Ed Havrot
Encyclopedia
Edward Michael Havrot is a former politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1971 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
Born in Poland
, Havrot moved to Ontario as a child and was educated in Kirkland Lake. He was a businessman before entering political life, and was active in the Royal Canadian Legion
. Havrot served on the Kirkland Lake council in 1966-67, and was elected as its reeve in 1970.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election
, defeating a New Democratic Party (NDP) opponent by 2,154 votes in Timiskaming
. He served as a government backbencher for the next four years, and was named chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation and parliamentary assistant to Minister of Transportation John Rhodes
.
Havrot was known for making politically incorrect
remarks. In 1975, during a local dispute with aboriginal groups over land claims, he told a Globe and Mail reporter than he could have bribed the area's chiefs with "a case of goof". He then added, "These damn Indians have gone absolutely wild [...] We should have given them a bunch of teepees and some cordwood and that's all". He was accused of racism, immediately lost both of his legislative appointments, and was forced to read a prepared apology in the legislature. He later tried to defend himself by saying, "Up North, if you say the wrong thing in the heat of the moment and offend somebody, you apologize and its over".
He was renominated by the Timiskaming Progressive Conservative Association for the 1975 provincial election
, following a nomination speech in which he described the Globe and Mail article as the "lowest form of cheap journalism". He lost his constituency seat in the general election, falling to NDP candidate Bob Bain by 1,544 votes.
Havrot returned to the legislature in 1977
, defeating Bain by 664 votes. He once again served as a backbench supporter of the Davis government, though Davis refused to visit his constituency association. In 1979, Havrot repeatedly interrupted a speech by New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Tony Lupusella
to yell, "This is the wop
show", "mama mia" and "Atsa nice. Good for Benito Mussolini
". He was again forced to read a prepared apology in the legislature.
After fending off a serious challenge for the PC nomination, he again defeated Bain in the 1981 provincial election
.
Havrot was defeated for a second time in the 1985 election
, losing to New Democrat David Ramsay
by 2,824 votes. He sought a return to the legislature in 1987
, and this time finished a distant third against Ramsay. Havrot also ran for mayor
of Kirkland Lake in 1988, but lost to incumbent Joe Mavrinac.
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 1971 to 1975 and again from 1977 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...
.
Born in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Havrot moved to Ontario as a child and was educated in Kirkland Lake. He was a businessman before entering political life, and was active in the Royal Canadian Legion
Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
. Havrot served on the Kirkland Lake council in 1966-67, and was elected as its reeve in 1970.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1971
The Ontario general election of 1971 was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating a New Democratic Party (NDP) opponent by 2,154 votes in Timiskaming
Timiskaming (provincial electoral district)
Timiskaming was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1908 to 1999...
. He served as a government backbencher for the next four years, and was named chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation and parliamentary assistant to Minister of Transportation John Rhodes
John Rhodes
John Rhodes may refer to:* John Rhodes , theatrical figure in London* John Rhodes , British Formula One driver* John Rhodes , British Olympic gold medalist in 1908...
.
Havrot was known for making politically incorrect
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
remarks. In 1975, during a local dispute with aboriginal groups over land claims, he told a Globe and Mail reporter than he could have bribed the area's chiefs with "a case of goof". He then added, "These damn Indians have gone absolutely wild [...] We should have given them a bunch of teepees and some cordwood and that's all". He was accused of racism, immediately lost both of his legislative appointments, and was forced to read a prepared apology in the legislature. He later tried to defend himself by saying, "Up North, if you say the wrong thing in the heat of the moment and offend somebody, you apologize and its over".
He was renominated by the Timiskaming Progressive Conservative Association for 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....
, following a nomination speech in which he described the Globe and Mail article as the "lowest form of cheap journalism". He lost his constituency seat in the general election, falling to NDP candidate Bob Bain by 1,544 votes.
Havrot returned to the legislature in 1977
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....
, defeating Bain by 664 votes. He once again served as a backbench supporter of the Davis government, though Davis refused to visit his constituency association. In 1979, Havrot repeatedly interrupted a speech by New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Tony Lupusella
Tony Lupusella
Antonio Lupusella is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1990...
to yell, "This is the wop
Wop
Wop is a pejorative racial slur for people from Italy that originated in the United States but is also used in the UK. There is an urban myth that the term "wop" is an acronym for "without papers" as many of the Italian immigrants did not have identification or visas...
show", "mama mia" and "Atsa nice. Good for Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
". He was again forced to read a prepared apology in the legislature.
After fending off a serious challenge for the PC nomination, he again defeated Bain 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....
.
Havrot was defeated for a second time in the 1985 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...
, losing to New Democrat David Ramsay
David James Ramsay
David James Ramsay is a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early life and career:Born in Australia, Ramsay moved to Canada with his parents at age one after having been adopted in Sydney, and was raised in Oakville, Ontario...
by 2,824 votes. He sought a return to the legislature in 1987
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...
, and this time finished a distant third against Ramsay. Havrot also ran for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Kirkland Lake in 1988, but lost to incumbent Joe Mavrinac.