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{{Short description|Canadian politician (1930–2020)}}
⚫
'''Douglas Jack Wiseman''' (born [[July 21]], [[1930]] in [[Smiths Falls, Ontario|Smiths Falls]], [[Ontario]]) is a former [[politician]] in Ontario, [[Canada]]. He served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] as a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] from [[1971]] to [[1990]], and was a [[cabinet minister]] in the government of [[Bill Davis]].
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Douglas Wiseman
| image =
| caption =
| office1 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start1 = 1987
| term_end1 = 1990
| predecessor1 = ''New riding''
| successor1 = [[Leo Jordan]]
| constituency1 = [[Lanark (provincial electoral district)|Lanark—Renfrew]]
| term_start2 = 1971
| term_end2 = 1987
| predecessor2 = [[George Gomme]]
| successor2 = ''Riding abolished''
| constituency2 = [[Lanark (provincial electoral district)|Lanark]]
| party = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|7|21}}
| birth_place = [[Smiths Falls, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|8|1|1929|7|21}}
| death_place = [[Perth, Ontario]], Canada
| occupation = Businessman, farmer
| spouse =
| children =
| portfolio = [[Minister without portfolio]], 1978-79
}}
⚫
'''Douglas Jack Wiseman''' (July 21, 1930 – August 1, 2020) was a [[politician]] in Ontario, [[Canada]]. He served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] as a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] from 1971 to 1990, and was a [[cabinet minister]] in the government of [[Bill Davis]].


==Background==
Wiseman was educated at Smiths Falls College, and worked as a farmer and small businessman. He developed a prominent cow-calf business in the region, and later opened a chain of discount shoe stores. Wiseman was also a public school board chair, and a trustee of St. Paul's [[United Church of Canada|United Church]] in [[Perth, Ontario|Perth]], Ontario.
Wiseman was educated at Smiths Falls College, and worked as a farmer and small businessman. He developed a prominent cow-calf business in the region, and later opened a chain of discount shoe stores. Wiseman was also a public school board chair, and a trustee of St. Paul's [[United Church of Canada|United Church]] in [[Perth, Ontario|Perth]], Ontario. He died at a hospital in Perth in 2020 at the age of 90.<ref>[https://blairandson.com/tribute/details/4623/Douglas-Wiseman/obituary.html Obituary of Douglas Jack Wiseman]</ref>


==Politics==
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[Ontario general election, 1971|1971 provincial election]], gaining an easy victory in the eastern Ontario constituency of [[Lanark (electoral district)|Lanark]]. He was returned in the [[Ontario general election, 1975|1975 election]], and was named [[parliamentary assistant]] to the [[Minister of Health (Ontario)|Minister of Health]] on [[November 19]], [[1975]].
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[1971 Ontario general election|1971 provincial election]], gaining an easy victory in the eastern Ontario constituency of [[Lanark (provincial electoral district)|Lanark]].<ref name="1971 results">{{cite news |title=Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=October 23, 1971 |page=10}}</ref> He was returned in the [[1975 Ontario general election|1975 election]],<ref name="1975 results">{{cite news |title=Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 19, 1975 |page=C12}}</ref> and was named [[parliamentary assistant]] to the [[Minister of Health (Ontario)|Minister of Health]] on November 19, 1975.


