| Bill Saunderson | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1995–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Dianne Poole |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Constituency | Eglinton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1933 (age 90–91) Toronto, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Meredith Saunderson |
| Children | Janet Saunderson, Brian Saunderson, Pamela Saunderson |
| Residence(s) | Toronto, Ontario |
| Education | Trinity College, Toronto University of Ottawa |
| Occupation | Investment manager, founded Sceptre Investment Counsel |
William J. Saunderson (born c. 1934) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris.
Background
Saunderson was educated at the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree and subsequently becoming a certified accountant. He continued his education as an adult, and received a PhD from the University of Ottawa in 1994. After graduation, he worked as an accountant with Clarkson and Gordon. He co-founded Spectre Investment Counsel Ltd. in 1971, and worked with the Ontario Pension Commission from 1972 to 1983. Saunderson also had financial ties to the cigarette industry, which became controversial after he entered political life.
Politics
Saunderson was active in political organization before running for office himself. He took part in fundraising activities for several municipal, provincial and federal campaigns for such figures as Brian Mulroney, Joe Clark, David Crombie and Art Eggleton, and was the financial comptroller for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada's national election campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
He ran in the riding of Eglinton in the 1995 provincial election, and defeated Liberal incumbent Dianne Poole by about 4,500 votes.
On June 26, 1995, he was appointed as Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism in the first cabinet of Mike Harris. In 1997, Saunderson announced that the government would be cutting its spending on Ontario's seven "centres of excellence" by 13%. In October 1997, Harris shuffled his cabinet and Saunderson was dropped from his cabinet post. Saunderson had indicated that he would not be running for re-election in the next campaign. After leaving cabinet, he was named to chair the Ontario International Trade Corporation.
Cabinet positions
| Ontario provincial government of Mike Harris | ||
| Cabinet post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Anne Swarbrick | Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism 1995–1997 |
Al Palladini |
Later life
In 1999, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
In 2000, Saunderson and his wife established a research chair at the University of Toronto to facilitate studies in brain injuries. In 1988 their daughter had been injured in a bicycling accident after being hit by a car.
In 2006, he supported Jane Pitfield in her bid to become mayor of Toronto.
References
- "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
- "Mike Harris' cabinet". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ont. June 27, 1995. p. A7.
- Rusk, James; Mackie, Richard (October 10, 1997). "Premier to shuffle cabinet Ministers to move out of hot portfolios: Snobelen from Education, Wilson from Health". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
- McCann, Wendy (October 11, 1997). "'Undertaker' takes on Ontario's teachers Harris' new cabinet". Kingston Whig - Standard. p. 13.
- Powell, Betsy (October 27, 1999). "TSO conductor makes a pitch to resolve strike ; He sets up informal talks and sees progress". Toronto Star. p. 1.
- Lu, Vanessa (October 26, 2000). "Rehabilitation centre gets $15 million from province ; Need for research recognized 'as population ages'". Toronto Star. p. 25.
- Lu, Vanessa (June 1, 2006). "Former Mayor Miller supporter to run Jane Pitfield's campaign". Toronto Star. p. R11.
