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{{Short description|Canadian politician}} |
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{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
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| name = Bob Runciman |
| name = Bob Runciman |
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| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt|size=100%}} |
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| honorific-suffix = |
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| image = |
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| office = [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] from [[Ontario]] |
| office = [[Senate of Canada|Senator]] from [[Ontario]] |
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| appointed = [[Michaëlle Jean]] |
| appointed = [[Michaëlle Jean]] |
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| nominator = [[Stephen Harper]] |
| nominator = [[Stephen Harper]] |
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| predecessor2 = [[John Tory]] |
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| successor2 = [[Tim Hudak]] |
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| term_start2 = October 10, 2007 |
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| term_end2 = July 1, 2009 |
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| predecessor3 = [[Ernie Eves]] |
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| successor3 = John Tory |
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| term_start3 = |
| term_start3 = September 28, 2004 |
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| term_end3 = |
| term_end3 = March 29, 2005 |
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| office4 = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] |
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| status4 = Interim |
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| term_start4 = March 20, 2009 |
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| constituency3 = [[Leeds (provincial electoral district)|Leeds]] |
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| term_end4 = June 27, 2009 |
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| predecessor4 = [[John Tory]] |
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| successor4 = [[Tim Hudak]] |
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| parliament9 = Ontario Provincial |
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| term_start9 = March 19, 1981 |
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| term_end9 = January 29, 2010 |
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| successor9 = [[Steve Clark (Canadian politician)|Steve Clark]] |
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| birth_name = Robert William Runciman |
| birth_name = Robert William Runciman |
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|8|10}} |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|8|10}} |
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| birth_place = [[Brockville]], [[Ontario]] |
| birth_place = [[Brockville]], [[Ontario]], Canada |
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| nationality = |
| nationality = |
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| spouse = |
| spouse = Jeannette Bax (deceased) |
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| party = [[Conservative Party of Canada]] |
| party = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]<br />[[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] |
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| profession = {{hlist|Politician|businessman}} |
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| profession = Businessman |
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'''Robert William "Bob" Runciman''' (born August 10, 1942)<ref>[http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2863&sortord=N&Language=E&M=M] Senators' biographies: Robert William Runciman</ref> is a |
'''Robert William "Bob" Runciman''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt}} (born August 10, 1942)<ref>[https://archive.today/20120906163954/http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2863&sortord=N&Language=E&M=M] Senators' biographies: Robert William Runciman</ref> is a Canadian politician and former provincial [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature]]. First elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] in 1981, he held the seat continuously for [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] for the next 29 years. On January 29, 2010, he was appointed to the [[Senate of Canada]] as a [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]], where he served until August 10, 2017.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/757567--ontario-s-runciman-among-5-new-senators?bn=1 "Ontario's Runciman among 5 new senators"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]''</ref> |
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==Early career== |
==Early career== |
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Before going to [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], Runciman owned a local weekly newspaper, and sat as a municipal councillor in Brockville from 1972 to 1981. He also worked in production management in the chemical industry.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Runciman|first1=Bob|title=Senators |
Before going to [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], Runciman owned a local weekly newspaper, and sat as a municipal councillor in Brockville from 1972 to 1981. He also worked in production management in the chemical industry.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Runciman|first1=Bob|title=Senators – Detailed Information|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsBio/senator_biography.aspx?senator_id=2863|website=Parliament of Canada|access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref> |
