John Richardson (Canadian MP)
John Richardson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Perth—Wellington—Waterloo | |
| In office 1993–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Brightwell |
| Succeeded by | Riding Dissolved |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Perth—Middlesex | |
| In office 1997 – 11 October 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Riding Established |
| Succeeded by | Gary Schellenberger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Alexander Richardson 1 December 1932 Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 2 June 2010 (aged 77) Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Profession | Military Officer, Educator |
BGen John Alexander "Jack" Richardson (1 December 1932 – 2 June 2010) was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1993 to 2002. His career was in education and defence. During his term with the Canadian Forces, he attained the rank of Brigadier General.
He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Commerce, then from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education with a Masters of Education. He served with the Canadian Forces from 1952, including a tour of duty in Germany. He eventually reached the rank of Brigadier General as a reservist. In 1961, he joined Norwood Secondary School where he was a teacher and vice-principal and served at other schools, finally reaching Stratford, Ontario where he became superintendent of instruction.
After his retirement from education, Richardson was elected in the 1993 federal election in Perth—Wellington—Waterloo for the Liberal Party, becoming the first Liberal to represent a Perth County-based riding in 40 years. After riding restructuring, he was re-elected at the Perth—Middlesex electoral district in the 1997 and 2000 federal elections.
In all, Richardson served in the 35th and 36th Canadian Parliaments but abruptly resigned 11 October 2002 before completing his term in the 37th Canadian Parliament.[1]
The reasons for his resignation were initially declared to be "personal",[2] but later reports indicated Richardson had been ill for some time. A subsequent by-election loss of Richardson's riding to Progressive Conservative candidate Gary Schellenberger was blamed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on Richardson's reluctance to leave Canadian politics when his health began deteriorating.[3]
Richardson died in his birth city of Peterborough, Ontario on 2 June 2010 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Richardson resigns seat immediately". The Hill Times. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
- ^ House of Commons Debates (Hansard): 11 October 2002, resignation of Richardson and tributes, accessed 29 July 2006
- ^ Lawton, Valerie (14 May 2003). "MP's tardy resignation led to by-election loss: PM; Says ill Liberal should have quit sooner Comment outrages some Martin backers". Toronto Star. p. A8.
- ^ "Former MP John Richardson remembered as a 'true public servant'". Stratford Gazette. 10 June 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014.
External links
[edit]- John Richardson – Parliament of Canada biography
- CBC Canada Votes 2006: Perth-Wellington, accessed 29 July 2006
- 1932 births
- 2010 deaths
- Canadian generals
- Liberal Party of Canada MPs
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
- Canadian schoolteachers
- Neurological disease deaths in Ontario
- Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in Canada
- University of Toronto alumni
- University of Ottawa alumni
- People from Peterborough, Ontario
- 20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada
- 21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada