Fred Wilson (politician)

Fred Wilson is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.

Wilson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990, defeating incumbent Liberal Larry South by 1,400 votes in the rural, eastern-Ontario riding of Frontenac—Addington. He was the first, and is to date the only candidate of a social-democratic party to win a provincial election in the riding.

Wilson initially served as a parliamentary assistant following the election, but was promoted to Minister of Government Services on April 22, 1991. On February 3, 1993, he was named a minister without portfolio and Chief Government Whip.

Wilson's social conservatism made him unpopular with many NDP supporters. During the 1990 election, he responded to a questionnaire from the Lesbian and Gay Association of Kingston by writing "I personally could not advocate the gay/lesbian lifestyle as an alternative to accepted norms". He also indicated that he had no intention of meeting organized gay-issues groups in his riding, nor combat discrimination in provincial law. The "Eye Weekly" periodical wrote a critical piece on Wilson's beliefs in early 1992. [http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_02.06.92/news/prk0206.htm] Later, "Inside Sedition", a periodical written by NDP staff at Queen's Park, criticized Wilson for his conservative views.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Wilson was one of twelve NDP MPPs who voted against the Rae government's planned extension of spousal benefits for same-sex couples in 1994. He was nonetheless retained as party whip after this.

The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995, and Wilson was defeated in his own riding, finishing third against Progressive Conservative Bill Vankoughnet and a Liberal candidate. He has not sought a return to politics since then.