Donald Roy Irvine

Donald Roy Irvine (January 20, 1920 – October 1, 1994) was a Canadian politician, who served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1977 as a Progressive Conservative member. He was a cabinet member for Premier Bill Davis.

Donald Irvine
Ontario MPP
In office
1971–1977
Preceded byFred Cass
Succeeded byNorm Sterling
ConstituencyGrenville—Dundas 1971-1975
Carleton—Grenville, (1975-1977)
Personal details
Born(1920-01-20)January 20, 1920
DiedOctober 1, 1994(1994-10-01) (aged 74)
Prescott, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Eleanor
Children2
OccupationBusinessman

Background

Irvine was born on a farm in eastern Ontario, the youngest of seven children. He worked on the farm during his youth, and after high school he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. After the war, he and his brother-in-law started a grocery store which eventually turned into a chain of six grocery stores. He sold those grocery stores to the large food chain of Loeb, being able to retire in a very financially sound position at 36. He was married (Eleanor) and had one son (Paul) and one daughter (Jane).

Politics

Irvine served on the town council of Prescott, including three terms as mayor. Of his service, the Ottawa Citizen, on the eve of the provincial election in 1971, said, "Most townspeople consider Mr Irvine's three terms as one of the best things that ever happened to them."[1]

Irvine was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1971 provincial election in the riding of Grenville—Dundas replacing the retiring Fred Cass.[2] Irvine became parliamentary assistant to Treasurer John White in 1972. In February 1974 he was appointed as Minister without portfolio responsible for Municipal Affairs.[3] In October 1974 he was appointed as Minister of Housing replacing Sid Handleman who had suffered a heart attack.[4] In 1975 he was shuffled to the Provincial Secretary for Resource Development.[5] He continued to serve in cabinet until his retirement in 1977.

Cabinet posts
Ontario provincial government of Bill Davis
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Allan Grossman Provincial Secretary for Resource Development
1975–1977		 René Brunelle
Sid Handleman Minister of Housing
1974–1975		 John Rhodes
Sub-Cabinet Post
Predecessor Title Successor
Minister Without Portfolio
(1974 February–October)
Responsible for Municipal Affairs

References
  1. "Tribute by Legislative Assembly of Ontario". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. November 2, 1994.
  2. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  3. Dunlop, Marilyn (February 27, 1974). "The new cabinet lines up like this". The Toronto Star. p. A3.
  4. Mosher, Peter (October 8, 1974). "Irvine is sworn in as Housing Minister despite Handleman's reluctance to quit". The Globe and Mail. p. 5.
  5. "Davis rebuffs Rhodes after appointing him housing portfolio". The Globe and Mail. October 8, 1975. pp. 1, 2.
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