Lorne Henderson
Encyclopedia
Lorne Henderson was a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1963 to 1985, and was a cabinet minister in the government of William Davis
. Henderson was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
He was born in Enniskillen Township, and received a grade eight education in the area. Henderson worked as a hog farmer before entering political life. He was a member of the Enniskillen council from 1946 to 1949, deputy reeve from 1950 to 1951, and reeve from 1952 to 1957. His career in municipal politics culminated when he was named Warden of Lambton County
in 1957.
Henderson was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1963 provincial election
, defeating Liberal Party
candidate Russell Watson
by 874 votes in Lambton East
. He served as a backbench supporter of John Robarts
's government, and initially continued in this role when Davis succeeded Robarts as premier
in 1971. He was re-elected with an increased majority in the elections of 1967
and 1971
, and with a reduced majority in 1975
.
He was appointed to cabinet on October 7, 1975 as a minister without portfolio
responsible for housing, and was promoted to Chairman of Cabinet on February 3, 1977. Re-elected again in the 1977 election
, he appointed as Minister of Government Services on January 21, 1978, and as Minister of Agriculture and Food on August 30, 1979. Henderson was most proud of his work in the Agriculture portfolio, although reviews from the farming community and his department staff were often less than flattering.
He was re-elected with a landslide majority in the 1981 election
, and was named Provincial Secretary for Resources Development on February 13, 1982. He resigned from cabinet entirely on July 6, 1983. Henderson supported Frank Miller to succeed Davis as party leader in 1985, and did not campaign in that year's election.
Henderson was notorious for both his poor grammar and his ability to win government patronage. When the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Petrolia Hospital in his constituency received a $160,000 donation in 1975, Henderson delivered it with the line, "Me and the premier brung you this cheque". He also possessed a remarkable ability to remember people's names after having only met them once and would often set-up appointments on Saturday afternoons with constituents.
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 1963 to 1985, and was a cabinet minister in the government 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...
. Henderson 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 Enniskillen Township, and received a grade eight education in the area. Henderson worked as a hog farmer before entering political life. He was a member of the Enniskillen council from 1946 to 1949, deputy reeve from 1950 to 1951, and reeve from 1952 to 1957. His career in municipal politics culminated when he was named Warden of Lambton County
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
in 1957.
Henderson was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1963 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1963
The Ontario general election of 1963 was held on September 25, 1963, to elect the 108 members of the 27th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Liberal Party
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 Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
by 874 votes in Lambton East
Lambton East
Lambton East was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1882 to 1935. It was located in the province of Ontario...
. He served as a backbench supporter of John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
's government, and initially continued in this role when Davis succeeded Robarts as 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...
in 1971. He was re-elected with an increased majority in the elections of 1967
Ontario general election, 1967
The Ontario general election of 1967 was held on October 17, 1967, to elect the 117 members of the 28th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and 1971
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....
, and with a reduced majority in 1975
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....
.
He was appointed to cabinet on October 7, 1975 as a minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
responsible for housing, and was promoted to Chairman of Cabinet on February 3, 1977. Re-elected again 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....
, he appointed as Minister of Government Services on January 21, 1978, and as Minister of Agriculture and Food on August 30, 1979. Henderson was most proud of his work in the Agriculture portfolio, although reviews from the farming community and his department staff were often less than flattering.
He was re-elected with a landslide majority in the 1981 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....
, and was named Provincial Secretary for Resources Development on February 13, 1982. He resigned from cabinet entirely on July 6, 1983. Henderson supported Frank Miller to succeed Davis as party leader in 1985, and did not campaign in that year's election.
Henderson was notorious for both his poor grammar and his ability to win government patronage. When the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Petrolia Hospital in his constituency received a $160,000 donation in 1975, Henderson delivered it with the line, "Me and the premier brung you this cheque". He also possessed a remarkable ability to remember people's names after having only met them once and would often set-up appointments on Saturday afternoons with constituents.