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==Provincial politics== |
==Provincial politics== |
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He was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] in the [[Ontario general election |
He was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] in the [[1981 Ontario general election|1981 provincial election]] as a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for [[Leeds (provincial electoral district)|Leeds]] in eastern Ontario.<ref name="1981 Election Results">{{cite news|author=Canadian Press |title=Winds of change, sea of security |newspaper=The Windsor Star |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0NtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444%2C1388326 |date=1981-03-20 |location=Windsor, Ontario |page=22 |access-date=2014-04-01}}</ref> He was returned in each subsequent provincial election, and later represented the riding of [[Leeds—Grenville]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} |
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===Miller cabinet=== |
===Miller cabinet=== |
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===Opposition=== |
===Opposition=== |
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With the defeat of Miller's government on a [[vote of confidence]], Runciman joined his party on the [[parliamentary opposition|opposition benches]]. He was nearly defeated by [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Jim Jordan (Canadian politician)|Jim Jordan]] in the [[Ontario general election |
With the defeat of Miller's government on a [[vote of confidence]], Runciman joined his party on the [[parliamentary opposition|opposition benches]]. He was nearly defeated by [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Jim Jordan (Canadian politician)|Jim Jordan]] in the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 election]], winning by only 198 votes.<ref name="1990 results">{{cite news |title=Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 7, 1990 |page=A12}}</ref> On all other occasions, he has been re-elected without difficulty. Despite being on the right-wing of the party, Runciman endorsed [[Red Tory]] [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]] for the party leadership in November 1985.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tory leadership it's Timbrell 5, Grossman 3 as Leeds picks delegates |last=Lupton |first=Gary |newspaper=The Whig - Standard |location=Kingston, Ont |date=October 7, 1985 |page=1}}</ref> |
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===Harris and Eves cabinet=== |
===Harris and Eves cabinet=== |
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When the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Tories]] returned to power in the [[Ontario general election |
When the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Tories]] returned to power in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 election]], Runciman became [[Solicitor General of Ontario|Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services]] in the government of [[Mike Harris]], holding the position from June 26, 1995, to June 17, 1999.<ref name="1995HarrisCab">{{cite news |title=Mike Harris' cabinet |newspaper=The Spectator |location=Hamilton, Ont |date=June 27, 1995 |page=A7}}</ref> During this period, he championed privately owned prisons, and was criticized on one occasion for revealing the name of a young offender in the legislature. On June 17, 1999, he was moved to the portfolio of [[Ontario Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations|Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations]],<ref name="1999HarrisCab">{{cite news |title=Ontario Cabinet |newspaper=The Spectator |location=Hamilton, Ont |date=June 18, 1999 |page=C8}}</ref> and on February 8, 2001, was named [[Ministry of Economic Development (Ontario)|Minister of Economic Development and Trade]]. |
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Runciman supported [[Ernie Eves]]'s successful bid to succeed Harris as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2002. On April 15, 2002, Eves re-appointed Runciman to the position of [[Ontario Minister of Public Safety and Security|Minister of Public Safety and Security]] (as the position of Solicitor General became known in the period following the [[September 11 attacks]]).<ref name="2002EvesCabinet">{{cite news |title=Ont-Cabinet |publisher=Canadian Press NewsWire |location=Toronto, Ont |date=April 15, 2002}}</ref> |
Runciman supported [[Ernie Eves]]'s successful bid to succeed Harris as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2002. On April 15, 2002, Eves re-appointed Runciman to the position of [[Ontario Minister of Public Safety and Security|Minister of Public Safety and Security]] (as the position of Solicitor General became known in the period following the [[September 11 attacks]]).<ref name="2002EvesCabinet">{{cite news |title=Ont-Cabinet |publisher=Canadian Press NewsWire |location=Toronto, Ont |date=April 15, 2002}}</ref> |
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On August 6, 2003, Runciman made controversial comments in the wake of tensions between [[Toronto]]'s [[black (people)|black]] community and the city's police. "I think some people make a living off this," Runciman said. "People who don't accept any degree of responsibility to solve the challenges and misunderstandings." After confirming that he was referring to members of the black community, he went on to say that "some folks here appear to have, in my view, a vested interest in seeing this kind of tension continue to exist." |
