Edwin A. Goodman
Encyclopedia
Edwin A. Goodman, PC
, OC
, QC
(1918 - August 23, 2006) was a Canadian
lawyer and political figure.
Goodman was called to the bar in 1947 and was one of the founding partners of Goodmans LLP
, a Toronto
law firm as well as a life bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada
. He is best known, however, for his political work as an advisor and fundraiser for both the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
and particularly the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
having being a friend and advisor to both Premier
John Robarts
and Premier Bill Davis
. He has served as the national chair of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and as vice-president of both the Ontario and federal Progressive Conservative Party.
Goodman was also active in charity work as honorary president of Scouts Canada
and as a director for various bodies such as the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Princess Margaret Hospital
. He was also chairman of the Royal Ontario Museum
for six years.
He was considered a Red Tory
and was part of the circle known as the Big Blue Machine
that helped keep the Ontario Tories in power under Robarts and Davis.
He once ran for public office losing to Communist J.B. Salsberg of the Labour-Progressive Party
after World War II.
In April 1975 his daughter Joanna Goodman was killed in a highway accident. He named a lecture series at the University of Western Ontario
which every year invites a history to give a series of lectures to the University community http://history.uwo.ca/events/joannegoodmanlectures.html
In 1992, Goodman was named to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
and was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
.
His autobiography, The Life of the Party, was published in 1988. He is also an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Goodman died following a heart attack.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, OC
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...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1918 - August 23, 2006) was 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...
lawyer and political figure.
Goodman was called to the bar in 1947 and was one of the founding partners of Goodmans LLP
Goodmans
For the Canadian law firm, see Goodmans LLPGoodmans is a British consumer electronics company which is part of Harvard International plc....
, a 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...
law firm as well as a life bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
. He is best known, however, for his political work as an advisor and fundraiser for both the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
and particularly the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
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...
having being a friend and advisor to both Premier
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...
John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
and Premier 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...
. He has served as the national chair of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and as vice-president of both the Ontario and federal Progressive Conservative Party.
Goodman was also active in charity work as honorary president of Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
and as a director for various bodies such as the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Princess Margaret Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital
Princess Margaret Hospital may refer to:* Princess Margaret Hospital in Canada specializing in Oncology* Princess Margaret Hospital * Princess Margaret Hospital in New Zealand...
. He was also chairman of the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
for six years.
He was considered a Red Tory
Red Tory
A red Tory is an adherent of a particular political philosophy, tradition, and disposition in Canada somewhat similar to the High Tory tradition in the United Kingdom; it is contrasted with "blue Tory". In Canada, the phenomenon of "red toryism" has fundamentally, if not exclusively, been found in...
and was part of the circle known as the Big Blue Machine
Big Blue Machine
The Big Blue Machine was a nickname for the group of strategists and advisors to the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in Ontario, Canada, in the 1970s and 1980s. The moniker was coined by journalist Claire Hoy of the Toronto Star in April 1971...
that helped keep the Ontario Tories in power under Robarts and Davis.
He once ran for public office losing to Communist J.B. Salsberg of the Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
after World War II.
In April 1975 his daughter Joanna Goodman was killed in a highway accident. He named a lecture series at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
which every year invites a history to give a series of lectures to the University community http://history.uwo.ca/events/joannegoodmanlectures.html
In 1992, Goodman was named to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
Security Intelligence Review Committee
The Security Intelligence Review Committee is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS...
and was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
.
His autobiography, The Life of the Party, was published in 1988. He is also an Officer of the Order of Canada
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...
.
Goodman died following a heart attack.
Sources
- Rob Feguson, `Patriot and philanthropist' Toronto lawyer was Tory stalwart Received Order of Canada in 1983, Toronto Star, August 24, 2006