Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) is a 355-bed hospital located in the west end of Ottawa , Ontario, Canada that delivers acute care and is west Ottawa's only full-service hospital.
114-516: QCH was officially opened on October 5, 1976, by then Ontario Premier William Davis and currently serves a population of more than 500,000 and is the secondary referral center for the Ottawa Valley. QCH focuses on its cornerstone health care programs: emergency, childbirth, Geriatric, mental health, rehabilitation, medical and surgical, and critical care. In 2015 QCH obtained its "Accreditation with Exemplary Standing" from Accreditation Canada,
228-463: A backbench supporter of Leslie Frost 's government. When Frost announced his retirement in 1961, Davis became the chief organizer of Robert Macaulay 's campaign to succeed him as premier and party leader. Macaulay was eliminated on the next-to-last ballot, and, with Davis, delivered crucial support for John Robarts to defeat Kelso Roberts on the final vote. Davis was appointed to Robarts' cabinet as Minister of Education on October 25, 1962, and
342-655: A vegetarian since 1997. However, he admits to eating fish, and he reportedly ate seal meat on a trip to the Arctic in 2009. In June 2008, he was selected by the Ottawa Business Journal as a recipient of the "Forty Under 40" award. While Baird had been associated with Red Tories such as McMurtry, Timbrell and Beatty, he became associated with the conservative ideology of the Mike Harris -led Ontario PC party upon entering provincial politics. He
456-503: A 2005 by-election . In 2014, Davis endorsed Christine Elliott in her second campaign to become leader of the Ontario PC Party, but she finished as runner-up to Patrick Brown , whom he would later endorse in his successful campaign against incumbent Linda Jeffrey for mayor of Brampton in 2018. Davis had supported Jeffrey in her 2014 bid for mayor, as well as Toronto mayor John Tory , former Ontario PC Party leader and
570-749: A Harris cabinet minister. In December 2006 Baird was one of thirteen Conservative MPs who voted against reopening the national debate on same-sex marriage. Baird played an aggressive role in Question Period after his appointment to cabinet, leading MP Garth Turner to describe him as Stephen Harper's " Commons pit bull". Baird was appointed President of the Treasury Board on February 6, 2006. Following his appointment, he said that one of his priorities would be to prevent government jobs from being relocated from Ottawa to other regions for political purposes. Baird also indicated that his government
684-645: A Senate committee that $ 1.7 million was left unreported and that he did not realize it was an issue at the time. The matter is under review by the Chief Electoral Officer. The Conservatives quietly tabled an amendment to the Accountability Act in November 2006, stipulating that convention fees will not be counted as political contributions. In May 2006, Baird was asked to find $ 1 billion in cuts for 2006 and 2007. On September 25, on
798-502: A bachelor of laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1954 and was called to the bar of Ontario in 1955. Davis was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1959 provincial election , for the southern Ontario constituency of Peel . He was only 29 years old. Although Peel was an extremely safe Conservative seat for most of its history, Davis won by a narrow 1,203 votes. The election took place soon after
912-663: A falling out over Peel Region's proposed Light Rail Transit line, as Jeffrey supported its extension from Hurontario Street in Mississauga further north along Main Street in Brampton (where it would run by Davis's house), while Davis preferred an alternative alignment along Queen Street. Throughout his political career, Davis often remarked upon the lasting influence of his hometown of Brampton, leading to his nickname, "Brampton Billy". On August 8, 2021, Davis died in Brampton at
1026-405: A family vacation. As Energy Minister, Baird was entrusted with implementing the government's plan to sell off part of Ontario's Hydro One . A few months later, he became unexpectedly involved in two major and interrelated policy reversals. The Energy ministry came under intense media scrutiny in late 2002 after hydro rates increased significantly in many parts of the province. Critics argued that
1140-584: A graduate of Kingston 's Queen's University , he was the member of the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Ottawa West—Nepean until 2015. Baird was elected there as a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2006 federal election , when his party defeated Paul Martin's Liberal Party and established a minority government. Baird was sworn in as Leader of the Government in
1254-610: A lifetime ban from the program. The investigations Baird initiated during the fiscal year of 2000 uncovered $ 58.2 million in social assistance that people were not entitled to receive, and $ 16.6 million in avoided future costs, but critics of this approach, including opposition members, poverty advocates, and scholars, suggested that the Harris government was overstating the extent of fraud in order to undermine public confidence in welfare programs. In mid-year, Baird announced that workfare placements had reached departmental quotas for most of
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#17327933934671368-542: A literacy test. The Harris government's welfare policies were put under scrutiny in August 2001 after a pregnant woman in Sudbury , Kimberly Rogers , died while serving a house arrest for welfare fraud. The woman had been confined to her apartment for three months and reports indicated that her pregnancy was "exacerbated by sweltering conditions in her apartment". Responding to criticism, Baird said that he could not comment on
1482-707: A member of the Conservatives since 1985, when he was the youngest delegate at that time and was also a political aide for the federal Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in the late 1980s. During his tenure in the Harris Cabinet he supported an attempt to sell Hydro One , the publicly owned utility firm. As the federal President of the Treasury Board in the Harper Cabinet, he moved the Federal Accountability Act , which
1596-613: A minority government and lost the popular vote to the Liberal Party , and were soon defeated in a motion of non-confidence by a Liberal–NDP accord, ending the party's 42-year period of rule over the province. Davis was made a companion of the Order of Canada in 1986, and received the Order of Ontario in 1987. Upon his retirement from politics, he served on numerous corporate boards, including Seagram , Power Corporation , CIBC , Rogers Cable among others. In 1985 and 1986, Davis