On August 6, 2003, Runciman made controversial comments in the wake of tensions between [[Toronto]]'s [[black (people)|black]] community and the city's police. "I think some people make a living off this," Runciman said. "People who don't accept any degree of responsibility to solve the challenges and misunderstandings." After confirming that he was referring to members of the black community, he went on to say that "some folks here appear to have, in my view, a vested interest in seeing this kind of tension continue to exist."<ref>{{cite news |title=Racial profiling war widens; Runciman claims some 'have a vested interest' in keeping tensions heightened |first=April |last=Lindgren |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=August 7, 2003 |page=B1}}</ref> His comments were later condemned by the Canadian Race Relations foundation and several other opposition [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|MPP]]'s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Runciman 'took coward's way': Lincoln Alexander |first=Nicholaas |last=Van Rijn |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=August 8, 2003 |pages=A1, A25}}</ref> |
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| post4years = 2001–2002 |
| post4years = 2001–2002 |
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| post4note = |
| post4note = |
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| post4followed = [[Jim Flaherty]] |
| post4followed = [[Jim Flaherty]]{{efn|Ministry named as Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation.}} |
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| post3preceded = [[David Tsubouchi]] |
| post3preceded = [[David Tsubouchi]] |
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| post3years = 1999–2001 |
| post3years = 1999–2001 |
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| post3note = |
| post3note = |
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| post3followed = [[Norm Sterling]] |
| post3followed = [[Norm Sterling]]{{efn|Ministry renamed as Consumer and Business Services.}} |
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| post2preceded = [[David Christopherson]] |
| post2preceded = [[David Christopherson]] |
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===Return to opposition=== |
===Return to opposition=== |
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Runciman returned to the opposition benches with the defeat of the Eves government in the [[Ontario general election |
Runciman returned to the opposition benches with the defeat of the Eves government in the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 election]].<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=leeds-grenville&flag=E&layout=G |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140401153901/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=leeds-grenville&flag=E&layout=G |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2014 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=2014-04-01 }}</ref> He supported [[John Tory]] in the [[2004 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|leadership election to succeed Eves]]. Tory won the contest, and, not having a seat in the legislature, named Runciman to the position of [[Interim leader (Canada)|interim]] [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition]] in September 2004. |
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Although Runciman holds strongly conservative views on matters such as criminal justice, he was not regarded as one of the more ideological members of his caucus. |
Although Runciman holds strongly conservative views on matters such as criminal justice, he was not regarded as one of the more ideological members of his caucus. In recent years, he has played a significant role in his party's leadership transitions. |
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Runciman resumed the position of opposition leader following the [[Ontario general election |
Runciman resumed the position of opposition leader following the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 provincial election]] in which [[John Tory]] failed to win a seat in the Legislature, losing to Liberal Minister Kathleen Wynne. Tory stayed on as Party Leader until March 2009 when he lost a subsequent bid to get elected in a by-election and resigned. Following Tory's resignation as Party Leader in March 2009, members of the PC Caucus selected Runciman as interim Party Leader until [[Tim Hudak]] was elected to the position in June 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/658132 |title=Tory leader chides city unions |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 29, 2009}}</ref> |
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{{s-par|ca-on}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[Ernie Eves]]}} |
{{s-bef|before=[[Ernie Eves]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition in the<br> Ontario Legislature]]|years=2004–2005}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition in the<br /> Ontario Legislature]]|years=2004–2005}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[John Tory]]}} |
{{s-aft|after=[[John Tory]]}} |
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{{s-bef|before=[[John Tory]]}} |
{{s-bef|before=[[John Tory]]}} |
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition in the<br> Ontario Legislature]]|years=2007–2009}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition in the<br /> Ontario Legislature]]|years=2007–2009}} |
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{{s-aft|after=[[Tim Hudak]]}} |
{{s-aft|after=[[Tim Hudak]]}} |
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==Federal politics== |
==Federal politics== |
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Runciman supported [[Tom Long (politician)|Tom Long]]'s bid to lead the [[Canadian Alliance]] in 2000. |
