Robert G. Eaton

Robert Gordon Eaton (June 23, 1937 – January 7, 2009) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1985, and was a cabinet minister in the government of William Davis.

Bob Eaton
Ontario MPP
In office
1975–1985
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byDoug Reycraft
ConstituencyMiddlesex
In office
1971–1975
Preceded byKenneth Bolton
Succeeded byRiding abolished
ConstituencyMiddlesex South
Personal details
Born(1937-06-23)June 23, 1937
Woodstock, Ontario
DiedJanuary 7, 2009(2009-01-07) (aged 71)
London, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
ProfessionFarmer

Background

He was born in Woodstock, Ontario, and educated at the Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology. He was a member of his local school board from 1964 to 1966, and a director of Missouri Mutual Fire Insurance.

Politics

Eaton was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election, defeating New Democratic Party MPP Kenneth Bolton by 3,053 votes in Middlesex South.[1] He was re-elected for the redistributed seat of Middlesex in 1975, 1977 and 1981.[2][3][4] He was appointed to Davis's cabinet as a minister without portfolio on February 13, 1982.[5] He was appointed to the additional position of Chief Government Whip on July 6, 1983.[6] He supported Dennis Timbrell to succeed Davis as party leader in January 1985, and was dropped from cabinet when Frank Miller became Premier of Ontario on February 8, 1985.[7]

The Conservatives suffered an electoral setback in the 1985 election under Miller's leadership. Eaton was personally defeated, losing to Liberal candidate Doug Reycraft by 810 votes.[8]

Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Bill Davis
Sub-Cabinet Post
Predecessor Title Successor
Minister without portfolio
(1982-1985)
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Bud Gregory Chief Government Whip
1983-1985		 Alan Robinson

Later life

After leaving politics, he continued his farm operation, specializing in Hereford cattle, and launched his a real estate company, Royal LePage Landco Realty, with agents in Woodstock, Ingersoll, London and St. Thomas. Eaton served as the President of Woodstock and Ingersoll Real Estate Board. During his last years, Eaton was an advocate for cancer patients, pushing for cancer drug coverage under OHIP. Eaton died in January 2009, after a battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

References
  1. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  2. "Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings". The Globe and Mail. September 19, 1975. p. C12.
  3. "Ontario provincial election results riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1977. p. D9.
  4. Canadian Press (1981-03-20). "Winds of change, sea of security". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  5. "Labor Leaders Wary Of Davis Cabinet Shuffle". Windsor Star. February 15, 1982. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  6. Speirs, Rosemary; Stead, Sylvia; Cruikshank, John (July 6, 1983). "Shuffle gives Treasury job to Grossman". The Globe and Mail. pp. 1, 2.
  7. "The Ontario Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. February 9, 1985. p. 4.
  8. "Results of vote in Ontario election". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1985. p. 13.
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