1710-483: A new and expanded Ambulatory Care Centre, a new Rehabilitation Centre, a new Physiotherapy Centre and a 15-station Hemodialysis unit. The 140,000 sq ft expansion also included renovations to the pharmacy and laboratory departments and significantly expanded the diagnostic imaging department, doubling the number of MRI and CT scanners and additional nuclear medicine and biopsy units. In 2014, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister of Energy Bob Chiarelli announced
1824-731: A new birthing centre, which included the incorporation of the former Grace Hospital's Newborn Program and an expanded diagnostic imaging program, which included QCH's first CT scanner. Between 2003 and 2005, Phase 2 of the expansion was approved to allow for significant growth in the emergency department, the busiest single-site emergency department in Eastern Ontario with almost 78,000 visits yearly in 2017; in-patient medicine; and surgery units, ICU and surgery capacity; and incremental growth in other clinical and support areas. Between 2008 and 2010, in partnership with Cancer Care Ontario and The Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Center Program,
1938-399: A principal secretary of Davis in the 1980s. Incumbent Brampton mayor Susan Fennell was embroiled in numerous scandals over expenses and financial record-keeping. Davis reportedly convinced Jeffrey to resign from provincial cabinet to challenge Fennell. After taking office as mayor, Jeffrey appointed Davis to a panel tasked with bringing a university to Brampton. However, Davis and Jeffrey had
2052-539: A working relationship with Toronto Mayor David Miller soon after his appointment, and was present for the announcement of a comprehensive new waterfront strategy in June 2006. Ontario cabinet minister David Caplan described Baird as a champion of waterfront renewal and Miller described him as an ally of the city. Baird spent Christmas 2006 meeting with Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan . On January 4, 2007, Baird
2166-751: Is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (a ministry of the Ontario Government), the QCH Foundation as well as by a variety of public and individual donations. In 1986, QCH's first expansion took place from the original 1976 building, adding an additional 160 acute care beds, ambulatory care services, diagnostic imaging services, and additional administrative space. Between 1998 and 2000, in response to provincial hospital restructuring and amalgamation of services, QCH completed Phase 1 of its expansion, which included
2280-693: The 1981 provincial election , with 8 of their 12 gained seats coming at the expense of the NDP. Soon after the election, Davis announced that John Tory (who became leader of the PCs 23 years later) had been hired to succeed Hugh Segal as his principal secretary. He also announced that Ontario would purchase a 25% share in the energy corporation Suncor , despite opposition from within his own caucus. Unlike most provincial premiers in Canada, Davis strongly supported Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau 's 1981 plans to patriate
2394-456: The 2003 provincial election , and in 2005 helped the McGuinty government achieve quick passage of a provincial bill granting legal recognition to same-sex couples. Baird supported a Canadian Alliance candidate in the 2000 federal election , and later endorsed Stephen Harper 's bid to lead the newly formed Conservative Party of Canada in its 2004 leadership election . He was appointed as
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#17327933934672508-424: The 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario began two weeks later on September 13. The campaign featured the first televised leaders debate for a provincial election. The PC's would gain 9 seats in the election , held on October 21, 1971. Davis's first full term as premier was by most accounts his least successful, with public confidence in his government weakened by a series of scandals. There were allegations that
2622-570: The Bermuda -based private firm Andersen Consulting (later Accenture ), worth up to $ 180 million. The contract, signed when Janet Ecker was Community and Social Services minister, entrusted Andersen with providing technological upgrades to the province's welfare management system. The arrangement was criticized by Auditor General Erik Peters , who observed that there was nothing in the contract to prevent Andersen from increasing its hourly rates. A published report in early 2000 indicated that Andersen
2736-637: The Big Blue Machine , and remained a dominant campaign force in the Progressive Conservative Party into the 1980s. Three months after taking office as premier, Davis announced that his government would not continue to fund construction of the Spadina Expressway into downtown Toronto—an initiative that had been unpopular with many of the area's residents. The section of Allen Road south of Lawrence Avenue
2850-663: The Fidinam company had received special consideration for a Toronto development program in return for donations to the Progressive Conservative Party. In 1973, it was revealed that Davis's friend Gerhard Moog had received a untendered C$ 44.4 million ($ 293 million in 2023 dollars) contract for the construction of Ontario Hydro 's new head office and related projects. Attorney General Dalton Bales , Solicitor General John Yaremko and Treasurer McKeough were all accused of conflicts-of-interest relating to government approval for developments on properties they owned. The government
2964-639: The Minister of Finance in November of the same year. As a backbencher, Baird proposed a bill naming Highway 416 as the "Veterans' Memorial Highway" and successfully steered its passage through the legislature. He was easily re-elected in 1999 , defeating longtime Ottawa councillor Gord Hunter by a margin of almost 15,000 votes. Baird joined Premier Harris's cabinet on June 17, 1999, as Minister of Community and Social Services , where he became responsible for implementing and expanding Ontario's workfare program. As one of Harris's few bilingual ministers, he
3078-520: The cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper . He had been a member of the federal cabinet, in various positions, since 2006. Previously he was a provincial cabinet minister in Ontario during the governments of Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves . Baird resigned from Harper's cabinet on February 3, 2015, and as a Member of Parliament on March 16, 2015. A long-time resident of the former city of Nepean , where he attended Bell High School , and