Runciman supported [[Tom Long (politician)|Tom Long]]'s bid to lead the [[Canadian Alliance]] in 2000. When Long was dropped from the contest after the first ballot, he turned his support to [[Stockwell Day]], the eventual winner.<ref>{{cite news |title=Long taking top officials to Manning ; Campaign team is unanimous in its endorsement |last=Brennan |first=Richard |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 29, 2000 |page=A6}}</ref> |
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In the [[Conservative Party of Canada leadership election |
In the [[2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2004 federal Conservative leadership campaign]], Runciman was an early supporter of eventual winner [[Stephen Harper]].<ref name=harper>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/757494 |title=MPP Runciman among 5 Tories headed to Senate |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> |
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On May 17, 2005, Runciman was chastised for remarks he made about federal [[member of Parliament]] [[Belinda Stronach]]'s decision to [[crossing the floor|cross the floor]] from the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] to the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. |
On May 17, 2005, Runciman was chastised for remarks he made about federal [[member of Parliament]] [[Belinda Stronach]]'s decision to [[crossing the floor|cross the floor]] from the [[Conservative Party of Canada]] to the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. Runciman said, "She sort of defined herself as something of a dipstick, an attractive one, but still a dipstick."<ref>{{cite news |title=Women still outsiders in politics |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=January 16, 2007 |page=A18}}</ref> |
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Runciman was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Harper on January 29, 2010.<ref name=harper/> He is seen as an ally of Harper in advocating of [[Senate of Canada#Senate reform|Senate reform]] and a "[[Law and order (politics)|law and order]]" agenda.<ref name=run>{{cite news |url= |
Runciman was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Harper on January 29, 2010.<ref name=harper/> He is seen as an ally of Harper in advocating of [[Senate of Canada#Senate reform|Senate reform]] and a "[[Law and order (politics)|law and order]]" agenda.<ref name=run>{{cite news |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/runciman-on-same-page-as-harper-over-senate-1.479072 |title=Runciman on same page as Harper over Senate |publisher=CTV News |date=January 30, 2010}}</ref> He served in the Senate until reaching the mandatory retirement age on August 10, 2017. |
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== |
== Memoirs == |
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Runciman [https://globalnews.ca/video/9802968/former-senator-mpp-bob-runciman-releases-memoir officially released his memoirs] of his 45-year career at an event at the Royal Brock Centre in [[Brockville]], Ontario on June 30, 2023, two days after launching his website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://bobrunciman.com/ |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=Senator Bob Runciman: From Mad Dog to Senator |language=en-US}}</ref> In the memoirs, Runciman discusses the [[Ipperwash Crisis|Ipperwash shooting of Dudley George]], his resignation as [[Solicitor General of Ontario|Solicitor-General]] over a breach of the [[Young Offenders Act]] which was later determined he was not guilty of,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-12-05 |title=Minister quits after MPP names offenders |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/minister-quits-after-mpp-names-offenders/article4169618/ |access-date=2023-07-01}}</ref> and addresses his controversial remarks about [[Belinda Stronach]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-01-14 |title=CTV.ca {{!}} Surprise defection triggers Conservative anger |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116347413338_5/?hub=TopStories |access-date=2023-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114095037/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1116347413338_5/?hub=TopStories |archive-date=2006-01-14 }}</ref> after she crossed the floor from the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party in 2005. He also shares stories including hiding on the floor of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Ontario Legislature]] to avoid votes, his supportive relationship with father, Publisher and Musician Sandy Runciman, and his marriage to Jeanette Runciman (née Bax), who died in a tragic accident in 2020, and who has an [[Jeannette Runciman Island|island named for her]] in the [[Thousand Islands]] region of Eastern Ontario. |
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==References== |
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===Notes=== |
===Notes=== |
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{{Notelist}} |
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{{Reflist|group="note"}} |
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===Citations=== |
===Citations=== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{Ontario MPP biography| |
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=robert-w-runciman}} |
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* [https://www.bobrunciman.com Bob Runciman - Official Website]{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=17370}} |
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* {{CanParlbio|ID=031a1928-7e5c-4cb6-9253-e76d179161a0}} |
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{{Miller Ministry}} |
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{{Harris Ministry}} |
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{{Eves Ministry}} |
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{{Ontario PC Leaders}} |
