Eleanor McMahon

Eleanor McMahon
Ontario MPP
Incumbent
Assumed office
2014
Preceded by Jane McKenna
Constituency Burlington
Personal details
Born 1962 (age 52–53)
Windsor, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Greg Stobbart (Dec. 2006)
Residence Burlington, Ontario
Occupation Non-profit director

Eleanor McMahon (born c. 1962) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in 2014. She represents the riding of Burlington. She is the founder of the Share the Road Cycling Coalition, a bicycling advocacy group she created following the death of her husband in a cycling collision in June 2006.

Background

McMahon was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario.[1] She was employed on Parliament Hill as press secretary successively for Herb Gray, John Turner and Jean Chrétien. Other roles included Director of Public Affairs at the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Vice President at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Director of Public Affairs at Petro-Canada, Vice President at United Way Ottawa, and Executive Director of Public Affairs at the Ontario Medical Association.[2]

Cycling advocate

After her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2006. McMahon founded the Share the Road cycling coalition.[3] She pressed the government to amend the Highway Traffic Act to toughen the law regarding drivers who drive with suspended licences. The amendment, known as Greg's Law was passed in April 2009.[4] She also released a policy paper on a bicycle strategy for the province which discussed infrastructure funding, bicycle travel and route development. She released the paper in partenership with Transportation Minister Glen Murray in 2013.[5][6] In April 2014 McMahon again joined Murray in the announcement of $25 million government investment strategy in cycling infrastructure.[7]

Politics

On January 30, 2014, McMahon was nominated as the Liberal candidate for the riding of Burlington.[8][9] On June 12, 2014, McMahon defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Jane McKenna by 3,507 votes.[10][11]

She serves as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

References

  1. ↑ Whitnell, Tim (May 26, 2014). "Eleanor McMahon brings political background to Burlington riding candidacy". Burlington Post.
  2. ↑ "Biography: Elect Eleanor McMahon". February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Share the Road". Share the Road Website. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Greg’s Law pleases widow". Burlington Post/Inside Halton. 21 Nov 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "#CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Ontario releases draft provincial cycling strategy".
  7. ↑ "Ontario commits $25M for cycling infrastructure". Toronto Star. April 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Cycling activist will carry Liberal banner in Burlington". Hamilton Spectator. January 30, 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Formidable advocate for stronger cycling safety measures to be a candidate for the Liberal provincial nomination". Burlington Gazette. January 21, 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Liberal Eleanor McMahon Breaks Tory Tradition in Burlington". Toronto Star. June 12, 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "General Election by District: Burlington". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.

External links