3192-725: The constitution of Canada from the United Kingdom and add to it the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Davis's role in the constitutional negotiations of 1981 were pivotal in achieving a compromise that resulted in the passage of the Constitution Act, 1982 . Davis publicly announced his retirement on October 8, 1984, a few months before the 1985 election , with he and his government still well ahead in polls against David Peterson 's Liberals and Bob Rae 's NDP. One of his last major acts as premier
3306-417: The "green economy". The report claimed that Canada's ability to invest in developing nations to meet emissions targets through CDM by misquoting the amount of credit to be $ 85 million instead of the real approximation of $ 3 billion. Soon afterward, a United Nations report also contradicted the study mentioning that "steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can be accomplished at a cost of only 0.12 per cent of
3420-483: The "plan strikes a balance between the perfection some environmentalists may be seeking and the status quo that some in industry seek to protect." In December 2007, Baird revealed in a plan that over 700 big-polluter companies, including oil and gas, pulp and paper, electricity and iron and steel companies, must cut greenhouse emissions by six percent between 2008 and 2010. The companies would also have to produce an annual report every May 31 that would include data regarding
3534-474: The Canadian court system. Baird argued that government funding would be redirected in a way that "reflects the priorities of working families" and that he "just [didn't] think it made sense for the government to subsidize lawyers to challenge the government's own laws in court." In justifying cuts to adult literacy programs, Baird referenced his government's support for youth literacy and said, "We've got to fix
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3648-558: The Conservative Party's Ontario co-chair for the 2004 federal election . There were rumours that Baird would leave provincial politics to contest the 2004 election, but this did not happen. In 2005 he resigned his provincial seat to campaign federally for the Conservative Party. Baird won a contested nomination battle for Ottawa West—Nepean Conservative nomination on May 5, 2005, defeating challengers Ed Mahfouz, Margret Kopala and Ade Olumide. John Pacheco later campaigned in
3762-679: The House of Commons on division in June 2006. The Senate of Canada approved it in December 2006, with several amendments, and sent it back to the Commons for further consideration. The amended act was approved by the Commons without debate on December 8, and was signed into law four days later. Shortly after the bill first passed the Commons, Baird acknowledged that the Conservatives might have unintentionally broken political financing laws by failing to report convention fees collected in 2005. He told
3876-415: The House of Commons, replacing Jay Hill , on August 6, 2010. Prior to this, Baird served as Transport Minister starting October 30, 2008, Environment Minister starting January 2007, and President of the Treasury Board during the Conservatives' first year in power. Baird served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2005 for the riding of Nepean—Carleton (part of Nepean until 1999), and
3990-619: The Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Center (IGFCC) was opened on the QCH campus to provide cancer diagnosis, treatment, surgery and ambulatory support. The facility includes 3x radiation treatment machines, 2x clinics and 33x chemotherapy spaces. The first patients were treated in April 2010. In 2012, a ten-year Phase 3 expansion project was completed to provide the following improvements: 10 new Operating Room suites,
4104-582: The Liberals and 33 for the NDP. The Conservatives remained the dominant party after the 1975 and 1977 elections due to the inability of either the New Democrats and the Liberals to become the clear alternative. The Conservatives were able to stay in power due to the competition between both opposition parties. As there was no serious consideration of a Liberal-NDP alliance after both campaigns, Davis
4218-519: The Ontario Educational Communications Authority educational television network (now TVO ) were established while he was Minister, in 1965 and 1970, respectively. Davis's handling of the education portfolio, of which Robarts was a previous minister, made his entry into the leadership contest to succeed Robarts unsurprising. Robarts himself fully expected Davis to be his successor. He was immediately dubbed
4332-562: The Progressive Conservative government's price deregulation policy (implemented before Baird became Energy Minister) was responsible. Baird suggested that the rate increases resulted from an unusually hot summer. Rates remained high through the autumn, and the Eves government was forced to re-regulate the market in November by introducing a price cap. The government continued to support deregulation in principle, but maintained
4446-427: The Progressive Conservative party in 2004 . Flaherty was again unsuccessful, losing on the second ballot to the more centrist John Tory . Baird and Flaherty left provincial politics in 2005 to campaign for the federal House of Commons. Although Baird was generally on the right wing of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party, he expressed liberal views on some social issues. He supported same-sex marriage during
4560-472: The Treasury Board . Together, the two men unveiled a plan in August 2006 which would use Treasury Board funds to pay the NCC rent on behalf of the hospital, such that the hospital continued to pay only $ 1 in rent. In fiction , The hospital was mentioned in the episode The Smile in “ Homeland ” where the character Carrie Mathison , received a temporary new identity, “Kate Morrissey”, for a CIA mission, with one of
4674-684: The United States who have not signed the Protocol or does not have any mandatory reductions set by the Protocol. Baird met with renowned Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki following his appointment. At the time Suzuki said he was encouraged by Baird's approach, but remained skeptical of the Harper government's environmental plans. However, when Baird unveiled the Conservative government's plan in April 2007, Suzuki confronted him, calling
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4788-521: The activities of public officials and placed crown corporations such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation under access-to-information legislation . Opposition MPs complained that several recommendations for access-to-information reform were omitted from the bill, and were instead sent to committee for further review. New Democratic Party MP Pat Martin suggested that this deferral could delay meaningful reform for
