- Stephen LeDrew
Stephen LeDrew (born 1953) is a
Toronto -based lawyer, broadcast commentator and was President of theLiberal Party of Canada from 1998 to 2003.As a lawyer, LeDrew dealt with public policy issues and inter-governmental affairs. He has served as the Executive Assistant to the Solicitor General of Canada, Government Affairs Counsel for Manulife, and Director of Operations in the Prime Minister's Office. He also has advised the private sector while serving in law.
He served as president of the Liberal Party from March 1998 to November 2003. Occasionally outspoken, he famously derided the Chretien government's plan to severely limit corporate donations to political parties as being as "dumb as a bag of hammers". [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/realitycheck/gray/20060613.html CBC News In Depth: Reality Check - John Gray ] ]
LeDrew is President of the National Club in Toronto, and is an active member of the Global Business and Economic Round Table on Addiction and Mental Health.
In 2005, LeDrew was forced to declare personal bankruptcy. He owed C$364,140 in back taxes. The court ordered him to pay 74% of this amount. The judge on the case noted that LeDrew placed priority on personal expenses rather than his tax obligations. [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1159480211102]
LeDrew is a divorced father of four children.
On
September 28 2006 , LeDrew announced his candidacy forMayor of Toronto . He was competing in the November 13, 2006 election against incumbent David Miller, centre-right challengerJane Pitfield and a host of fringe candidates. LeDrew's campaign manager was Arthur Potts. Potts is a lobbyist who has worked on behalf of Showline Studios, and opposes the city's deal with a rival company to create a sound studio in the portlands. ("Globe and Mail, October 11, 2006"). Although he received considerable media coverage and was invited to participate in election debates with Miller and Pitfield he finished a distant third with only 1.3% of the vote.He has subsequently hosted programs on digital television service
ichannel ("It's LeDrew") and Toronto talk radio station CFRB ("Issues with Stephen LeDrew"). Beginning in 2007, LeDrew began co-hosting a talk show withMichael Coren on CFRB 1010 in Toronto titled "Two Bald Guys With Strong Opinions". He is also a regular panellist onCBC Newsworld 's political programme, .Electoral record
Referencess
* [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&pubid=968163964505&cid=1159524235924&col=968705899037&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News Ex-Liberal chief to run for mayor] by Jim Byers "Toronto Star" September 29, 2006.
* [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060929.MAYORS29/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/ Miller critics beat bushes for mayoral challengers] by Jennifer Lewington, "Globe and Mail" September 29, 2006.
* [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1159480211102 LeDrew eyes mayoral run] by Jim Byers "Toronto Star" September 29, 2006.External links
* [http://www.strongmayor.to/ Stephen LeDrew for Mayor]
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