Vernon Singer

Vernon Milton Singer (1919 - September 20, 2003) was a politician in Ontario, Canada.

After serving in World War II with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Singer returned to Canada and became president of the Young Liberals in 1947. While practicing as a lawyer, he entered politics as an alderman in North York, Ontario serving ultimately as reeve during the 1950s. He ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party at the 1958 Ontario Liberal leadership convention, placing fourth. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1959 provincial election.

Singer became deputy leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and, as an Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), pushed for reforms to municipal law, automobile insurance and electoral laws as well as for the establishment of a provincial ombudsman.

He served as Liberal House Leader in the 1970s and, in 1973, sued fellow Liberal MPP Eddie Sargent for libel after Sargent made remarks about Singer's retainer fee from a developer while he was appearing before a legislative committee to explain how he obtained the contract to build Ontario Hydro's new headquarters in Toronto. ["Ticket machine is a winner if you don't get personal", "Globe and Mail", April 22, 1978]

Singer was re-elected to the legislature on four successive occasions before retiring in 1977. His retirement was controversial as he announced it on the eve of that year's election campaign without giving his Liberal colleagues advance notice. The Progressive Conservatives won Singer's previously safe seat in the election and, the next year, the government appointed Singer to the first of five two-year terms on the Ontario Municipal Board including several years as its chairman. ["Left Liberals in lurch, Singer is appointed to municipal board", "Globe and Mail", August 30, 1978] Gail Swainson, "Former MPP fills Patti Starr post", "Toronto Star", October 5, 1989] The incident resulted in accusations by NDP MPP Ed Ziemba that the government had bought Singer's seat, and that of fellow Liberal Phil Givens who left in similar circumstances, through political patronage. ["Ziemba confrontation with Speaker over apology delayed", "Globe and Mail", May 31, 1980]

Following his retirement from the Ontario Municipal Board in 1989, Singer won election to North York's committee of adjustment filling a seat vacated by Patti Starr when she was forced to resign as the result of a wider political scandal.

Singer had three children, Stephanie, Eric and Melanie. He had 5 grandchildren: Daniel, Geoffery, Arielle, Michael, and Corinne

References