4902-510: The age of 92. In a 2012 edition, the Institute for Research on Public Policy 's magazine, Policy Options , named Davis the second-best Canadian premier of the last forty years, beaten only by Peter Lougheed . John Baird (Canadian politician) This is an accepted version of this page John Russell Baird PC (born May 26, 1969) is a retired Canadian politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2015 in
5016-696: The approval of a new 34-bed Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit at QCH. The $ 9.6 million project addresses the special needs of geriatric patients and will help prepare elderly patients for a smooth transition to home. The unit will be only the second of its kind in Ontario after Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. The original 1976 QCH structures covered 240,000 sq ft; after multiple phases of expansion and investment in 1986, 1998, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2012, QCH now covers 680,000 sq ft. Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH)
5130-475: The cap for the remainder of its term in office. The second and more fundamental reversal occurred in late January 2003, when Premier Eves announced that Hydro One would remain under public control. Baird was regarded as less combative as Energy Minister than he had been in Community and Social Services. The energy policies of the Eves government were controversial, but opposition criticism was often directed at
5244-420: The city of Ottawa with neighboring municipalities, which was approved by the legislature in 1999. In January 2000, Baird unveiled a series of initiatives designed to reduce fraud and misuse in the welfare system . This was highlighted by the establishment of a welfare fraud hotline and a complementary conditionality three months later, in which anyone convicted of welfare fraud would run the risk of being given
5358-491: The death of the daughter of his close friend and advisor, Eddie Goodman . Davis called a snap election in 1977 , attempting to capitalise on the turmoil and surprise following the 1976 Quebec general election that saw the Parti Quebecois gain a majority. He was again returned with only a minority following the vote on June 9. The Progressive Conservatives increased their standing by 7 to 58 seats, against 34 for
5472-508: The early 2000s, Davis returned to an honoured position within the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. He was a keynote speaker at the 2004 Progressive Conservative leadership convention , and was singled out for praise in speeches by outgoing party leader Ernie Eves and new leader John Tory . Davis was also present for Tory's first session in the Ontario legislature, following the latter's victory in
5586-566: The election as an "Independent conservative", with the specific intent of being a spoiler against Baird. He argued that if his campaign caused Baird to lose, the Conservatives would "get the message that social conservatives are serious about their politics." Baird chose to ignore Pacheco entirely in at least one all-candidates debate. Baird was elected, defeating Liberal candidate Lee Farnworth by about 5,000 votes. The Ottawa Citizen endorsed Baird in this campaign, and argued that his political judgment had improved considerably since his tenure as
5700-464: The election had the Liberals in the lead. The Progressive Conservatives won only 51 seats out of 125, but were able to remain in power with a minority government . The New Democratic Party (NDP) won 38 seats under the leadership of Stephen Lewis , while Nixon's Liberals finished third with 36. Soon after the election, Davis hired Hugh Segal as his legislative secretary. On January 1, 1976, Davis enacted Canada's first mandatory seat belt law, following
5814-589: The facts of Morrissey being born in the hospital. However, the hospital did not have a maternity ward at the time of her birth and her place of birth is incorrectly listed as Ottawa when at that time the hospital within Nepean (before amalgamation of the city of Ottawa). 45°20′05″N 75°48′28″W / 45.334818°N 75.807670°W / 45.334818; -75.807670 Bill Davis William Grenville Davis , PC , CC , OOnt , QC (July 30, 1929 – August 8, 2021)
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#17327933934675928-722: The federal Progressive Conservative government of John Diefenbaker had cancelled the Avro Arrow program. Davis was given the honour of move the motion to vote on the Speech from the Throne , which while purely symbolic, allowed him to give a speech that included two of his own planned projects: establishing what would become the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park , and improving education. Davis served for two years as
6042-471: The federal Progressive Conservatives with the Canadian Alliance , and create the new Conservative Party of Canada . In the 2006 federal campaign , he campaigned for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper . Harper spoke favourably of Davis during the campaign, and said that he learned much from Davis's style of governing. The Conservatives were able to defeat the Liberals to form the government. In
6156-583: The first delegate younger than seventeen years to attend a national Progressive Conservative convention in Canada. He frequently campaigned for local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Thomas Laird Kennedy , who briefly served as Premier of Ontario in 1949. Davis graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in 1951. He was a football player during his university years, and his teammates included Roy McMurtry and Thomas Leonard Wells , both of whom would later serve in his cabinet. Davis received
6270-504: The first six months of 1999, a figure which the Toronto Star observed was significantly lower than that which had been predicted by the government. Baird indicated that he would continue with the workfare program, and that the proportion of welfare recipients on workfare would be increased from 15% to 30%. Baird sparked criticism in late 1999 for refusing to cancel a five-year contract that had been signed between his department and
6384-505: The five economists was Toronto-Dominion Bank chief economist Don Drummond, who also wrote a private letter to Baird arguing that the "economic cost [of implementing Kyoto] would be at least as deep as the recession in the early 1980s." Opposition parliamentarians dismissed the report as a scare tactic, while Liberal Environment critic David McGuinty argued that the study was misleading, saying that it did not properly examine international emission trading and ignored jobs to be created through
