Margaret Harrington

Margaret Helen Harrington (born October 4, 1945) is a Canadian teacher and former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.

Margaret Harrington
Ontario MPP
In office
1990–1995
Preceded byVince Kerrio
Succeeded byBart Maves
ConstituencyNiagara Falls
Personal details
Born (1945-10-04) October 4, 1945
Warwick, England
Political partyNew Democrat
Spouse(s)Dick Harrington
Children2
ResidenceNiagara Falls, Ontario
OccupationTeacher
PortfolioDeputy Speaker (1993-1995)

Background

Harrington was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She worked as a secondary school teacher in Niagara Falls after her graduation, and served as city councillor of the Niagara Falls City Council.[1] In 1988, she was named Niagara Falls Woman of the Year. Her husband, Dick Harrington, ran for the federal and provincial New Democratic Party on three occasions. She and her husband had two children, Kevin and Jennifer.[2]

Politics

Harrington ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, and finished second against Liberal Vince Kerrio in the riding of Niagara Falls. She lost by 5,724 votes.[3] Three years later, in the 1990 provincial election, she defeated Liberal candidate Wayne Campbell by almost 6,000 votes in the same riding.[4] The NDP won a majority government and Harrington was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Housing from 1990 to 1993. She was then appointed as a Deputy Speaker.

Shortly after the election, Harrington was accused of improprieties on voting day. She admitted to improperly adding two names to the voter's list. She claimed that she was mistaken about the rules for adding names to the list. The Ontario Elections Act states people may be added to the voting list on a provincial election day only in rural polling divisions, not urban ones like Niagara Falls. Warren Bailie, Chief Election Officer ruled that no further action was required since Harrington won the election by more than two votes.[5]

In 1993 she came out against the government's proposal to build a casino in Niagara Falls[6] but reversed her position a year later when she supported the plan.[7]

The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Harrington finished third against Progressive Conservative Bart Maves in her bid for re-election.[8]

When Bob Rae stepped down as party leader she supported Tony Silipo for leader of the party.[9]

Electoral record
1990 Ontario general election: Niagara Falls
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticMargaret Harrington13,88446.24
LiberalWayne Campbell7,97926.67
Progressive ConservativeNorm Puttick3,86912.93
Confederation of RegionsTed Wiwchar3,14110.50
Family CoalitionArt Klassen6742.25
GreenDonald MacDonald-Ross3651.22
Total valid votes 29,912 100.00
1995 Ontario general election: Niagara Falls
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeBart Maves12,13243.33+30.4$37,908.69
LiberalMarg Germano8,28929.60+2.93$40,823.66
New DemocraticMargaret Harrington7,03425.12−21.12$15,733.37
Natural LawBill Amos3551.27 $0.00
IndependentMelania Gural1890.68 not listed
Total valid votes 27,999 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 388 1.37
Turnout 28,387 59.48
Electors on the lists 47,729

References
  1. Patrias, Carmela (2012). Union power : solidarity and struggle in Niagara. Edmonton: AU Press. p. 175.
  2. "Dick Harrington: City council Q&A". Chilliwack Times. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2011.
  3. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. 11 September 1987. p. F2.
  4. "Ontario Votes 2007". CBC.ca. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  5. "MPP admits breaking rules in election". Toronto Star. 16 November 1990. p. A17.
  6. Walkom, Thomas (25 January 1993). "NDP prepares to whip dissidents back into party line". The Toronto Star. p. A13.
  7. Walkom, Thomas (24 March 1994). "It looks like another Vegas night at Queen's Park". The Toronto Star. p. A27.
  8. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  9. Nolan, Dan (3 April 1996). "NDP leadership race remains wide open: Four candidates similar, but different". The Hamilton Spectator. p. B2.
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