Richard Johnston
Encyclopedia
Richard Frank Johnston (born August 8, 1946) is a retired Canadian
politician, educator and administrator.
(and was the very first student admitted to that university in 1964—his student number was "one") and worked there as an administrator and counsellor. He then became a social worker specialising in the elderly and was an organizer for Ontario New Democratic Party
leader Stephen Lewis
in the 1970s. He also worked as executive director of community care in Durham Region.
West, winning election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in a 1979 by-election
. Johnston was re-elected in the elections of 1981
, 1985
and 1987
. The only time he faced a serious challenge was in 1981, when he defeated Progressive Conservative
John Adams by 375 votes.
Johnston ran in the 1982 NDP leadership convention, coming in second to Bob Rae
. Johnston's leadership bid received support from many on the left-wing of the party. In the legislature, Johnston served as chair of the NDP caucus
and chair of the social development committee during the 1985 to 1987 minority legislature
in which the NDP held the balance of power
. Johnston, unlike Rae, had originally supported a coalition government with the Liberal Party
following the election of 1985
.
He crusaded for improved benefits to the poor and disabled by attempting to live for a month on a "welfare diet" in 1982, limiting his food budget to that of the average person on welfare. In 1987, he presented a report to the legislature, Toward a New Ontario, which recommended an overhaul of the existing social assistance system.
Johnston also moved a motion to declare Ontario a nuclear weapon
s-free zone and travelled to Nicaragua
to support the Sandinistas, and to help build a school and medical facility.
Johnston was planning to run for the NDP leadership again in 1989, when Rae considered running for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
. These plans came to nothing, after Rae decided to remain in provincial politics.
After suffering a heart attack
, Johnston decided to retire from politics and did not run for re-election in the 1990 election
. As that election was won by the NDP, he narrowly missed the opportunity to serve in government as he would have been certain to have received a senior cabinet
position had he remained in politics.
on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory from 1995 until 1998 as well as a member of Trent University
's board of directors. Johnston served as president of Centennial College in Scarborough
from 1998 until 2004, when he retired to concentrate on the vineyard
and winery
that he and his wife operate in Prince Edward County
.
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...
politician, educator and administrator.
Background
Johnston was educated at Trent UniversityTrent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
(and was the very first student admitted to that university in 1964—his student number was "one") and worked there as an administrator and counsellor. He then became a social worker specialising in the elderly and was an organizer for Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
leader Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Henry Lewis, is a Canadian politician, broadcaster and diplomat. He was the leader of the social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party for most of the 1970s. During many of the those years as leader, his father David Lewis was simultaneously the leader of the Federal New Democratic Party...
in the 1970s. He also worked as executive director of community care in Durham Region.
Politics
When Lewis left politics, Johnston ran to succeed him as the NDP Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for ScarboroughScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
West, winning election to 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...
in a 1979 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
. Johnston was re-elected in the elections of 1981
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....
, 1985
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 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...
. The only time he faced a serious challenge was in 1981, when he defeated 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...
John Adams by 375 votes.
Johnston ran in the 1982 NDP leadership convention, coming in second to Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
. Johnston's leadership bid received support from many on the left-wing of the party. In the legislature, Johnston served as chair of the NDP caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
and chair of the social development committee during the 1985 to 1987 minority legislature
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in which the NDP held the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
. Johnston, unlike Rae, had originally supported a coalition government with the 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...
following the election of 1985
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...
.
He crusaded for improved benefits to the poor and disabled by attempting to live for a month on a "welfare diet" in 1982, limiting his food budget to that of the average person on welfare. In 1987, he presented a report to the legislature, Toward a New Ontario, which recommended an overhaul of the existing social assistance system.
Johnston also moved a motion to declare Ontario a nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s-free zone and travelled to Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to support the Sandinistas, and to help build a school and medical facility.
Johnston was planning to run for the NDP leadership again in 1989, when Rae considered running for the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. These plans came to nothing, after Rae decided to remain in provincial politics.
After suffering a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, Johnston decided to retire from politics and did not run for re-election in the 1990 election
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
. As that election was won by the NDP, he narrowly missed the opportunity to serve in government as he would have been certain to have received a senior 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 :...
position had he remained in politics.
After politics
Following his departure from politics, Johnston returned to academia serving as chair of the Ontario Council of Regents for the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology from 1991 to 1995. He then served as president of the First Nations Technical InstituteFirst Nations Technical Institute
First Nations Technical Institute is an Aboriginal owned and controlled post-secondary institution. Established in 1985 through innovative and dynamic partnerships between the Tyendinaga Mohawk Council, FNTI Board of Directors, Indian & Northern Affairs Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of...
on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory from 1995 until 1998 as well as a member of Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
's board of directors. Johnston served as president of Centennial College in Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
from 1998 until 2004, when he retired to concentrate on the vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
and winery
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
that he and his wife operate in Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
.