Brad Ward

Bradley Richard Ward (born November 23, 1956) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a New Democrat from 1990 to 1995, and was a junior minister in the government of Bob Rae.

Early life and career

Ward was active in the labour movement before entering political life. He worked for Bell Canada and was an executive member of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 45 from 1982 through to his time in government. He was also a member of the Brantford and District Labour Council, and was named Labour Citizen of the Year in 1989. He was an alderman on the Brantford municipal council from 1985 to 1990, representing the city's second ward.

Member of Provincial Parliament

Ward was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Liberal incumbent Dave Neumann in Brantford as the New Democratic Party unexpectedly formed a majority government.

Ward was a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Skills Development from 1990 to 1991, and to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology from 1991 to 1993. He was promoted to Minister without portfolio with responsibility for Finance on February 3, 1993, and served in this capacity as an assistant to Finance Minister Floyd Laughren. He did not have any formal ministerial responsibilities, but represented the Rae government at events such as pre-budgetary consultations. [Steve Arnold, "Air your ideas for '94 budget", "Hamilton Spectator", 7 March 1994, T1.]

Ward worked to ensure that Harding Carpets Ltd., a prominent local employer, remained open in Brantford. He called on the Rae government to support Harding during a restructuring process in 1990, and later announced a government investment of up to six million dollars to maintain jobs in the company. [Gail Lem, "Soreltex to buy Harding Ontario provides $7-million in loans", "Globe and Mail", 23 November 1990, B7; "Ontario government invests in Harding carpets", "Canada NewsWire", 8 April 1994.] Ward announced in early 1995 that his government would pursue a furniture strategy for the province. [David Israelson, "Sklar-Pepplar takes top furniture award", "Toronto Star", 14 January 1995, C3.]

In May 1993, the Rae government cancelled its previously-announced plans to move the computer and telecommunications division of the Ministry of Government Services to Brantford. Three days earlier, Ward had told a local reporter that there was no reason for Brantford residents to worry about last-minute changes to the plan. ["Brantford's loss was news to MPP", "Globe and Mail", 13 May 1993, A4.] Some criticized him as being unaware of shifts in government policy.

The New Democratic Party was defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Ward finished third against Progressive Conservative candidate Ron Johnson.

After politics

Ward returned to private life after 1995, and works for Bell Canada in business technology. [He is a Nascar enthusiast, and is active in online racing. See [http://canamracing.org/modules.php?name=News&file=categories&op=newindex&catid=1 Brad Ward, CanAm Racing entry] (accessed 3 April 2006)]

Table of offices held

External links

* [http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=429 Legislative record]

Electoral record

Ward was also elected as a councillor for Brantford's second ward in the 1985 and 1988 municipal elections.

All provincial election information is taken from Elections Ontario.

Footnotes