{{Ontario PC Leaders}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Runciman, Bob}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Runciman, Bob}} |
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[[Category:1942 births]] |
[[Category:1942 births]] |
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[[Category:Attorneys General of Ontario]] |
[[Category:Attorneys General of Ontario]] |
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[[Category:Canadian Presbyterians]] |
[[Category:Canadian Presbyterians]] |
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[[Category:People from Brockville]] |
[[Category:People from Brockville]] |
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[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs]] |
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs]] |
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Revision as of 22:09, 1 October 2023
Bob Runciman | |
|---|---|
| Senator from Ontario | |
| In office January 29, 2010 – August 10, 2017 | |
| Nominated by | Stephen Harper |
| Appointed by | Michaëlle Jean |
| Leader of the Opposition in Ontario | |
| In office October 10, 2007 – July 1, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | John Tory |
| Succeeded by | Tim Hudak |
| In office September 28, 2004 – March 29, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Ernie Eves |
| Succeeded by | John Tory |
| Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | |
Interim | |
| In office March 20, 2009 – June 27, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | John Tory |
| Succeeded by | Tim Hudak |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Leeds—Grenville (Leeds; 1981–1987) | |
| In office March 19, 1981 – January 29, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | James Auld |
| Succeeded by | Steve Clark |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert William Runciman August 10, 1942 Brockville, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Jeannette Bax (deceased) |
| Profession |
|
Robert William "Bob" Runciman OOnt (born August 10, 1942)[1] is a Canadian politician and former provincial Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature. First elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1981, he held the seat continuously for Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario for the next 29 years. On January 29, 2010, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada as a Conservative, where he served until August 10, 2017.[2]
Early career
Before going to Queen's Park, Runciman owned a local weekly newspaper, and sat as a municipal councillor in Brockville from 1972 to 1981. He also worked in production management in the chemical industry.[3]
Provincial politics
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1981 provincial election as a Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Leeds in eastern Ontario.[4] He was returned in each subsequent provincial election, and later represented the riding of Leeds—Grenville.[citation needed]
Miller cabinet
Runciman served as Minister of Government Services from February 8 to May 17, 1985,[5] and as Minister of Consumer Relations from May 17 to June 26, 1985, in the short-lived cabinet of Ontario Premier Frank Miller.[6]
Opposition
With the defeat of Miller's government on a vote of confidence, Runciman joined his party on the opposition benches. He was nearly defeated by Liberal Jim Jordan in the 1987 election, winning by only 198 votes.[7] On all other occasions, he has been re-elected without difficulty. Despite being on the right-wing of the party, Runciman endorsed Red Tory Larry Grossman for the party leadership in November 1985.[8]
Harris and Eves cabinet
When the Tories returned to power in the 1995 election, Runciman became Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services in the government of Mike Harris, holding the position from June 26, 1995, to June 17, 1999.[9] During this period, he championed privately owned prisons, and was criticized on one occasion for revealing the name of a young offender in the legislature. On June 17, 1999, he was moved to the portfolio of Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations,[10] and on February 8, 2001, was named Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
Runciman supported Ernie Eves's successful bid to succeed Harris as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2002. On April 15, 2002, Eves re-appointed Runciman to the position of Minister of Public Safety and Security (as the position of Solicitor General became known in the period following the September 11 attacks).[11]
On August 6, 2003, Runciman made controversial comments in the wake of tensions between Toronto's black community and the city's police. "I think some people make a living off this," Runciman said. "People who don't accept any degree of responsibility to solve the challenges and misunderstandings." After confirming that he was referring to members of the black community, he went on to say that "some folks here appear to have, in my view, a vested interest in seeing this kind of tension continue to exist."[12] His comments were later condemned by the Canadian Race Relations foundation and several other opposition MPP's.[13]
Return to opposition
Runciman returned to the opposition benches with the defeat of the Eves government in the 2003 election.[14] He supported John Tory in the leadership election to succeed Eves. Tory won the contest, and, not having a seat in the legislature, named Runciman to the position of interim Leader of the Opposition in September 2004.
Although Runciman holds strongly conservative views on matters such as criminal justice, he was not regarded as one of the more ideological members of his caucus. In recent years, he has played a significant role in his party's leadership transitions.
