Leo Bernier

Leo Edward Bernier (1928 – June 28, 2010) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1966 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller. Bernier was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. Bernier presided over a time in Northern Ontario when the economy was booming. He was also a personable and well-liked MPP who looked out for his constituents. He was known by his nickname as "Emperor of the North".

Leo Bernier
Ontario MPP
In office 1966–1987
Preceded by	Robert Gibson
Succeeded by	Frank Miclash
Constituency	Kenora
Personal details
Born	1928 Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Died	June 28, 2010 (aged 81) Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s)	Marjorie Bernier
Children	4
Occupation	Businessman

Background

Bernier was born in Sioux Lookout, Ontario and educated in the area. He worked as a bush pilot and became the general manager of Bernier & Sons Contractors, and served as president of the local Chamber of Commerce.[1] He was an honorary member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Knights of Columbus.

Politics

He ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1963 provincial election, and lost to Liberal-Labour candidate Robert Gibson by 840 votes in Kenora.[2] Gibson died in 1966, and Bernier was elected in a by-election to replace him. He was returned by an increased margin in the 1967 provincial election,[3] and served as a backbench supporter of the John Robarts administration. When Bill Davis succeeded Roberts as premier on March 1, 1971, he appointed Bernier as his Minister of Mines and Northern Affairs.[4]

Bernier was easily re-elected in the 1971 provincial election.[5] He was given additional responsibilities as Minister of Lands and Forests on February 2, 1972.[6] On April 7 of the same year, his portfolios were restructured as the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Bernier was re-elected without serious opposition in the elections of 1975,[7] 1977,[8] 1981,[9] and 1985.[10] He was named Minister of Northern Affairs on February 3, 1977, and held this position for more than eight years.[11] Bernier was the most powerful minister for Northern Ontario in the Bill Davis government, and was sometimes called the "Emperor of the North". Like most Progressive Conservatives of his time, he supported government intervention in economic matters.

Bernier initially supported Dennis Timbrell in the Progressive Conservative Party's January 1985 leadership convention, but crossed to Frank Miller after Timbrell was eliminated. Miller retained him in the Northern Affairs portfolio after becoming Premier of Ontario on February 8, 1985.[12] The Progressive Conservatives under Miller were reduced to a tenuous minority government in the 1985 election, and were defeated in the house in June 1985. In opposition, Bernier served as his party's critic for Natural Resources and Northern Affairs and Mines. He did not run for re-election in 1987.

In 1975, Bernier selected amethyst as Ontario's mineral emblem.[13]

Cabinet positions

Later life

He served as chair of the Boreal West Round Table in the 1990s, and remained active in the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party until his death. In 2004, he supported John Tory's successful bid to become party leader.

Bernier died on June 28, 2010 in Sioux Lookout hospital at the age of 81.[1] In 2012, Highway 664 was renamed in his honour.[14]

References

Notes

1. Bernier was also Minister of Lands and Forests from February 2, 1972 to April 7, 1972 when it was merged into Natural Resources.
2. On February 3, 1977, responsibility was changed to Minister of Northern Affairs which remained until June 1985.
3. Bernier was retained as Minister of Northern Affairs by Frank Miller in both of his cabinets from February to June, 1985.

Citations

1. "Leo Bernier was voice of Northern Ontario". Toronto Star. June 30, 2010. p. A10.
2. Canadian Press (September 26, 1963). "78 in Tory Blue Wave -- 23 Is All Grits Saved". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 25. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
3. Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2. Retrieved 2014-03-30.
4. Manthorpe, Jonathan; Slinger, John (March 2, 1971). "Changes in policies promised: Davis priorities to include environment and jobless". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
5. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
6. "The Cabinet for Ontario". The Globe and Mail. February 3, 1972. p. 4.
7. "Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings". The Globe and Mail. September 19, 1975. p. C12.
8. "Ontario provincial election results riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1977. p. D9.
9. Canadian Press (1981-03-20). "Winds of change, sea of security". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
10. "Results of vote in Ontario election". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1985. p. 13.
11. Allen, David (February 3, 1977). "Davis names Timbrell new health minister". The Toronto Star. p. 1.
12. "The Ontario Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. February 9, 1985. p. 4.
13. "Ontario's official stone is no 'dumb jewel'". Toronto Star. May 16, 1975. p. B2.
14. "Highway 664 dedicated to the "King of the North"". Daily Commercial News and Construction Record. 85 (155). August 13, 2012. p. 1.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archived)