6498-460: The foreseeable future. Martin later made a deal with Baird to give the bill an easy passage through committee, in return for the Conservatives accepting some NDP amendments. Information Commissioner John Reid criticized the new proposed powers for his department under the legislation, arguing that they would create unnecessary bureaucracy. Shortly after the Accountability Act was introduced to parliament, Reid issued an emergency report saying that
6612-468: The frontrunner when he announced his bid on December 20, 1970. In the early hours of February 13, 1971, Davis defeated rival candidate Allan Lawrence by only 44 votes on the final ballot, after receiving support from third-place candidate Darcy McKeough . Following the convention, Davis brought Lawrence's campaign team, known as "the Spades", to become his principal advisors. The group later became known as
6726-529: The government might be forced to implement rolling blackouts as a response to energy shortages. He encouraged conservation in late summer 2003, following a province-wide blackout caused by a generator failure in the United States. The Ontario Liberal Party won a majority government in the 2003 election , although Baird was comfortably re-elected in his own seat. Between 2003 and 2005 he served as Official Opposition critic for Finance, Culture, Francophone Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs and Health. He opposed
6840-478: The government's Clean Air Act . Among other things, the revised act called for participation in international carbon markets and the fulfillment of Kyoto targets. Baird indicated that the opposition's changes would not be included in federal targets or regulations. In April 2007, Baird produced a federal study supported by five independent economists to support his approach to the Kyoto Protocol. Among
6954-565: The ground level problem and not be trying to do repair work after the fact." In early October 2006, Baird's department reviewed a promised $ 200 million grant to the City of Ottawa's light-rail expansion project for the O-Train . Baird indicated that the government would keep the funding at least until the November election, but added that the Council elected in November would have the final say on
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#17327933934677068-515: The highest award level of accreditation with an overall compliance score of 99.4 (2014/2026 compliant standards) and meeting all 31/31 Required Organizational Practices. The executive management team is led by President and chief executive officer Dr. Andrew Falconer and the medical team reports to Chief of Staff Dr. Katalin Kovacs. Dr. Falconer replaced Tom Schonberg who died in February 2019. QCH
7182-457: The homeless. Baird supported mandatory drug-testing for welfare recipients and argued that those who refused such tests should be at risk of having their assistance cut off. He introduced a policy initiative to this effect at a press conference in late 2000, in which he dramatically cast a box of syringes onto the floor and said that his department planned to "stop people from shooting their welfare cheque up their arm, and to help them shoot up
7296-578: The imposition of a health premium by Dalton McGuinty 's government in 2004, charging that the Liberals broke an election pledge not the raise taxes. Baird and New Democrat Peter Kormos were vocal critics of Speaker Alvin Curling for allegedly favouring his Liberal colleagues, saying that he sanctioned Conservative and NDP members for behaviour he would allow from Liberals. At one stage, Baird described Curling's job performance as an "absolute disgrace". Baird co-chaired Jim Flaherty's second campaign to lead
7410-477: The issue," suggesting that Baird's appointment was meant to neutralize the environment as an election issue rather than to initiate any meaningful reforms. Baird is a vocal opponent of the Kyoto Protocol , which he argues will bring about an "economic collapse". Later in 2007, he added that any new environmental agreements must include reduction targets for major greenhouse emitters such as China, India and
7524-605: The issue. He also leaked details of the city's contact with the German firm Siemens . As a result, the rail program became a focal issue in the 2006 Ottawa mayoral election and Baird's opponents accused him of trying to influence the outcome. Baird and Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli accused one another of lying about details of the project, and Liberal MP Navdeep Bains asked the Federal Ethics Commissioner to investigate Baird's decision to release details of
7638-468: The ladder of success". Baird acknowledged that his department did not have reliable figures on the number of welfare recipients abusing drugs, although he cited estimates of between 4% and 10%. The proposal was criticized by several people, including Ontario Human Rights Commissioner Keith Norton , a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, who expressed concern that it could violate Ontario's human rights code, but officials including Baird justified
7752-610: The latter's abortive campaign for the PC leadership in 1989 and 1990. He backed Mike Harris when Timbrell withdrew from the contest. Baird was charged with trespassing during the 1988 federal election , after he tried to question Ontario Premier David Peterson about free trade with the United States during a Liberal Party campaign stop in a Kingston shopping mall. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Studies from Queen's University in 1992. Baird worked on
7866-634: The legislation would "increase the government's ability to cover up wrongdoing, shield itself from embarrassment and control the flow of information to Canadians". He added that no government had ever put forward "a more retrograde and dangerous" set of proposals for dealing with access to information laws. Baird described Reid's criticisms as "excessive", stating that most of the commissioner's specific concerns were minor in nature. Representatives of Canada's business community also expressed concern about changes to disclosure laws, arguing that their commercial secrets could be exposed to competitors. The bill passed
7980-477: The level of greenhouses emissions produced each year. Baird's proposal has been met with approval from Canada's oilpatch executives, who described them as the toughest emission regulations in the world, and who feared that more stringent standards would stifle oil sands exploration. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty had been considerably less critical than his brother, federal Liberal Member of Parliament David McGuinty , having written to Prime Minister Harper on
