Brad Ward
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Bradley Richard Ward (born 1956) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 as a member of the New Democratic Party, and was a junior minister in the government of Bob Rae.
Early life and career
Ward was active in the labour movement before entering political life. He was employed by Bell Canada, and served as an executive member of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 45 from 1982 through to his period in government. He was also a member of the Brantford and District Labour Council, and was named Labour Citizen of the Year in 1989.
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward served as an alderman on the Brantford municipal council from 1985 to 1990, representing Ward 2. He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Liberal incumbent Dave Neumann in Brantford as the NDP unexpectedly formed a majority government.
Ward served as a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Skills Development from 1990 to 1991, and as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology from 1991 to 1993. He was promoted to Minister without portfolio with responsibility for Finance on February 3, 1993, and served in this capacity as an assistant to Finance Minister Floyd Laughren. He did not have any formal ministerial responsibilities, but represented the Rae government at public events such as pre-budgetary consultations.[#endnote_budget]
Ward played an active role in ensuring that Harding Carpets Ltd., a prominent local employer, remained open in Brantford. He called on the government to support Harding during a 1990 restructuring process[#endnote_carpet], and in his capacity as minister later announced an investment of up to six million dollars to maintain jobs in the company.[#endnote_carpet2] Ward also announced in early 1995 that his government would pursue a "furniture strategy" for the province.[#endnote_furni]
In early 1993, the Rae government cancelled its previous plans to move the computer and telecommunications division of the Ministry of Government Services to Brantford. Three days earlier, Ward had told a local reporter that there was no reason for Brantford residents to worry about last-minute changes to the plan.[#endnote_MGS] Some criticized him as being unaware of changes in government policy.
The New Democratic Party was defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Ward finished third in Brantford against Progressive Conservative candidate Ron Johnson.
After politics
Ward returned to private life after 1995, is now employed with Bell Canada in the field of business techology. He is a Nascar enthusiast, and is active in online racing.[#endnote_racing]
Table of offices held
|-
|bgcolor="sandybrown" colspan=3 align="center"|Provincial Government of Bob Rae
|-
!colspan=3|Special Ministerial Responsibilities
|-
!width="110"|Predecessor
!width="290"|Title
!width="110"|Successor
|-
|align="center"|position created in 1993
|align="center"|Minister responsible for Finance
(1993—1995)
|align="center"|position abolished in 1995
|- style="text-align: center;"
External links
Electoral record
| 1995 provincial election: Brantford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Conservative | Ron Johnson | 13,745 | 41.01 | ,072.31 |- |bgcolor="lightcoral"| | Liberal | Dave Neumann | 10,418 | 31.08 | ,897.40 |- |bgcolor="sandybrown"| | New Democratic Party | (x)Brad Ward | 8,165 | 24.36 | ,119.25 |- |bgcolor="moccasin"| | Family Coalition | Paul Vandervet | 762 | 2.27 | 5.98 |- |bgcolor="yellowgreen"| | Green | William Darfler | 430 | 1.28 | 621.90 |
| Total valid votes | 33,520 | 100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 288 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 33,808 | 59.90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electors on the lists | 56,445 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 provincial election: Brantford | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Democratic Party | Brad Ward | 17,736 | 48.63 |- |bgcolor="lightcoral"| | Liberal | (x)Dave Neumann | 13,644 | 37.41 |- |bgcolor="#9999FF"| | Progressive Conservative | Dan Di Sabatino | 3,087 | 8.46 |- |bgcolor="moccasin"| | Family Coalition | Peter Quail | 1,413 | 3.87 |- |bgcolor="yellowgreen"| | Green | William Darfler | 436 | 1.20 |- |bgcolor="green"| | Libertarian | Helmut Kurmis | 158 | 0.43 |
| Total valid votes | 36,474 | 100.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 286 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 36,760 | 66.71 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Electors on the lists | 55,106 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
All election information is taken from Elections Ontario.
Notes and sources
- ↑ Steve Arnold, "Air your ideas for '94 budget", Hamilton Spectator, 7 March 1994, T1.
- ↑ "Brantford's loss was news to MPP", Globe and Mail, 13 May 1993, A4.
- ↑ Gail Lem, "Soreltex to buy Harding Ontario provides $7-million in loans", Globe and Mail, 23 November 1990, B7.
- ↑ "Ontario government invests in Harding carpets", Canada NewsWire, 8 April 1994.
- ↑ David Israelson, "Sklar-Pepplar takes top furniture award", Toronto Star, 14 January 1995, C3.
- ↑ [Brad Ward, CanAm Racing entry] (accessed 3 April 2006)
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