William James Stewart

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William James Stewart (February 13 1889 – September 18 1969) was a Canadian politician. Stewart also owned and operated the Bates and Dodds Funeral Home on Queen Street West in Toronto

Political life

Mayor of Toronto

Stewart served as Mayor of Toronto from 1931 until 1934. He entered provincial politics in 1936 when he ran for the leadership of the Ontario Conservative Party. He came in third place behind Earl Rowe and George Drew. In the 1937 provincial election, he was able to buck Mitchell Hepburn's Liberal landslide by being elected as Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Parkdale in Toronto's west end.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly

Following the 1943 election that brought the George Drew's Tories to power, Stewart became Speaker of the legislature, a difficult task as the Progressive Conservatives (as they were known by then) had only a minority government. He was reappointed Speaker following the 1945 election until he suddenly resigned in March 1947 to become a backbench Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP).

Incident in the house and resignation

In March 1947, George Doucett, the Minister of Public Works and Highways had asked Stewart for tickets to seats in the Speaker's Gallery so that some visiting officials, including a federal Cabinet minister, could observe the proceedings of the legislature. Stewart told Doucett there were no seats left. When the legislature's day began, however, Doucett noticed that the Speaker's Gallery was almost empty and tried to bring the matter to Stewart's attention. According to Roderick Lewis, who had just begun work as an assistant clerk and whose father was Clerk of the legislature at the time:

:Stewart just exploded. He told the Minister to take it up with him in his chambers and when he left the Chair he told Mr. Doucett to come in. After some time Doucett emerged, returned to the Chamber and whispered something to Premier George Drew. Mr. Drew looked very angry. A few minutes later an envelope from the Speaker's office arrived on the Clerk's table addressed to my father. He did not open it but said to me, "I think I've got the Speaker's resignation here but I'm going to give him time to cool off". He stuck the envelope in his pocket.

:A few minutes later a note came down from the press gallery asking my father if he had the Speaker's resignation. He sent a note back up saying he had not seen any resignation. This went on all afternoon but the letter stayed in his pocket. That evening Speaker Stewart spoke to the press and there was no way out.

:In the morning my father called Premier Drew to tell him he had received the Speaker's resignation and that he would hold an election for a new Speaker. The Premier decided to nominate James de Congalton Hepburn and asked Opposition Leader Farquhar Oliver to second the motion. Oliver said, 'No, no. I think we may have some ideas of our own."

:That afternoon, March 24, 1947, my father informed members of the House of the resignation. Mr. Oliver objected saying the Speaker had been elected by a vote of the House and the resignation should be dealt with by resolution of the House. My father ruled this out of order and advised the House that his opinion was backed up by Arthur Beauchesne, noted parliamentary expert in Ottawa.

:Oliver then moved that the House refuse to accept the resignation. Again my father said it was out of order. Mr. Oliver appealed the ruling which was sustained by a vote of 53-17. George Drew then moved the nomination of Hepburn. Oliver moved an amendment saying the House still had confidence in Stewart. To avoid dividing on the issue Drew asked if Mr. Stewart accepted the nomination. Stewart said he did not wish to provoke controversy and withdrew. [http://www.parl.gc.ca/infoparl/english/issue.htm?param=117&art=671]

Backbencher and committee member

Stewart became a backbencher and went on to serve on various committees, serving as Chairman of the Select Committee on Reform Institutions from 1953 to 1955. He remained a member of the legislature until the 1959 election when his Parkdale seat was won by a Liberal.

External links

* [http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=1878 Member's parliamentary history for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]