Peter Robertson (politician)

Peter Robertson was mayor of Brampton, Ontario from 1991 to 1999. In 2000, he was defeated in the municipal election by then-councillor Susan Fennell.

Peter Robertson
Political partyProgressive Conservative (as of 1984)[1]

Background

In 1970, Toronto Gore Township considered developing the community of Castlemore into a city of thirty thousand, over a five year period. The community had the smallest population of any township within Peel, and neighboured Bramalea, a "satellite city" in Chinguacousy Township. The plan was to include developing a portion of the Claireville Conservation Area. Then an education consultant, Robertson spoke out at a public meeting on the plan, expressing concerns about possible changes to the quality of life in the area.[2] As of a July meeting of the Peel Board of Education, Robertson was described as a "spokesman for the Castlemore residents".[3]

Robertson stood for election to be one of the first Peel Regional councillors, in an October 1973 election ahead of Peel's transition from County to Region. Mel Robinson, Reeve of the soon-to-disband Toronto Gore, won with 337 votes, to Robertson's 199 votes, and Stanley Carberry's 68. (Teacher Ken Whillans was elected in that election; Whillans later became mayor, before Robertson.)[4]

Council

At an unlisted point before 1979, Robertson was elected as a Brampton councillor. Among his Peel committees, he chaired a 1980 study for a proposed recycling plant on Bramalea Road in Mississauga.[5] As a member of the Peel District Health Council from at least 1979 on,[6] he was director as of at least 1982. As director, he advocated for community health centres funded by OHIP, similar to a format he toured in San Francisco, where he also toured a wellness clinic.[7] In 1980, Robertson was quoted in the media as defending Kwakiutl, a nude Aboriginal sculpture, disagreeing with Brampton staff advice that the statue's genitalia be shaved off.[8]

In the 1982 election, Robertson's Chinguacousy—Gore regional seat was challenged by Alderman Keith Coutlee;[9] the incumbent won.[10] When asked by the media for an endorsement of who should replace retiring Premier Bill Davis as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Robertson reserved comment.[1] Robertson ran to become the Progressive Conservative candidate for Brampton, defeated by 25-year-old businessman Jeff Rice on the third ballot. The son of a noted developer, Rice was rumoured favorite of the Tory establishment in Brampton. Dr. Ralph Greene and Nancy Porteous also ran for the nomination.[11] Liberal Bob Callahan would later beat Rice in the traditionally conservative riding.

In the 1985 municipal election, Robertson's Regional seat was challenged by Alderman Mario Annecchini. The challenger suggested that Robertson had collected "too much political baggage", in his 12 years in office. Robertson ran on his record of pushing for sufficient parks and recreation facilities and schools in his ward. At the time, Robertson maintained his position as a professor of education at University of Toronto, and was writing a book on family violence.[12] Robertson won.[13]

He was acclaimed as Regional councillor for Wards 2, 8 and 10 in 1988.[14][15] In 1990, Robertson was described by the Toronto Star as "one of the driving forces" behind a new race relations committee, set up by the City to inspect the effect of education, employment equity, and housing issues on new immigrants.[16]

1991 mayoral campaign

Paul Beisel, appointed Brampton mayor after the death of Ken Whillans, decided to retire from politics at the end of his term, returning to his position as vice-president of Midland Mortgages.[17] Regional councillors Robertson, Eric Carter, and Frank Russell all stood for election, along with businessmen Alan Austin and Don McMullen.[18]

Post mayoral career

In June 2012, Robertson was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, after striking a pedestrian at 10 Peel Centre Drive, the Region of Peel offices, during a strike by CUPE members.[19] Strikers were aware of his identity as a former Mayor, and stopped him for 27 minutes. Robertson's lawyer says the woman "sat on his car and then fell on the ground."[20]

References
  1. "Brampton votes may be Miller's delegates say". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 27 November 1984. p. WE13.
  2. "City of 30,000 may sprout in quiet farmland of Toronto Gore by 1975". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 18 June 2012. p. 39.
  3. "Parents, trustees study school role". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 2 July 1970. p. 39.
  4. "Whillans, Dalzell Brampton winners". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 2 October 1973. p. A07.
  5. Steen, Dave (7 March 1980). "Recycling plant is reprieved". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. A16.
  6. "Hospital cost is set at $72 million". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 7 December 1979.
  7. Rodaway, Sid (9 February 1982). "Doctors may opposed health clinics for Peel". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. WE02.
  8. "Statue spared a cruel cut". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 8 May 1980. p. A02.
  9. Steen, David (19 October 1982). "Councillor strikes it rich two ways". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. A07.
  10. Louttit, Neil (9 November 1982). "Few get chop in municipalities outside Metro". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. B03.
  11. Turner, Janice (31 March 1985). "25-year-old wins Tory nod in Davis' former riding". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. A04.
  12. Steen, David (5 November 1985). "Regional councillor races hot for half of Brampton's hopefuls". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. WE09.
  13. "New councils in Metro-area regions". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 14 November 1985. p. A07.
  14. "Candidates nominated in Peel, Halton Regions". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 25 October 1988. p. WE06.
  15. "Mississauga, Brampton election results". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 22 November 1988. p. WE10.
  16. Modro, Heidi (28 June 1990). "Race relations training issued in Brampton". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. WE01.
  17. Donovan Vincent; Bob Mitchell (6 September 1991). "Mississauga mayor to seek re-election". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. p. A06.
  18. "5 seek mayoralty in Brampton". The Toronto Star. Toronto ON. 12 September 1991. p. MA01.
  19. Douglas, Pam (19 June 2012). "Former mayor charged in pedestrian collision". The Brampton Guardian. Brampton ON. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  20. Daubs, Katie (19 June 2012). "Former Brampton mayor charged with dangerous driving after incident with picketer". Toronto Star. Toronto ON. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
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