Susan Eng

Susan Eng, LL.B. is a Toronto lawyer and former chair of the Metro Toronto Police Services Board from 1991 to 1995.

Eng, the daughter of immigrants from China, studied at Jarvis Collegiate Institute and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1975. She was called to Ontario Bar in 1977.

In 1984 Eng was a candidate in the Ward 6 by-election to fill John Sewell's vacated seat on Toronto City Council. She attracted support from the Progressive Conservative Party's Larry Grossman and Susan Fish and from Liberal Jim Coutts.[1] Running as an independent, she was defeated by New Democratic Party candidate Dale Martin by a margin of 6,546 votes to 5,716.[2] In the 1985 municipal election she supported Peter Maloney's unsuccessful candidacy in the same ward.[3]

Eng was first appointed to the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board in 1989 by the Liberal government of David Peterson.

Eng’s appointment to succeed June Rowlands as Board chair was endorsed by the Toronto Star and Premier Bob Rae, as she supported Rae's police "reform" package, including mandatory reporting of each and every time an officer unholstered his gun. Street cops considered this a dangerous move that would undermine public safety. Eng's appointment was opposed by many members of the police force, North York mayor Mel Lastman, and Scarborough mayor Joyce Trimmer.[4] She had a tense relationship with police chief William J. McCormack. There was also a public disagreement with her cousin, police Sergeant Ben Eng, which included Susan skipping a banquet that honored Ben's contributions to the community, and being asked not to attend the funeral of Ben's grandmother. She served as board chair from 1991 to 1995.[5]

Eng is currently vice-president of advocacy at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, as well as an activist in the Chinese community in Toronto.

References

  1. ^ Beverley Bowen, "Eng attracts workers Tories, Liberals help Ward 6 independent", Globe and Mail, February 17, 1984
  2. ^ Robert MacLeod, "CIVIC ELECTION 1988 Development is key issue in heated contest", Globe and Mail, November 8, 1988
  3. ^ Geoffrey York, "CIVIC ELECTION '85 Shakeup not likely Stable city council expected as few aldermen in danger", Globe and Mail, October 23, 1985
  4. ^ "Rae supports tax lawyer for head of police board", Globe and Mail, 28 March 1991, A5.
  5. ^ [1]
Preceded by
June Rowlands
1989–1991
Chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board
1991–1995
Succeeded by
Maureen Prinsloo
1995–1998