| Margaret Helen Harrington | |
|---|---|
| MPP for Niagara Falls | |
| In office 1990–1995 |
|
| Preceded by | Vincent Kerrio |
| Succeeded by | Bart Maves |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 4, 1945 Warwick, England |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dick Harrington |
| Residence | Niagara Falls, Ontario |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Margaret Helen Harrington (born October 4, 1945) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.
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Harrington was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She worked as a secondary school teacher in Niagara Falls after her graduation, and served on the Niagara Falls city council. In 1988, she was named Niagara Falls Woman of the Year. Her husband, Dick Harrington, ran for the federal and provincial New Democratic Party on three occasions.
Margaret Harrington first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, and finished second against Liberal Vince Kerrio in the riding of Niagara Falls. Three years later, in the 1990 provincial election, Harrington defeated Liberal candidate Wayne Campbell by almost 6,000 votes in the same riding.[1] The NDP won a majority government and Harrington was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Housing from 1990 to 1993. She was then appointed as a Deputy Speaker.
Shortly after the election, Harrington was accused of improprieties on voting day. She admitted to improperly adding two names to the voter's list. She claimed that she was mistaken about the rules for adding names to the list. Justice Warren Bailie ruled that no further action was required since Harrington won the election by more than two votes.[2]
In 1993 she came out against the government's proposal to build a casino in Niagara Falls.[3]
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Harrington finished third against Progressive Conservative Bart Maves in her bid for re-election.
When Bob Rae stepped down as party leader she supported Peter Kormos for leader of the party.[4]
Harrington is now a real estate salesperson in Niagara Falls.
| Ontario general election, 1990 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| New Democrat | Margaret Harrington | 13,884 | 46.37 | ||
| Liberal | Wayne Campbell | 7,979 | 26.65 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | Norm Puttick | 3,896 | 13.01 | ||
| Confederation of Regions | Ted Wiwchar | 3,141 | 10.49 | ||
| Family Coalition | Art Klassen | 674 | 2.25 | ||
| Green | Donald MacDonald-Ross | 365 | 1.22 | ||