Len Wood

Leonard Wood (born February 4, 1942) is a former Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1999, sitting for the New Democratic Party of Ontario.

For other people named Leonard Wood, see Leonard Wood (disambiguation).
Len Wood
Ontario MPP
In office
1990–1999
Preceded byRené Fontaine
Succeeded byRiding dissolved
ConstituencyCochrane North
Personal details
Born (1942-02-04) February 4, 1942
Mitchell, Ontario
Political partyNew Democrat
OccupationMechanic

Background

Wood completed a four-year millwright course after graduating from high school, and worked as a millwright mechanic before entering politics. He was actively involved in the labour movement and the Roman Catholic church.

Politics

In 1987 he contested Cochrane North (located in the province's northeastern corner) in the 1987 provincial election, but lost to Liberal incumbent René Fontaine by almost 4,000 votes.[1] In the federal election of 1988, he contested Cochrane—Superior for the federal NDP and lost to Liberal Réginald Bélair by 1,201 votes.[2]

The NDP won the 1990 provincial election and Wood defeated Liberal Donald Grenier to win Cochrane North by 143 votes.[3] He served as Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources from 1990 to 1995.[4]

Voting trends in the 1995 provincial election were against the NDP in most parts of Ontario, and the party fell from government to third-party status. In Cochrane North, Wood countered the provincial trend and dramatically increased his majority: he defeated Liberal candidate Gilles Gagnon by almost 2,000 votes.[5] In opposition, he served as critic for Northern Development and Mines.

Redistribution eliminated Cochrane North in the 1999 provincial election, and Wood sought re-election in the newly formed riding of Timiskaming—Cochrane. He finished third, behind fellow incumbent David Ramsay of the Liberal Party and Rick Brassard of the Progressive Conservatives.[6]

Wood ran again for the federal NDP in the 2000 election in Timmins—James Bay, but lost to Bélair by 6,950 votes.[7]

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References
  1. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  2. "Results from across Canada; Riding by Riding; ONTARIO". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. November 22, 1988. p. B6.
  3. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  4. Hopkins, Grant (February 24, 1991). "Ontario minister wrestles with moose hunting issues". The Ottawa Citizen. p. C5.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  6. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. "Northeast Results". Sudbury Star. November 28, 2000. p. A11.
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