canada.
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 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 1981 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
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...
.
MacQuarrie was born in Rexton
Rexton, New Brunswick
Rexton is a Canadian village in Kent County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Richibucto River, the village was originally inhabited by Mi'kmaqs, many of whose descendants still reside in the nearby Elsipogtog First Nation, formerly referred to as the Big Cove Band...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, educated at Princes of Wales College (later renamed the University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
), and practiced law with the firm of Cuzner, MacQuarrie.
He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as reeve of Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township, Ontario
Gloucester Township is a historical township in Eastern Ontario, Canada.Originally known as Township B, it was established in 1792. In 1800, it was part of Russell County, but became part of Carleton County in 1838 and was incorporated as a township in 1850. The first settler in the township was...
in Ontario from 1972 to 1978, and as a councillor in the Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton from 1969 to 1978. In 1980-81, he was director of the Eastern Ontario Development Corporation.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature 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....
, defeating 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 Bernard Grandmaitre
Bernard Grandmaître
Bernard "Ben" C. Grandmaitre is a retired politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1984 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson.Grandmaitre was educated as Ottawa schools, and owned a small business in...
and New Democrat Evelyn Gigantes
Evelyn Gigantes
Evelyn Adelaide Gigantes is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on three occasions between 1975 and 1995, and was a prominent cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.The daughter of Earle Sanford Peach...
in a close three-way contest for Carleton East
Carleton East
Carleton East was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 1967 election and was abolished in 1998 into Carleton—Gloucester and Ottawa—Vanier....
. MacQuarrie served as a government backbencher for the next four years, acting as parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor-General and Attorney-General. In January 1985, he supported Roy McMurtry
Roy McMurtry
Roland "Roy" McMurtry, OC, OOnt is a judge and former politician in Ontario, Canada and the current Chancellor of York University.-Early life:McMurtry was born in Toronto and educated at St. Andrew's College, graduating in 1950...
's bid to succeed 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...
as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
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...
, and lost power to David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
's Liberals. MacQuarrie was defeated in Carleton East, losing to Liberal candidate Gilles Morin
Gilles Morin
Gilles Morin is a retired politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1999, and was briefly a cabinet minister in Ontario....
by 7,033 votes.
The City of Ottawa named a sports complex after Bob Macquarrie - The "Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex" located at 1490 Youville Drive in Orleans, Ontario, Canada.