8094-496: The measures as, "necessary in order to push people still receiving assistance toward independence." Shortly after Baird's announcement, a government website operated by the Ministry of Community and Social Services launched an attack against Liberal Party leader Dalton McGuinty for opposing the drug testing plan. The site claimed that McGuinty was "opposed to helping welfare recipients who are addicted to drugs". Baird denied that
8208-557: The message was partisan and initially refused to apologize. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario subsequently ruled that the site content was inappropriate and it was removed by the government, with an apology. In early 2001, Baird announced that his government's proposed drug-testing plan would be extended to identify welfare recipients addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol. He later announced that provincial welfare applicants would be required to pass
8322-443: The more centrist wing of the Progressive Conservative Party. Baird was returned to a more prominent cabinet position in August 2002 after Eves separated the ministries of Environment and Energy and appointed Baird to head the latter department. Baird was given additional responsibilities as Government House Leader in June 2003 after Chris Stockwell was forced to resign following allegations that he had used government funds for
8436-531: The outdated school board systems in the province, reducing the number of boards from 3,676 in 1962 to 192 by 1967. During his tenure as education minister, Davis established new public universities, including Trent University and Brock University , as well as the public community college system . Canada's first educational research institute, the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education , and
8550-470: The party's 2002 leadership election . The election was won by Flaherty's rival Ernie Eves , and early media reports suggested that Baird might be dropped from the new premier's cabinet in April 2002. He was not, but was demoted to the position of Chief Government Whip while remaining associate minister for Francophone Affairs. His replacement in Social Services was Brenda Elliott , who was from
8664-509: The plan "a disappointment". In February 2007, the Liberal opposition brought forward a non-binding motion for Canada to renew its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. All Conservative MPs who were present in the House, including Baird, voted against the motion, which passed with the support of the three opposition parties. The following month, opposition members on a special Commons committee used their majority to bring forward sweeping changes to
8778-633: The political staff of Perrin Beatty when Beatty was federal Minister of National Defence in the early 1990s, and followed Beatty through the subsequent cabinet shifts that culminated in his becoming Secretary of State for External Affairs in the short-lived 1993 government of Kim Campbell . After the defeat of the Progressive Conservatives in the 1993 federal election , Baird worked as a lobbyist in Ottawa. Baird says he has been
8892-600: The premier rather than at Baird. Eves took a prominent interest in the Energy portfolio, and sometimes relegated Baird to a secondary role in policy announcements. In November 2002, however, he was followed around the province by "Hydrozilla", a man in a giant lizard suit sent by the Ontario New Democratic Party as a stunt to show that deregulating electricity rates would create an 'economic monster' for consumers. In early March 2003, Baird announced that
9006-635: The private contract. Chiarelli was defeated in the election and the light-rail expansion was stopped by the new council. An Ottawa Citizen report in January 2007 revealed that federal officials had not posed any objections to the light-rail project before Baird's intervention, and suggested that his involvement was political in nature. Green Party leader Elizabeth May speculated that Ottawa may have been deprived of light-rail service because of an apparent "personal vendetta" from Baird against Chiarelli. Baird denied this charge, saying that his intervention
9120-452: The province. Although he actively supported and campaigned for him in 1976, Davis had an awkward relationship with federal Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark . He and Clark held differing views over fuel prices, and the Davis government actively opposed Clark's 1979 austerity budget which included a gas tax. The Progressive Conservatives were returned with a majority government in
9234-613: The province. Baird revealed a $ 50 million program in May 2000 to help people with developmental disabilities become integrated into their communities. He later affirmed that the province was considering closing its remaining three institutions for the mentally handicapped as part of a larger strategy focusing on home care. Baird expressed concern about the physical condition of these institutions, saying that their residents "deserve better". Later that same year, he stated that his department would spend $ 26 million on shelters and other funding for
9348-420: The riding of Nepean—Carleton , attempted to reduce the rent of the hospital to $ 1 per year during his first term in office. Poilievre introduced a bill in November 2005 seeking to reduce the hospital's rent, which saw support from the Conservative Party of Canada and New Democratic Party . Poilievre was re-elected in the 2006 Federal election and was named Parliamentary secretary to John Baird , President of
9462-602: The right decision and dismissed the investigation saying "there is no evidence of anything". Speaking to reporters he added following the announcement of the investigation: "If you want to avert a billion-dollar boondoggle, you have to make some difficult decisions". Baird held ministerial responsibilities for the Toronto Harbourfront Centre and the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation. He developed
9576-508: The same day that the government announced a $ 13.2 billion surplus, Baird announced cuts to sixty-six federal programs, including Status of Women, medicinal marijuana research, Canadian museums, adult literacy, youth employment and social development and the British Columbia pine beetle program. One of the most controversial cuts was to the federal Court Challenges Program , which provided funding for Canadians to pursue rights cases in
