| The Honourable Arthur C. Eggleton PC |
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|---|---|
| Senator for Ontario | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office March 24, 2005 |
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| Appointed by | Paul Martin |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for York Centre |
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| In office 1993 federal election – 2004 federal election |
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| Preceded by | Bob Kaplan |
| Succeeded by | Ken Dryden |
| 59th Mayor of Toronto | |
| In office December 1, 1980 – November 30, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | John Sewell |
| Succeeded by | June Rowlands |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 29, 1943 Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Occupation | Accountant |
| Cabinet | Minister of National Defence (1997-2002) Minister for International Trade (1996-1997) Minister responsible for Infrastructure (1993-1996) President of the Treasury Board (1993-1996) |
Arthur "Art" C. Eggleton, PC (born September 29, 1943) is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, and is currently a Senator representing Ontario.
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Eggleton, an accountant by profession, was first elected to Toronto city council in 1969. He served as budget chief in the council elected in 1973 under David Crombie. He was the Liberal Party of Canada's candidate in the October 16, 1978 federal by-election held in Toronto's west-end Parkdale electoral district.[1] He was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Yuri Shymko.[1] He then ran for Toronto City Council in Ward 4.[2] On November 13, 1978, he finished first amongst a field of 10 candidates and became Ward 4's senior alderman on council (at the time, two alderman were elected from each ward).[2]
In 1980, he ran against mayor John Sewell, and was elected. During his time as Mayor, the City moved forward on implementing its new official plan which resulted in several new significant buildings in the downtown west, or railway lands area - the Convention Centre, Skydome, the CBC Broadcast Centre, to name a few. The City administration under his leadership also produced a record level of social housing projects for low income people; 50 acres (200,000 m2) of new parks; innovative new responses to the problems of the homeless and emotionally troubled with projects like Street City, the Singles Housing Opportunities Program, and the Gernsteins Centre. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and other environmental programs that resulted in the City receiving a United Nations award. He established the Mayor's Committee on Community and Race Relations to help bring about the successful integration of people from different cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. In 1985, he withstood a challenge from city councillor Anne Johnston, a fellow Liberal, who ran against Eggleton for the mayoralty in that year's civic election. He retired from municipal politics in 1991 as the longest serving mayor in Toronto history. In recognition of his service to the City, Mr. Eggleton received Toronto's highest honour, the Civic Award of Merit in 1992.
He ran in the 1993 election in the suburban Toronto riding of York Centre, again as a Liberal, and won election. He was appointed to the position of President of the Treasury Board and Minister for Infrastructure in the new Cabinet.
From January 1996 to June 1997, he served as Minister for International Trade. Eggleton retained his seat in the 1997 election, and was appointed Minister of National Defence. In 1999, Eggleton supported Canada's involvement in NATO's campaign in Kosovo.
He was re-elected again in the 2000 election, and continued as Minister of Defence focusing on sweeping changes to the National Defence Act which implemented changes to the military justice system, including the set up of several oversight entities including a Military Ombudsman and a Military Police Complaints Commission. He also improved compensation and benefits for Canadian Forces personnel and their families.
Eggleton was fired from cabinet in May 2002, after he had hired his former girlfriend to do some research, creating an uproar over non-tendered contracts and Liberal conflict of interest scandals. This happened during the growing leadership turmoil between Chrétien and Paul Martin, the latter who departed cabinet just the next week in disputed circumstances.[3]
Eggleton then became a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. On May 13, 2004, Eggleton announced he would not be a candidate in the 2004 federal election making way for the nomination of Ken Dryden as the Liberal candidate in York Centre.
He was appointed to the Senate by Paul Martin on March 24, 2005. He is currently the Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, and a member of the Senate Committee on National Finance. He was co-opted to the Bureau of Liberal International as a Vice President at the 185th Executive Committee in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2010.
See also List of Ontario senators.
| Parliament of Canada | ||
|---|---|---|
| 26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien | ||
| Cabinet Posts (3) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Doug Young | Minister of National Defence 1997–2002 |
John McCallum |
| Roy MacLaren | Minister for International Trade 1996–1997 |
Sergio Marchi |
| Jim Edwards | President of the Treasury Board 1993–1996 |
Marcel Massé |
| Special Cabinet Responsibilities | ||
| Predecessor | Title | Successor |
| position created | Minister responsible for Infrastructure 1993–1996 |
Marcel Massé |
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