- Mary Anne Chambers
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Mary Anne Chambers MPP In office
2003–2007Preceded by Steve Gilchrist Succeeded by riding dissolved Constituency Scarborough East Personal details Born September 8, 1950
JamaicaPolitical party Liberal Occupation Banker Mary Anne Veronica Chambers (born September 8, 1950) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 until 2007, and served in the cabinet in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Contents
Background
Chambers was born in Jamaica,[1] and emigrated to Canada in 1976.[2] She was a banker prior to entering political life. She joined Scotiabank in 1976, and was involved in the expansion of computer and electronic services within the organisation.[3] She was also involved in a number of taskforces concerning the role of women in the workplace. In 1988, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto with a major in Commerce.[4]
Chambers was named a Senior Vice-President of the bank in 1998, retiring from the position in December 2002.[5] She is also a former director of Grace, Kennedy (Ontario) Ltd. and Grace Foods International Ltd., prominent food distribution companies belonging to a parent organization in Jamaica.[6]
Chambers was a member of the Rouge Valley Health System, serving as Vice-Chair for a time.[7] She was a member of the Board of Governors at the University of Toronto from 1993 to 2001, and Vice-Chair of the Governing Council from 1998 to 2001.[8] She helped to author a University policy that no student would be prevented from studying at Toronto for inadequate financial resources.
Chambers was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Greater Toronto from 1994 to 2001, and was President of the Canadian Club of Toronto from 1998 to 1999. In 2003, she was awarded the Prime Minister's Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica by Jamaican Prime Minister Percival James Patterson, in recognition of her work within Toronto's Jamaican community.
Politics
Chambers was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the provincial election of 2003, as a Liberal in the riding of Scarborough East, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Steve Gilchrist by over 7000 votes. The Liberals won the provincial election, and Chambers was appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on October 23, 2003.[9] In early 2004, she reaffirmed her government's election pledge not to raise tuition rates.
Chambers was appointed Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services in June 2005.[10] On July 11, 2007, she announced that she would not be running for re-election to the Ontario Legislature.[11]
Electoral record
Ontario general election, 2003 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Mary Anne Chambers 21,798 51.5 +10.62 Progressive Conservative Steve Gilchrist 14,323 33.84 -15.66 New Democrat Gary Dale 5,250 12.4 +5.57 Green Hugh McNeil 668 +1.58 Libertarian Sam Apelbaum 285 0.67 -0.21 References
- ^ "Mary Anne Chambers, M.P.P. - Scarborough East". http://www.maryannechambers.onmpp.ca/biography.htm.
- ^ "City of Toronto: Safe Cities for Youth: A Culture of Smart Choices, March 12–13, 2007 - Presenter Bios (Appendix 5)". http://www.toronto.ca/scfy/conference-bios-appendix5.htm#chambers.
- ^ "University of Toronto - Great Past - Great Minds Bio". http://www.greatpast.utoronto.ca/GreatMinds/ShowBannerUTSC.asp?ID=97.
- ^ "Mary Anne Chambers - Senior VP, Bank of Nova Scotia & Graduate". http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/~advancement/greatminds/bios/chambers.html.
- ^ "Workplace Education and Learning Conference - Speaker Bios". http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education/symposium/workplace2004/speaker-bios.htm.
- ^ "Hon. Chambers' Bio". http://www.cast-utech.ca/Banquet/bio2004.html.
- ^ "Colleges and Universities Minister". http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/story.html?listing_id=12196.
- ^ "Former Governing Council vice-chair named to Ontario Cabinet". http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin5/031024b.asp.
- ^ "Legislative Assembly of Ontario". http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=2142.
- ^ "Premier of Ontario - Biography of Mary Anne Chambers". http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/team/biography.asp?MPPID=53.
- ^ Canadian Press (July 11, 2007). "Ontario Liberals lose cabinet minister Chambers". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070711.wontlib0711/BNStory/National/home.
External links
Provincial Government of Dalton McGuinty Cabinet Posts (2) Predecessor Office Successor Marie Bountrogianni Minister of Children and Youth Services
2005-2007Deb Matthews Dianne Cunningham Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
2003-2005Chris Bentley Categories:- Living people
- Black Canadian politicians
- Canadian Roman Catholics
- Jamaican emigrants to Canada
- Ontario Liberal Party MPPs
- Members of the Executive Council of Ontario
- 1950 births
- Women MPPs in Ontario
- University of Toronto alumni
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