Wiseman was appointed as a [[minister without portfolio]] in Davis's government on [[January 21]], [[1978]], and on [[August 30]], [[1979]] was promoted to [[Minister of Government Services (Ontario)|Minister of Government Services]]. His tenure in office proved to be unexpectedly controversial. Some senior government officials such as [[Hugh Segal]] claimed he was ineffective in cabinet, contributing almost nothing to policy debates. Within the Department of Government Services, some considered him an improvement over the previous minister, [[Lorne Henderson]]. Wiseman soon developed a serious rivalry with Deputy Minister Alan Gordon, a confidante of the premier who attained notoriety for allegedly accepting untendered contracts without the minister's approval.
Wiseman was appointed as a [[minister without portfolio]] in Davis's government on January 21, 1978.<ref name="1978JanDavisCabinet">{{cite news |title=Scrivener's removal from Cabinet, Baetz posting to cause most talk|last1=Williamson |first1=Robert |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=January 23, 1978 |page=5}}</ref> On August 30, 1979, he was promoted to [[Minister of Government Services (Ontario)|Minister of Government Services]].<ref name="1979DavisCabinet">{{cite news |title=Minor shuffle in Davis Cabinet: Welch will seek compromise on oil price |last=Speirs |first=Rosemary |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=August 31, 1979 |page=4}}</ref> On July 6, 1983 Wiseman was dropped from cabinet.<ref name="1983DavisCabinet">{{cite news |title=Shuffle gives Treasury job to Grossman |last1=Speirs |first1=Rosemary |last2=Stead |first2=Sylvia |last3=Cruikshank |first3=John |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=July 6, 1983 |pages=1, 2}}</ref> Davis gave no particular reason for dropping Wiseman other than to say he needed to make space for "new blood". There was some speculation that Wiseman's removal was a result of a dispute with one of Davis's favourite deputy ministers, Alan Gordon. Wiseman alleged that Gordon had awarded six figure government contracts without tender or permission.<ref name="bastion">{{cite news |title=Lanark: A Tory bastion for 84 years |first=April |last=Lindgren |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=April 16, 1985 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ETg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=XPUIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1377%2C2735346 |accessdate=June 29, 2014}}</ref>


Wiseman who was upset at the demotion, went so far as to criticize his own party in the house. On May 1, 1984, he accused [[Solicitor General of Ontario|Solicitor-General]] [[George William Taylor|George Taylor]] of forcing the [[Ontario Provincial Police|OPP]] to purchase a pair of new boats from a supplier in [[Penetanguishene]], [[Ontario]] which was in Taylor's own riding. The lowest bidder was a company based in Wiseman's riding. Wiseman was accused of retaliation for his removal from cabinet. Wiseman denied this, saying he was only looking out for his constituents. He said, "You have to do what you think is right for your constituents... From time to time you have to take a stand for your people... If you're going to be a jelly fish and hide behind a chair, you shouldn't be in politics."<ref>{{cite news |title=Tory MPP again skewers his own party over boats |last=Steed |first=Judy |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 2, 1984 |page=4}}</ref> In the fall of 1984, Davis, partly to ameliorate the situation, appointed Wiseman to a government commission promoting the sale of agricultural products to the Americans.<ref name="bastion"/>
Wiseman met with Davis on [[July 6]], [[1983]], intending to confront the premier with a list of departmental regulations that Gordon appeared to have violated. Davis did not accept the list, and instead informed Wiseman that he was being dropped from cabinet. The premier argued that he needed to make space for three new ministers in an upcoming shuffle. Some suspect that Wiseman was punished for his feud with Gordon, though Davis has denied this.


The Progressive Conservatives, who had governed the province continually since [[1943]], lost power following the [[Ontario general election, 1985|1985 election]]. Wiseman was re-elected without difficulty in this cycle, but faced a surprisingly close challenge from [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Bob Pugh]] in the [[Ontario general election, 1987|1987 campaign]]. Wiseman won, but by only 761 votes. He held no critic portfolios in the legislature, and did not seek re-election in [[1990]].
The Progressive Conservatives, who had governed the province continually since 1943, lost power following the [[1985 Ontario general election|1985 election]] but Wiseman was re-elected without difficulty.<ref name="1985 results">{{cite news |title=Results of vote in Ontario election |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 3, 1985 |page=13}}</ref> He faced a close challenge from [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] Bob Pugh in the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 campaign]] in the newly reconfigured riding of [[Lanark (provincial electoral district)|Lanark—Renfrew]]. Wiseman won by 761 votes.<ref name="1987 results">{{cite news |title=Results from individual ridings |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=September 11, 1987 |page=F2}}</ref> He held no [[Shadow Cabinet|Critic]] portfolios in the legislature, and did not seek re-election in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|title=Candidates in eastern ridings battle over French services law |last=Allen |first=Gene |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 5, 1990 |page=6}}</ref>


===Cabinet positions===
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[[Category:1930 births|Wiseman, Douglas]]
{{s-start}}
[[Category:Ontario MPPs|Wiseman, Douglas]]
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Bill_Davis}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Lorne Henderson]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Government Services (Ontario)|Minister of Government Services]]
| post1years = 1979–1983
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[George Ashe (Canadian politician)|George Ashe]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Ontario MPP biography|id=douglas-jack-wiseman}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiseman, Douglas}}
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[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the United Church of Canada]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]

