Margaret Harrington

Margaret Helen Harrington
MPP for Niagara Falls
In office 1990–1995
Preceded by	Vincent Kerrio
Succeeded by	Bart Maves
Personal details
Born	October 4, 1945 (1945-10-04) (age 66) Warwick, England
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Dick Harrington
Residence	Niagara Falls, Ontario
Occupation	Teacher

Margaret Helen Harrington (born October 4, 1945) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.

Background

Harrington was educated at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. She worked as a secondary school teacher in Niagara Falls after her graduation, and served on the Niagara Falls city council. In 1988, she was named Niagara Falls Woman of the Year. Her husband, Dick Harrington, ran for the federal and provincial New Democratic Party on three occasions.

Politics

Margaret Harrington first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, and finished second against Liberal Vince Kerrio in the riding of Niagara Falls. Three years later, in the 1990 provincial election, Harrington defeated Liberal candidate Wayne Campbell by almost 6,000 votes in the same riding.^[1] The NDP won a majority government and Harrington was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Housing from 1990 to 1993. She was then appointed as a Deputy Speaker.

Shortly after the election, Harrington was accused of improprieties on voting day. She admitted to improperly adding two names to the voter's list. She claimed that she was mistaken about the rules for adding names to the list. Justice Warren Bailie ruled that no further action was required since Harrington won the election by more than two votes.^[2]

In 1993 she came out against the government's proposal to build a casino in Niagara Falls.^[3]

The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Harrington finished third against Progressive Conservative Bart Maves in her bid for re-election.

When Bob Rae stepped down as party leader she supported Peter Kormos for leader of the party.^[4]

Later life

Harrington is now a real estate salesperson in Niagara Falls.

Electoral Record

Ontario general election, 1990
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democrat	Margaret Harrington	13,884	46.37
	Liberal	Wayne Campbell	7,979	26.65
	Progressive Conservative	Norm Puttick	3,896	13.01
	Confederation of Regions	Ted Wiwchar	3,141	10.49
	Family Coalition	Art Klassen	674	2.25
	Green	Donald MacDonald-Ross	365	1.22

References

1. ^ "Ontario Votes 2007". CBC.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/ontariovotes2007/riding/054. Retrieved 3 September 2010. 
2. ^ MPP admits breaking rules in election. Toronto Star. 16 November 1990. pg. A17.
3. ^ Thomas Walkom. NDP prepares to whip dissidents back into party line. Toronto Star. 25 January 1993. pg. A.13.
4. ^ Dan Nolan. NDP leadership race remains wide open: Four candidates similar, but different. The Hamilton Spectator. 3 April 1996. pg. B2.

External links

• Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography

Persondata
Name	Harrington, Margaret
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1945-10-04
Place of birth	Warwick, England
Date of death
Place of death