9690-576: The son of Marianne (née Collins) and Gerald Baird. He became involved in politics when he backed a candidate for the local federal PC nomination in 1984. The next year, aged sixteen, Baird was the youngest delegate to attend the party's January 1985 provincial leadership convention , as a supporter of Ontario Attorney-General Roy McMurtry . He was later president of the youth wing of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , and aligned himself with Dennis Timbrell during
9804-531: The specifics of the case until a coroner's inquest was completed. He defended his government's general policy on welfare issues. A subsequent inquest did not assign blame to the government for the woman's death, but recommended that lifetime bans for fraud be eliminated, and that adequate food, housing and medication be provided to anyone under house arrest. Baird was given additional responsibilities as Minister responsible for Children on February 8, 2001. His department increased funding for child services early in
9918-611: The structure of Canadian politics and government. Prime Minister Harper said that it would "put an end to the influence of money" in the Canadian government. The Accountability Act restricted the ability of former politicians and bureaucrats to become lobbyists, provided protection to whistle-blowers in the civil service and gave the Auditor General of Canada new powers of oversight. It limited individual donations to political parties and candidates to $ 1,100 per year (down from $ 5,200), created nine new or revised positions to oversee
10032-504: The support of the party establishment. This period of the Davis government was one of expansion for the province's public health and education systems, and Davis held a particular interest in ensuring that the province's community colleges remained productive. The government also expanded the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code , and expanded bilingual services without introducing official bilingualism to
10146-455: The tabling of a bill to force an end to labour disruptions . In the buildup to the 1975 provincial election , Davis imposed a ninety-day freeze on energy prices, temporarily reduced the provincial sales tax from 7% to 5%, and announced rent controls for the province. The 1975 campaign was far more bitter than that of 1971, with Davis and Liberal leader Robert Nixon repeatedly hurling personal insults at one another. Polls taken shortly before
10260-538: The world's annual economic output" but Baird responded that Canada's gas emission levels would peak in 2012, three years before the UN's set target of 2015. Baird was the Harper government's representative at the release of a major United Nations report on climate change in Paris in February 2007. He described the report as a "turning point in the battle against climate change," while indicating his surprise that human activity
10374-445: The year, amid a significant increase in provincial demand. In November 2001, the provincial media obtained a confidential government report recommending 40–45% cuts in provincial child-care programs. Baird initially declined to comment on the document's contents, but rejected its proposals in early 2002. Baird was the first cabinet minister to support Jim Flaherty 's campaign to succeed Mike Harris as Progressive Conservative leader in
10488-568: Was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves . He served as the Minister for Children, Community and Social Services, Energy and Francophone Affairs in addition to being the Government's Chief Whip. After the Conservatives' defeat by Dalton McGuinty 's Ontario Liberal Party , he was the party's critic for key portfolios including finance, culture and health. Baird had been
10602-465: Was a Canadian politician who served as the 18th premier of Ontario from 1971 to 1985. Behind Oliver Mowat , Davis was the second-longest serving premier of Ontario . Born in Toronto , Davis was a lawyer before being elected as a Progressive Conservative member of provincial Parliament for Peel in the 1959 provincial election . He was a backbencher in the Conservative caucus until 1962, when he
10716-430: Was a success. At the time, he lacked information on the number of workfare recipients who actually found jobs, and he also did not account for 40% of the welfare recipients who had been cut from the list. A number of media reports subsequently criticized both the principle and the implementation of workfare in Ontario. A September 1999 report from Baird's ministry showed that 10,600 workfare placements had been created in
10830-448: Was a successful local lawyer. Davis married twice, first to Helen McPhee (b. 1931, m. 1955, d. 1962), with whom he had four children (Neil, Nancy, Cathy, Ian), before marrying Kathleen Mackay (m. 1964). They had one daughter, Meg, in 1965. Davis was politically active from the age of 15. Local Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Gordon Graydon was a frequent guest at Davis's parents' house, and Davis himself became
10944-421: Was able to avoid defeat in the legislature by appealing to other parties for support on particular initiatives. The opposition parties had also undergone leadership changes; Nixon and Lewis, who had posed a strong challenge to Davis, resigned after the 1975 and 1977 elections, respectively. Nixon's successor Stuart Lyon Smith proved unable to increase Liberal support, while new NDP leader Michael Cassidy lacked
11058-450: Was also named as Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs . Baird's first press conference as a cabinet minister was held in July 1999, and was intended to highlight the Harris government's record in reducing the provincial welfare rolls. He told reporters that 15,000 people had left the system since the introduction of workfare, and used this figure to argue that the government's policy
11172-450: Was appointed minister of education under John Robarts . During this period, Davis created the community college system and the educational television network now known as TVO . In 1971, he succeeded Robarts as the premier of Ontario and held the position until resigning in 1985. He led the Progressive Conservatives to victory in four consecutive elections, winning two majority governments and two minority governments . As premier, Davis
11286-429: Was appointed as Environment Minister in a cabinet shuffle , replacing Rona Ambrose . In making the appointment, Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledged that his government needed to do more to make the environment a priority. Some commentators remarked favourably on Baird's appointment, describing him as a strong communicator and negotiator. Columnist Andrew Coyne , however, described Baird as "the man sent to kill