Latest revision as of 04:52, 24 September 2024

Douglas Wiseman
Ontario MPP
In office
1987–1990
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byLeo Jordan
ConstituencyLanark—Renfrew
In office
1971–1987
Preceded byGeorge Gomme
Succeeded byRiding abolished
ConstituencyLanark
Personal details
Born(1930-07-21)July 21, 1930
Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada
DiedAugust 1, 2020(2020-08-01) (aged 91)
Perth, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationBusinessman, farmer
PortfolioMinister without portfolio, 1978-79

Douglas Jack Wiseman (July 21, 1930 – August 1, 2020) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Progressive Conservative from 1971 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bill Davis.

Background

[edit]

Wiseman was educated at Smiths Falls College, and worked as a farmer and small businessman. He developed a prominent cow-calf business in the region, and later opened a chain of discount shoe stores. Wiseman was also a public school board chair, and a trustee of St. Paul's United Church in Perth, Ontario. He died at a hospital in Perth in 2020 at the age of 90.[1]

Politics

[edit]

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election, gaining an easy victory in the eastern Ontario constituency of Lanark.[2] He was returned in the 1975 election,[3] and was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health on November 19, 1975.

Wiseman was appointed as a minister without portfolio in Davis's government on January 21, 1978.[4] On August 30, 1979, he was promoted to Minister of Government Services.[5] On July 6, 1983 Wiseman was dropped from cabinet.[6] Davis gave no particular reason for dropping Wiseman other than to say he needed to make space for "new blood". There was some speculation that Wiseman's removal was a result of a dispute with one of Davis's favourite deputy ministers, Alan Gordon. Wiseman alleged that Gordon had awarded six figure government contracts without tender or permission.[7]

Wiseman who was upset at the demotion, went so far as to criticize his own party in the house. On May 1, 1984, he accused Solicitor-General George Taylor of forcing the OPP to purchase a pair of new boats from a supplier in Penetanguishene, Ontario which was in Taylor's own riding. The lowest bidder was a company based in Wiseman's riding. Wiseman was accused of retaliation for his removal from cabinet. Wiseman denied this, saying he was only looking out for his constituents. He said, "You have to do what you think is right for your constituents... From time to time you have to take a stand for your people... If you're going to be a jelly fish and hide behind a chair, you shouldn't be in politics."[8] In the fall of 1984, Davis, partly to ameliorate the situation, appointed Wiseman to a government commission promoting the sale of agricultural products to the Americans.[7]

The Progressive Conservatives, who had governed the province continually since 1943, lost power following the 1985 election but Wiseman was re-elected without difficulty.[9] He faced a close challenge from Liberal Bob Pugh in the 1987 campaign in the newly reconfigured riding of Lanark—Renfrew. Wiseman won by 761 votes.[10] He held no Critic portfolios in the legislature, and did not seek re-election in 1990.[11]

Cabinet positions

[edit]
Ontario provincial government of Bill Davis
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Lorne Henderson Minister of Government Services
1979–1983 		George Ashe

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Obituary of Douglas Jack Wiseman
  2. ^ "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings". The Globe and Mail. September 19, 1975. p. C12.
  4. ^ Williamson, Robert (January 23, 1978). "Scrivener's removal from Cabinet, Baetz posting to cause most talk". The Globe and Mail. p. 5.
  5. ^ Speirs, Rosemary (August 31, 1979). "Minor shuffle in Davis Cabinet: Welch will seek compromise on oil price". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
  6. ^ Speirs, Rosemary; Stead, Sylvia; Cruikshank, John (July 6, 1983). "Shuffle gives Treasury job to Grossman". The Globe and Mail. pp. 1, 2.
  7. ^ a b Lindgren, April (April 16, 1985). "Lanark: A Tory bastion for 84 years". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  8. ^ Steed, Judy (May 2, 1984). "Tory MPP again skewers his own party over boats". The Globe and Mail. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Results of vote in Ontario election". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1985. p. 13.
  10. ^ "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  11. ^ Allen, Gene (September 5, 1990). "Candidates in eastern ridings battle over French services law". The Globe and Mail. p. 6.
[edit]
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