Linda LeBourdais

Linda Lillian LeBourdais (born March 31, 1945) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990.

Linda LeBourdais
Ontario MPP
In office 1987–1990
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Chris Stockwell
Constituency	Etobicoke West
Personal details
Born	(1945-03-31) March 31, 1945 Montreal, Quebec
Political party	Liberal
Residence	Toronto, Ontario
Occupation	Business executive

Background

LeBourdais was educated at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, and worked as a public relations and marketing consultant in the fashion and retail sectors. She has served as president of the federal Liberal riding association in Etobicoke Centre, and of the Etobicoke Centre Women's Committee. LeBourdais was also the national director of Stay Alert ... Stay Safe, a national non-profit organization in the field of child safety.[1]

Politics

In 1987 provincial election, she ran as the Liberal party candidate in the riding of Etobicoke West. She won the nomination on May 3 at a contentious nomination meeting. Other contenders including former MPP Leonard Braithwaite claimed that LeBourdais signed up a large block of members for which she failed to provide a list to other nominees. There was also an allegation that some of the members lived outside the riding. In addition, the three member arbritation panel appointed to review the decision resigned due to a conflict of interest.[2] In July a newly appointed arbitration panel upheld the decision saying they were "unable to prove sufficient voting irregularities to overturn the meeting".[3]

In the election held in September 1987, she won the election defeating Progressive Conservative Doug Holyday by 6,090 votes.[4] She served as a backbench supporter of David Peterson's government for the next three years, and was a parliamentary assistant in 1988-89. She served as advocate from Ontario's clothing and apparel industry during her time in office.

Prior to the 1990 provincial election, LeBourdais was challenged for the Liberal nomination by a representative of a local Sikh group, which claimed the Peterson government was insufficiently responsive to minority communities.[5] She won the nomination, but was defeated in the general election by Chris Stockwell of the Progressive Conservative Party.[6][7]

Electoral record

1987 Ontario general election: Etobicoke West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Linda LeBourdais	15,757	46.90
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Holyday	9,664	28.76
	New Democratic	Phil Jones	5,784	17.21
	Family Coalition	Judy Johnson	1,890	5.62
	Libertarian	Robert Dunk	498	1.51
Total valid votes			33,593	100.00

1990 Ontario general election: Etobicoke West
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Chris Stockwell	13,711	40.8
	Liberal	Linda LeBourdais	10,082	30.0
	New Democratic	Judy Jones	7,988	23.8
	Family Coalition	Kevin McGourty	1,045	3.1
	Libertarian	Janice Hazlett	495	1.5
	Independent	Martin Fraser	303	0.9
Total			33,624
Source: "How Metro-Area Voted". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. 1990-09-07. p. A10.

After politics

She returned to the private sector after her defeat, and became president of Mentor Communications. In 2005, she was appointed as a member of Ontario's Social Benefits Tribunal.

References

1. "For your little trick or treaters, Halloween can have its hazards". The Vancouver Sun. October 26, 1992. p. C2.
2. Hickl-Szabo, Regina (25 May 1987). "Arbitrators for Etobicoke West resign Liberal nomination is challenged". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
3. "Liberal panel upholds nomination of candidate in Etobicoke West". The Globe and Mail. 18 July 1987. p. A5.
4. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
5. Pulung, Nicola (May 28, 1990). "3 Liberal MPPs facing Sikh challenge". The Globe and Mail. p. 13.
6. Wong, Victor Chew (June 8, 1990). "Liberals at problem-plagued meeting choose Offer in Mississauga North". Toronto Star. p. A14.
7. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archived)