11400-533: Was built on a 51-acre parcel of land in the former city of Nepean, Ontario that was owned by the National Capital Commission (NCC), and since QCH's opening in 1976, the hospital had paid approximately $ 1 million in rent to the federal government . The rent was $ 23,000 per year, in the contract until 2013, when the rent was expected to increase to reflect the current market value of the land parcel. Pierre Poilievre , Federal MP representing
11514-429: Was charging an average of $ 257 per hour for work that had previously been done by ministry staff at $ 51 per hour. Another report indicated that the firm had charged a total of $ 55 million to find roughly $ 66 million worth of savings. In response to opposition questions, Baird said that he would not terminate the contract but would endeavour to negotiate a lower rate. Baird opposed the Harris government's plan to amalgamate
11628-437: Was cleared of impropriety in all cases, but its popular support nonetheless declined. The Conservatives lost four key by-elections in 1973 and 1974. On the policy front, the Davis administration introduced regional governments for Durham , Hamilton-Wentworth , Haldimand-Norfolk , and Waterloo but shelved further plans in response to popular protests. He faced a significant backlash from teachers in December 1973, following
11742-417: Was compromised during the 1990s by the party's shift to the right under Mike Harris . Many Conservatives parliamentarians were openly dismissive of Davis-era spending policies, and frequently highlighted the differences between Davis and Harris on policy issues. Davis remained a supporter of the party, but seldom appeared at official events. In 2003, Davis played a role in the successful negotiations to merge
11856-443: Was elected leader at a January 1985 leadership convention over Larry Grossman (who was widely considered the successor to Davis and his Big Blue Machine ). Although Miller was more conservative, the Progressive Conservatives still held a significant lead over the opposition when the election was called. However, after a poor campaign and controversy over Catholic school funding, in the 1985 provincial election they were reduced to
11970-600: Was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1995 , defeating Liberal incumbent Hans Daigeler in the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean . The youngest member of the legislature, Baird was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Labour on July 13, 1995. He became parliamentary assistant to the Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet in April 1997, and was promoted to parliamentary assistant to
12084-504: Was found to be a major cause of the phenomenon. Baird released his government's targets for greenhouse gas emissions in late April 2007. The plan calls for Canada to begin cutting its existing rate of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 and for cuts to reach 20% by 2020. Under this plan, Canada will reach its Kyoto targets between 2020 and 2025, taking an additional eight to thirteen years longer than Kyoto. The government plan uses production intensity targets instead of hard caps. Baird said that
12198-505: Was not planning to introduce job cuts or initiate a radical reduction in the size of government. In June 2006 he announced the creation of a three-member panel to advise the federal government on grant and contribution programs and accountability issues. One of the members was Frances Lankin , a former Ontario New Democratic Party cabinet minister. Baird introduced the Conservative government's first piece of legislation in April 2006. The Accountability Act promised significant reform to
12312-419: Was not political. Opponents of the light-rail project have argued that it was undertaken without sufficient consultation with the public. In February 2008, it was reported that the House of Commons committee on government operations would be looking into his involvement over the case. MP and committee member Mark Holland voiced a concern that Baird leaked information on the contract. Baird replied that he made
12426-606: Was put in place after the Gomery Commission which investigated the federal sponsorship scandal in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As Minister of the Environment , Baird signalled the Canadian government's opposition to the Kyoto Protocol . He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities , and President of the Treasury Board. Baird was born in Nepean, Ontario ,
12540-442: Was re-elected by a greatly increased margin in the 1963 provincial election . He was given additional responsibilities as Ontario's Minister of University Affairs on May 14, 1964, and held both portfolios until 1971. He significantly increased education funding during the 1960s; spending increased by 454% between 1962 and 1971 and hundreds of public schools were opened. Davis also oversaw a controversial overhaul and amalgamation of
12654-522: Was responsible for the cancellation of the Spadina Expressway , the funding of Catholic secondary schools through grade 12, the formation of Canada's first Ministry of the Environment , and rent control , as well as playing a large role in the patriation of the Constitution of Canada . Davis was born on July 30, 1929, at Toronto General Hospital , Toronto , Ontario, the son of Vera Mildred ( née Hewetson) and Albert Grenville Davis. His father
12768-406: Was subsequently nicknamed the "Davis ditch". In July 1971, he created appointed the first Minister of the Environment , George Kerr . On August 31, Davis announced the rejection of a proposal to grant full funding to Ontario's Catholic high schools—which were only publicly funded up to grade 10—stating that it "would fragment the present system beyond recognition and repair". The campaign to elect
12882-650: Was the Canadian half of a joint task force with the United States (with Drew Lewis as his American counterpart) appointed by Brian Mulroney and Ronald Reagan to solve the ongoing acid rain issues affecting the Great Lakes. Their report was popularly referred to as the Acid Rain Treaty ; Davis was paid $ 1 for his work, proudly framing the bill at his cottage. Davis's reputation within the Ontario Progressive Conservatives
12996-431: Was to reverse his 1971 decision against the full funding of Catholic schools, and announce that such funding would be provided to the end of Grade Thirteen. Although the policy was supported by all parties in the legislature, it was unpopular with some in the Conservatives' traditional rural Protestant base, and many would stay home in the upcoming election because of this issue. Davis was succeeded by Frank Miller , who
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