John Melville Turner

John Melville Turner (born September 24, 1922 – January 20, 2013)[1] was a Canadian politician in the province of Ontario. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. He was the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 1981 to 1985.

For other people named John Turner, see John Turner (disambiguation).
John Turner
Ontario MPP
In office
1977–1987
Preceded byGillian Sandeman
Succeeded byPeter Adams
In office
1971–1975
Preceded byWalter Pitman
Succeeded byGillian Sandeman
ConstituencyPeterborough
Personal details
Born(1922-09-24)September 24, 1922
Peterborough, Ontario
DiedJanuary 20, 2013(2013-01-20) (aged 90)
Peterborough, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative

Background

Turner was born and educated in Peterborough, Ontario. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Pilot Officer from 1942 to 1945, and later worked as a business manager. He was an alderman for Peterborough, Ontario City Council from 1969 to 1971, and also served on the city health board. On March 31, 2014, Jeff Leal, Peterborough MPP and Minister of Rural Affairs announced that 55 km of Highway 115 from Peterborough to the 401 MacDonald-Cartier Freeway was dedicated as the John M. Turner Memorial Highway in honour of Turner's service to his country, province and community. Turner was a member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Peterborough Rotary Club.

Politics

In 1971, Turner was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Walter Pitman by 590 votes in the Peterborough constituency.[2] He served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis's government for the next four years, and lost to NDP candidate Gillian Sandeman by 505 votes in the 1975 election.[3]

Turner defeated Sandeman by 2,648 votes in the 1977 election.[4] He defeated Liberal Party candidate Peter Adams by 6,699 votes in the 1981 election.[5] He was appointed as Speaker of the Legislature on April 21, 1981.

The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government under Frank Miller's leadership in the 1985 provincial election. Turner was re-elected in Peterborough, but was replaced as Speaker by Liberal Hugh Edighoffer when the Tories lost control of the legislature after the election.[6] Turner served as an opposition member for the next two years, and did not seek re-election in 1987.

Electoral record
1981 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeJohn Turner17,96245.92$37,481
LiberalPeter Adams11,26328.80$24,430
New DemocraticPaul Rexe8,75622.39$21,400
LibertarianJohn Hayes7872.01$3,667
IndependentBruce Knapp2860.73$936
IndependentKenneth T. Burgess590.15$0
Total valid votes 39,113 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 191
Turnout 39,304 63.06
Electors on the lists 62,332
1985 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Melville Turner16,87843.03
New DemocraticLinda Slavin11,94130.44
LiberalBill Ayotte9,73424.82
LibertarianJohn Conlin4611.18
GreenGeorge Kerr2120.54–
Total valid votes 39,226 100.00
Rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 233
Turnout 39,459 60.25
Electors on the lists 65,493

References
  1. "The Peterborough Examiner". yourlifemoments. 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  2. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  3. "Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings". The Globe and Mail. September 19, 1975. p. C12.
  4. "Ontario provincial election results riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1977. p. D9.
  5. Canadian Press (March 20, 1981). "Winds of change, sea of security". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22.
  6. "Results of vote in Ontario election". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1985. p. 13.
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