Donald Abel
| Don Abel | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1990–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Ward |
| Succeeded by | Toni Skarica |
| Constituency | Wentworth North |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Donald Clarke Abel February 4, 1952 Hamilton, Ontario |
| Political party | New Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Debra |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Cameron, Ontario |
| Occupation | Business Owner, Licensing officer |
Donald "Don" Clarke Abel (born February 4, 1952) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was elected as an Ontario New Democratic Party MPP to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the riding of Wentworth North from 1990 to 1995.
Background
Abel studied economics, industrial sociology, political science, labour history and labour law at the Labour College of Canada in Ottawa. He worked in the purchasing and plant management department of the Wentworth County Board of Education and served 10 years as the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).[1][2] He also served as a National Service Representative for CUPE. Abel and his wife Debra own and operate a cottage resort on Sturgeon Lake near Lindsay, Ontario.[3]
In 1992, while in office, Abel's teenaged son Mark was seriously injured in a skiing accident in New York. He was left paralyzed from the chest down. The family was left with $50,000 in medical bills which was eventually paid with funds raised amongst the local community and donations from all three parties.[4]
Politics
Abel ran as the New Democrat candidate in the riding of Wentworth North against incumbent government house leader, Chris Ward. In what was seen as a symptom of anti-Liberal backlash, Abel beat Ward by 88 votes.[5]
Abel served as both deputy whip and whip during his tenure.[2] He also served as chair of the NDP's caucus personnel committee[6] and as a member of the standing committees on general government, regulations and private bills, finance and economic affairs, estimates and the standing committee on the ombudsman.
In 1994, Abel was one of twelve NDP members to vote against Bill 167, a bill extending financial benefits to same-sex partners. Premier Bob Rae allowed a free vote on the bill which allowed members of his party to vote with their conscience. The bill was defeated by a vote of 68-59.[7]
In 1995, Abel introduced a private member's bill providing rights for hearing dogs, similar to seeing-eye dogs.[8] It failed to pass through the legislature before the government was defeated in the 1995 election.
After politics
After his defeat in 1995, he established the Dundas Review, a weekly community newspaper in Dundas. He ran for mayor of Dundas in the final municipal election before the amalgamation of Hamilton-Wentworth, but lost to incumbent mayor John Addison.
2011 provincial election
On a first ballot vote against two other contenders, Abel was chosen as the provincial NDP candidate for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock for the 2011 Ontario Election. This placed him in a race with two other candidates with parliamentary experience.[6] Although finishing in third place, the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock NDP received its highest number of votes since the 1990 provincial election.
Electoral record
Wentworth North
| Ontario general election, 1990 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| New Democratic | Don Abel | 11,472 | 34.05 | |||||
| Liberal | Chris Ward | 11,384 | 33.79 | |||||
| Progressive Conservative | Don Matthews | 8,740 | 25.94 | |||||
| Family Coalition | Rien Vanden Enden | 1,236 | 3.67 | |||||
| Confederation of Regions | Eileen Butson | 860 | 2.55 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 33,692 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Ontario general election, 1995 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Toni Skarica | 21,165 | 55.65 | |||||
| Liberal | Chris Ward | 10,393 | 27.33 | |||||
| New Democratic | Don Abel | 6,474 | 17.02 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 38,032 | 100.00 | ||||||
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
| Ontario general election, 2011 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Laurie Scott | 22,357 | 45.4 | +4.3 | ||||
| Liberal | Rick Johnson | 16,522 | 33.6 | -10.13 | ||||
| New Democratic | Don Abel | 8,517 | 17.3 | +11.32 | ||||
| Green | Anita Payne | 1,562 | 3.2 | +3.44 | ||||
| Freedom | Charles Olito | 254 | 0.5 | +0.1 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 49,212 | 100.00 | ||||||
References
- ↑ Casella, Emilia (10 June 1993). "Unions push for rebellion in NDP". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "MPP Don Abel given the nod to carry NDP banner once again". The Spectator. 13 March 1995. p. B4.
- ↑ Van Harten, Peter (2 September 2000). "Backlash or vindication". The Spectator. p. A05.
- ↑ Walker, William (4 May 1994). "MPP recalls insurance nightmare Son's U.S. accident left a staggering bill". Toronto Star. p. A12.
- ↑ Stefaniuk, Walter (7 September 1990). "Cabinet ministers suffer in anti-Liberal backlash". Toronto Star. p. A11.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gervais, Lisa. "Don Abel chosen NDP candidate for provincial election". Article. Haliburton Echo. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ↑ "How MPPs voted on controversial legislation". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1994. p. A10.
- ↑ Moss, Joanne (10 January 1995). "Hearing ear dog users want right to equal access". The Ottawa Citizen. p. A6.