Ken Black

For the architect, see Ken Black (architect).
Ken Black
Ontario MPP
In office
1987–1990
Preceded by New riding
Succeeded by Dan Waters
Constituency Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Personal details
Born (1932-03-11)March 11, 1932
Bracebridge, Ontario
Died August 29, 2016(2016-08-29) (aged 84)
Bracebridge, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Beth
Children 4
Occupation Teacher

Kenneth "Ken" Black (March 11, 1932 – August 29, 2016) was a Canadian politician. He was a Liberal member in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990, and represented the central Ontario riding of Muskoka–Georgian Bay. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson.

Background

Black was born in Bracebridge, Ontario and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1955.[1] He was a secondary school teacher and principal from 1958 to 1980, and was superintendent of the Muskoka Board of Education from 1980 to 1987.[2] He has also served as past president of Muskoka Children's Aid. He and his wife, Beth raised four children.[3]

Politician

Black joined the Ontario Liberal Party in 1985.[4] He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election defeating Progressive Conservative candidate George Beatty in Muskoka–Georgian Bay, a new ridigin created by redistribution. Previously the area was represented by the riding of Muskoka which had been held by former Progressive Conservative premier Frank Miller until 1987, and the PCs were historically the dominant party in the area. Black was considered a strong candidate, however, and his victory was not entirely unexpected.[5] Black credited his victory to a strong campaign team, popular satisfaction with Liberal leader David Peterson, and the fact that some local PCs were unhappy with party leader Larry Grossman.[6]

In August 1988, Peterson appointed Black as a one-man task force to review government and non-government programs against drug abuse.[7] His report, issued in mid-October, recommended mandatory drug education starting in the early grades, drug treatment and education programs for offenders, increased training about drugs for social workers and health care workers, and the addition of about thirty-six officers to the provincial drug unit.[8] Black criticized the "zero tolerance" approach of the American "war on drugs", arguing that it was largely ineffective.[9]

After the report's release, Black was named special advisor to the premier on drugs with responsibility for co-ordinating and monitoring all government programs against drug abuse.[10][11] In December 1988, he announced a pilot project for substance abuse counselling operated by the YMCA of Metropolitan Toronto.[12]

Black was promoted to the provincial cabinet on August 2, 1989, serving as Minister of Tourism and Recreation and also responsible for the provincial anti-drug strategy.[13] He introduced a new provincial anti-drug strategy in November 1989 that fulfilled some of his previous recommendations, including the hiring of more police officers and the introduction of early education programs. It also allocated $4.5 million for community-based pilot projects against drug abuse. In June 1990, heannounced that this funding would be targeted to projects in nine communities.[14][15]

Black was critical of the federal Goods and Services Tax introduced by the government of Brian Mulroney, arguing that it would put Ontario's tourism sector at risk of losing jobs and revenue.[16] Tourism in Ontario declined in this period, due in large part to a continental economic downtown.[17]

Black travelled to Paris in December 1989 to support Toronto's bid to host Expo 2000.[18] Toronto lost the bid Hanover, West Germany.

Black's time in cabinet was brief. The Liberals suffered an upset loss to the New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election, and Black finished third in his bid for re-election.[19] In 1991-92, he was chief organizer for Charles Beer's unsuccessful bid to succeed Peterson as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.[20] He attempted to return to the provincial legislature in the 1995 election, but finished well behind Progressive Conservative candidate Bill Grimmett.

Cabinet positions

Provincial Government of David Peterson
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Hugh O'Neil Minister of Tourism and Recreation
1989-1990
Also responsible for anti-drug strategy		 Peter North

Later life

Black later served as president of the Muskoka Heritage Foundation, and founded the Muskoka Watershed Council in 2001.[21] He was appointed as a director of the Toront03 Alliance in July 2003.[22] On August 29, 2016 he died from an un-diagnosed case of acute leukemia.[3]

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 1995: Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Bill Grimmett 17,864 51.79 +19.99 $40,807
LiberalKen Black 8,095 23.47 −4.10 $41,201
New DemocraticDan Waters 7,742 22.45 −18.18 $26,533
GreenMichael Fenton 411 1.19 – $330
     Independent Bill Ogilvie 381 1.10 $295
Total valid votes 34,493 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 340
Turnout 34,833 65.50 −2.15
Electors on the lists 53,179
Ontario general election, 1990: Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
New DemocraticDan Waters 13,422 40.63 +16.37
     Progressive Conservative Marilyn Rowe 10,504 31.80 −0.49
LiberalKen Black 9,105 27.57 −15.88
Total valid votes 33,031 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 307
Turnout 33,338 67.65 +2.48
Electors on the lists 49,279
Ontario general election, 1987: Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalKen Black 12,645 43.45
     Progressive Conservative George Beatty 9,396 32.39
New DemocraticDan Waters 7,059 24.26
Total valid votes 29,100 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 320
Turnout 29,420 65.17
Electors on the lists 45,146

References

  1. ↑ "Nomination Category: Community Advocate". Muskoka Awards 2009. December 7, 2009..
  2. ↑ "Minister's brother to run for Tories". April 24, 1987. p. A11.
  3. 1 2 Beattie, Samantha (August 30, 2016). "Principal, politician and long-time Muskoka advocate Ken Black dies suddenly". Bracebridge Examiner.
  4. ↑ Sheppard, Robert (September 7, 1987). "Liberals target Tory heartland in bid for majority". Globe and Mail. p. A1.
  5. ↑ Christie, Alan (September 6, 1987). "20 key ridings could determine size of victory". Toronto Star. p. A1.
  6. ↑ Matas, Robert (September 11, 1987). "Heartland of PC vote is pierced by Grits". Globe and Mail. p. A13.
  7. ↑ Gooderham, Mary (August 17, 1988). "Peterson appoints backbencher to probe abuse of illegal drugs". Globe and Mail. p. A3.
  8. ↑ Maychak, Matt (October 17, 1988). "Schools don't go far enough now, report says". Toronto Star. p. A1.
  9. ↑ Carey, Elaine (October 17, 1988). "Can we win war on drugs?". Toronto Star. p. A20.
  10. ↑ Kenna, Kathleen (October 19, 1988). "MPP to advise Peterson in drug war". Toronto Star. p. A1.
  11. ↑ Kenna, Kathleen (October 20, 1988). "Schools to get up to $6 million in war on drugs". Toronto Star. p. A16.
  12. ↑ Maychak, Matt (December 8, 1988). "Ontario setting up drug abuse program for Toronto youths". Toronto Star. p. A11.
  13. ↑ Allen, Gene (August 3, 1989). "Veterans bear load as 8 ministers cut in Peterson shuffle". The Globe and Mail. p. A1.
  14. ↑ Wood, Nancy (November 20, 1989). "Police, schools, communities all involved in blitz". Toronto Star. p. A1.
  15. ↑ "9 zones spearhead drug war". Toronto Star. June 7, 1990. p. A1.
  16. ↑ "Minister says proposes federal GST may harm tourism industry". Canada NewsWire. October 23, 1989.
  17. ↑ MacLean, Lori (July 19, 1990). "Tourism in Ontario on decline again". Globe and Mail. p. N3.
  18. ↑ Byers, Jim (December 6, 1989). "Ontario reported ready to aid world's fair bid". Toronto Star. p. A6.
  19. ↑ "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  20. ↑ Allen, Gene (November 13, 1991). "Elston may jump into Liberal race". Globe and Mail. p. A11.
  21. ↑ "Nomination Category: Community Advocate, Muskoka Awards". December 7, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Toront03 Alliance Announces Board Of Directors". CNN Matthews (Canada). July 15, 2003.
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