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Robert Macaulay

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Robert William Macaulay
Ontario MPP
In office
1951–1964
Preceded byLeslie Wismer
Succeeded byJim Renwick
ConstituencyRiverdale
Personal details
Born(1921-05-25)May 25, 1921
Toronto, Ontario
DiedAugust 17, 2010(2010-08-17) (aged 89)
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseJoy Wecker
RelationsLeopold Macaulay, father
Children2
ProfessionLawyer
PortfolioMinister without portfolio, 1958-1959
Military service
AllegianceCanadian
Branch/service48th Highlanders
Years of service1940-1945

Robert William Macaulay (May 25, 1921 – August 17, 2010) was a Canadian politician.

Background

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Macaulay was born in Toronto in 1921 to Hazel and Leopold Macaulay. His father served as an MPP and a cabinet minister in the government of George Henry in the 1930s. He attended Upper Canada College before enlisting in the army during World War II where he served with the 48th Highlanders. After the war, he studied at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in law from Osgoode Hall. He was called to the bar in 1948 and worked in the field for over 50 years. He and his wife Joy raised two children.[1]

Politics

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Macaulay was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Toronto riding of Riverdale in the 1951 Ontario election.[2] He was re-elected three times and served for 13 years.

In 1958, Premier of Ontario Leslie Frost appointed him to the cabinet as minister without portfolio with responsibilities in the Treasury Board.[3] He was also appointed as a vice-chairman of Ontario Hydro.[4] In 1959, he was promoted to the new position of Minister of Energy Resources.[5]

When Frost retired, Macaulay ran to succeed him in the 1961 Progressive Conservative leadership convention finishing third on the fifth ballot.[6][7] The victor, John Robarts, made Macaulay his Minister of Economics and Development.[8] Macaulay retained his seat in the 1963 Ontario election, but he resigned from cabinet shortly afterwards citing health reasons.[9] He remained in the legislature until May 1964 when he resigned his seat and returned to private life.[10]

Cabinet positions

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Ontario provincial government of John Robarts
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ray Connell Minister of Economics and Development
1961-1963
James Allan
New position Minister of Energy Resources
1959-1963
John Simonett

References

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  1. ^ "Robert William Macaulay: Obituary". Toronto Star. August 18, 2010.
  2. ^ Canadian Press (November 22, 1951). "Complete Ontario Vote". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal. p. 4.
  3. ^ "New Blood for the Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. April 26, 1958. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Father present as Macaulay is sworn in". The Globe and Mail. May 27, 1958. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Macaulay Minister Of Energy". The Globe and Mail. May 6, 1959. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Seven Candidates Make Final Pleas Under Arena Lights". The Globe and Mail. October 25, 1961.
  7. ^ Westall, Stanley (October 26, 1961). "Queen's Park: A True Successor to Leslie Frost". The Globe and Mail. p. 7.
  8. ^ "9 Ministers Switch In Cabinet Shuffle". The Globe and Mail. November 9, 1961. p. 1.
  9. ^ Goldblatt, Murray (Oct 9, 1963). "Robarts Redistributes Portfolios After Macaulay Quits Two Posts". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Macaulay Resigns Seat; Ex-Editor Seeks Riding". The Globe and Mail. May 13, 1964. p. 5.
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