John Reesor Williams
Encyclopedia
John Reesor Williams is a former politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1985, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller. Williams was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
He was born in Toronto
, and educated at the University of Western Ontario
and Osgoode Hall Law School
. He worked as a barrister and solicitor before entering political life.
Williams was an alderman in North York
from 1963 to 1972, and was deputy mayor
and Controller of the borough from 1973 to 1974. He also served on the Metro Toronto Council during this period, and was a board member of St. Matthew the Apostle Anglican Church
in 1971. From 1973 to 1975, he served on the board of governors for Seneca College
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
candidate Bob Reid by 239 votes in the North York district of Oriole. He was re-elected with an increased majority in the 1977
and 1981 elections
, and served as a backbench supporter of William Davis
's government.
Williams supported Frank Miller to succeed Davis as Premier of Ontario
in January 1985, and was appointed as Solicitor-General when Miller became premier on February 8, 1985. His appointment was controversial in some circles. Williams was strongly pro-life
, and had previously opposed granting any police protection to Henry Morgentaler
's abortion clinic in Toronto.
Miller's government lost several seats in the 1985 election
, and was subsequently defeated in the legislature. Williams was personally defeated in Oriole by Liberal candidate Elinor Caplan
, who later served as a cabinet minister at the federal and provincial levels.
In 2005, veteran legislators Sean Conway
and Bob Runciman
both named Williams as the most boring speaker they had encountered in the course of their careers. His speaking style is demonstrated in the following quote: "the type of rhetoric from the opposition continues without any factual backups to substantiate those generalizations that have become nothing more than rhetoric and well-worn clichés".
Comedian Harland Williams
is one of John and Lorraine Willams' children.
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 1975 to 1985, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller. Williams was 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...
.
He was born 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...
, and educated 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...
and Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He worked as a barrister and solicitor before entering political life.
Williams was an alderman 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...
from 1963 to 1972, and was deputy mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
and Controller of the borough from 1973 to 1974. He also served on the Metro Toronto Council during this period, and was a board member of St. Matthew the Apostle Anglican Church
Anglican Church of Canada
The Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
in 1971. From 1973 to 1975, he served on the board of governors for Seneca College
Seneca College
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology is a Canadian public college in the greater Toronto area. Seneca College is currently Canada's largest college with approximately 108,000 students.-History:...
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature 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....
, 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 Bob Reid by 239 votes in the North York district of Oriole. He was re-elected with an increased majority in the 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....
and 1981 elections
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....
, and served as a backbench supporter of William 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...
's government.
Williams supported Frank Miller to succeed 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...
in January 1985, and was appointed as Solicitor-General when Miller became premier on February 8, 1985. His appointment was controversial in some circles. Williams was strongly pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, and had previously opposed granting any police protection to Henry Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler, CM is a Canadian physician and prominent pro-choice advocate who has fought numerous legal battles for that cause.-Early life:...
's abortion clinic in Toronto.
Miller's government lost several seats 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...
, and was subsequently defeated in the legislature. Williams was personally defeated in Oriole by Liberal candidate Elinor Caplan
Elinor Caplan
Elinor Caplan, PC is a retired politician and businesswoman in Ontario, Canada. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1997, and was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004...
, who later served as a cabinet minister at the federal and provincial levels.
In 2005, veteran legislators Sean Conway
Sean Conway
Sean Conway is a Canadian university professor and administrator. He served for 28 years as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, from 1975 to 2003, and was a high-profile cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson...
and Bob Runciman
Bob Runciman
Robert William "Bob" Runciman is a veteran Canadian politician and former provincial Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature. First elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1981, he held the seat continuously for Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario for the next 29 years...
both named Williams as the most boring speaker they had encountered in the course of their careers. His speaking style is demonstrated in the following quote: "the type of rhetoric from the opposition continues without any factual backups to substantiate those generalizations that have become nothing more than rhetoric and well-worn clichés".
Comedian Harland Williams
Harland Williams
Harland Williams is a Canadian actor, comedian, author, artist, musician and radio personality.-Personal life:Harland Reesor Williams was born on November 14, 1962, in Toronto, Ontario, to Lorraine , a social worker, and John Reesor Williams, who worked as a member of the Ontario Provincial...
is one of John and Lorraine Willams' children.