Runciman resumed the position of opposition leader following the 2007 provincial election in which John Tory failed to win a seat in the Legislature, losing to Liberal Minister Kathleen Wynne. Tory stayed on as Party Leader until March 2009 when he lost a subsequent bid to get elected in a by-election and resigned. Following Tory's resignation as Party Leader in March 2009, members of the PC Caucus selected Runciman as interim Party Leader until Tim Hudak was elected to the position in June 2009.[15]
Federal politics
Runciman supported Tom Long's bid to lead the Canadian Alliance in 2000. When Long was dropped from the contest after the first ballot, he turned his support to Stockwell Day, the eventual winner.[16]
In the 2004 federal Conservative leadership campaign, Runciman was an early supporter of eventual winner Stephen Harper.[17]
On May 17, 2005, Runciman was chastised for remarks he made about federal member of Parliament Belinda Stronach's decision to cross the floor from the Conservative Party of Canada to the Liberal Party of Canada. Runciman said, "She sort of defined herself as something of a dipstick, an attractive one, but still a dipstick."[18]
Runciman was appointed to the Canadian Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Harper on January 29, 2010.[17] He is seen as an ally of Harper in advocating of Senate reform and a "law and order" agenda.[19] He served in the Senate until reaching the mandatory retirement age on August 10, 2017.
Memoirs
Runciman officially released his memoirs of his 45-year career at an event at the Royal Brock Centre in Brockville, Ontario on June 30, 2023, two days after launching his website.[20] In the memoirs, Runciman discusses the Ipperwash shooting of Dudley George, his resignation as Solicitor-General over a breach of the Young Offenders Act which was later determined he was not guilty of,[21] and addresses his controversial remarks about Belinda Stronach[22] after she crossed the floor from the Conservative Party to the Liberal Party in 2005. He also shares stories including hiding on the floor of the Ontario Legislature to avoid votes, his supportive relationship with father, Publisher and Musician Sandy Runciman, and his marriage to Jeanette Runciman (née Bax), who died in a tragic accident in 2020, and who has an island named for her in the Thousand Islands region of Eastern Ontario.
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ [1] Senators' biographies: Robert William Runciman
- ^ "Ontario's Runciman among 5 new senators". Toronto Star
- ^ Runciman, Bob. "Senators – Detailed Information". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ Canadian Press (1981-03-20). "Winds of change, sea of security". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ^ "The Ontario Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. February 9, 1985. p. 4.
- ^ "The new Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. May 18, 1985. p. 11.
- ^ "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
- ^ Lupton, Gary (October 7, 1985). "Tory leadership it's Timbrell 5, Grossman 3 as Leeds picks delegates". The Whig - Standard. Kingston, Ont. p. 1.
- ^ "Mike Harris' cabinet". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ont. June 27, 1995. p. A7.
- ^ "Ontario Cabinet". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ont. June 18, 1999. p. C8.
- ^ "Ont-Cabinet". Toronto, Ont: Canadian Press NewsWire. April 15, 2002.
- ^ Lindgren, April (August 7, 2003). "Racial profiling war widens; Runciman claims some 'have a vested interest' in keeping tensions heightened". The Windsor Star. p. B1.
- ^ Van Rijn, Nicholaas (August 8, 2003). "Runciman 'took coward's way': Lincoln Alexander". Toronto Star. pp. A1, A25.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
- ^ "Tory leader chides city unions". Toronto Star. June 29, 2009.
- ^ Brennan, Richard (June 29, 2000). "Long taking top officials to Manning ; Campaign team is unanimous in its endorsement". Toronto Star. p. A6.
- ^ a b "MPP Runciman among 5 Tories headed to Senate". Toronto Star. January 29, 2010.
- ^ "Women still outsiders in politics". Toronto Star. January 16, 2007. p. A18.
- ^ "Runciman on same page as Harper over Senate". CTV News. January 30, 2010.
- ^ "Home". Senator Bob Runciman: From Mad Dog to Senator. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- ^ "Minister quits after MPP names offenders". The Globe and Mail. 2000-12-05. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- ^ "CTV.ca | Surprise defection triggers Conservative anger". 2006-01-14. Archived from the original on 2006-01-14. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
External links
- Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history
- Bob Runciman - Official Website
- Bob Runciman – Parliament of Canada biography
Leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its antecedents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Liberal-Conservative (1867–1873) |  | |
| Conservative (1873–1942) | ||
| Progressive Conservative (1942–present) | ||
| Leadership elections | ||
Interim leaders are in parentheses. | ||