- Steve Owens
:"For the Heisman Trophy-winning football player, see
Steve Owens (football) ."Stephen David Owens (born
September 21 ,1956 inToronto ,Ontario ) is apolitician in Ontario,Canada . He was a New Democratic Party member of theLegislative Assembly of Ontario from1990 to1995 , and served as acabinet minister in the government ofBob Rae .Owens holds a General Arts and Science Certificate, and worked as a hospital orderly before entering politics. He served as president and vice-president of
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2001, and is also a member of theRoyal Canadian Legion .He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Liberal
Cindy Nicholas by over 3,000 votes in the constituency ofScarborough Centre . The NDP won an unexpected majority government in this election, and Owens was appointed as aparliamentary assistant in1991 . OnOctober 21 ,1994 , he was appointed as aminister without portfolio responsible for Education and Training, serving as an assistant to Education MinisterDave Cooke .The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Owens finished third against Progressive Conservative
Dave Newman in his bid for re-election. He has not sought a return to the provincial legislature since this time.In
2002 -03, Owens supportedBill Blaikie for the leadership of the federalNew Democratic Party .
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