Mary Anne Chambers
Encyclopedia
Mary Anne Veronica Chambers (born September 8, 1950) is a former politician in Ontario
, Canada
. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 2003 until 2007, and served in the cabinet
in the government of Premier
Dalton McGuinty
.
, and emigrated to Canada in 1976. She was a banker prior to entering political life. She joined Scotiabank
in 1976, and was involved in the expansion of computer and electronic services within the organisation. She was also involved in a number of taskforces concerning the role of women in the workplace. In 1988, she received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Toronto
with a major in Commerce.
Chambers was named a Senior Vice-President of the bank in 1998, retiring from the position in December 2002. She is also a former director of Grace, Kennedy (Ontario) Ltd. and Grace Foods International Ltd., prominent food distribution companies belonging to a parent organization in Jamaica.
Chambers was a member of the Rouge Valley Health System, serving as Vice-Chair for a time. She was a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Toronto
from 1993 to 2001, and Vice-Chair of the Governing Council from 1998 to 2001. She helped to author a University policy that no student would be prevented from studying at Toronto for inadequate financial resources.
Chambers was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way
of Greater Toronto
from 1994 to 2001, and was President of the Canadian Club of Toronto
from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, she was awarded the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica by Jamaican Prime Minister
Percival James Patterson, in recognition of her work within Toronto's Jamaican community.
, as a Liberal in the riding of Scarborough East
, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative
Steve Gilchrist
by over 7000 votes. The Liberals won the provincial election, and Chambers was appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on October 23, 2003. In early 2004, she reaffirmed her government's election pledge not to raise tuition rates.
Chambers was appointed Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services in June 2005. On July 11, 2007, she announced that she would not be running for re-election
to the Ontario Legislature.
|-
|Mary Anne Chambers
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|align="right"|51.5
|align="right"|+10.62
|-
|Steve Gilchrist
|align="right"|14,323
|align="right"|33.84
|align="right"|-15.66
|-
|Gary Dale
|align="right"|5,250
|align="right"|12.4
|align="right"|+5.57
|-
|Hugh McNeil
|align="right"|668
|align="right"|+1.58
|-
|Sam Apelbaum
|align="right"|285
|align="right"|0.67
|align="right"|-0.21
|}
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...
. She was a member of 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 2003 until 2007, and served in the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
in the government of Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
.
Background
Chambers was born in JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, and emigrated to Canada in 1976. She was a banker prior to entering political life. She joined Scotiabank
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
in 1976, and was involved in the expansion of computer and electronic services within the organisation. She was also involved in a number of taskforces concerning the role of women in the workplace. In 1988, she received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
with a major in Commerce.
Chambers was named a Senior Vice-President of the bank in 1998, retiring from the position in December 2002. She is also a former director of Grace, Kennedy (Ontario) Ltd. and Grace Foods International Ltd., prominent food distribution companies belonging to a parent organization in Jamaica.
Chambers was a member of the Rouge Valley Health System, serving as Vice-Chair for a time. She was a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1993 to 2001, and Vice-Chair of the Governing Council from 1998 to 2001. She helped to author a University policy that no student would be prevented from studying at Toronto for inadequate financial resources.
Chambers was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way
United Way of Canada
United Way of Canada is the national organization for the 117 autonomous, volunteer-based United Ways across Canada. United Way campaigns raise money for local groups that address community issues and problems, and the national organization provides leadership, services and coordination to the...
of Greater 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...
from 1994 to 2001, and was President of the Canadian Club of Toronto
Canadian Club of Toronto
The Canadian Club of Toronto is a club in Toronto which meets several times a month to hear lunchtime speeches given by invited guests from the fields of politics, law, business, the arts, the media, and other prominent fields....
from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, she was awarded the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica by Jamaican Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Percival James Patterson, in recognition of her work within Toronto's Jamaican community.
Politics
Chambers was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the provincial election of 2003Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, as a Liberal in the riding of Scarborough East
Scarborough East
Scarborough East was a Canadian electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 2003, and was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to 2007, and on Toronto City Council....
, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative
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...
Steve Gilchrist
Steve Gilchrist
Steve Gilchrist is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris....
by over 7000 votes. The Liberals won the provincial election, and Chambers was appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on October 23, 2003. In early 2004, she reaffirmed her government's election pledge not to raise tuition rates.
Chambers was appointed Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services in June 2005. On July 11, 2007, she announced that she would not be running for re-election
Ontario general election, 2011
The 40th Ontario general election was held on October 6, 2011 to elect members of the 40th Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Ontario Liberal Party will form a minority government, with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario serving as the Official Opposition and the Ontario New...
to the Ontario Legislature.
Electoral record
|-
|Mary Anne Chambers
Mary Anne Chambers
Mary Anne Veronica Chambers is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 until 2007, and served in the cabinet in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.-Background:...
|align="right"|21,798
|align="right"|51.5
|align="right"|+10.62
|-
|Steve Gilchrist
Steve Gilchrist
Steve Gilchrist is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris....
|align="right"|14,323
|align="right"|33.84
|align="right"|-15.66
|-
|Gary Dale
|align="right"|5,250
|align="right"|12.4
|align="right"|+5.57
|-
|Hugh McNeil
|align="right"|668
|align="right"|+1.58
|-
|Sam Apelbaum
Sam Apelbaum
Sam Apelbaum is a politician in Ontario, Canada. A lawyer and real estate agent, he has been the leader of the Ontario Libertarian Party since 1996....
|align="right"|285
|align="right"|0.67
|align="right"|-0.21
|}