Kenneth Bolton

Kenneth Bolton (1907–1996) was an Anglican priest, archdeacon and Ontario New Democratic Party member of the Ontario legislature from 1969 to 1971 representing the riding of Middlesex South. [http://www.ontla.on.ca/house-proceedings/transcripts/files_html/1996-05-06_L069.htm Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Transcript of Debates, Mon 6 May 1996] ]

Born in England, Bolton immigrated to Canada and settled in Winnipeg in 1925 where he studied for the ministry and was ordained an Anglican priest in 1933. He served as a minister throughout Canada and was later chaplain of Huron University College and associate professor of pastoral theology at the University of Western Ontario as well as Archdeacon of Bishop Cronyn Memorial Anglican Church in London, Ontario. In his old age, he assisted at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Anglican Church in northeast London before moving to British Columbia in 1995 to be closer to his children.

Bolton was active with groups such as Oxfam and Amnesty International.

He was elected to the legislature in a 1969 by-election. The victory was a surprise coming in an area where the NDP did not traditionally win seats. His victory was credited to campaigning on the issue of Medicare at a time when the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party government of John Robarts was reluctant to join the plan. His victory is credited with successfully pressuring the government to agree to bring the province into the plan.

As an MPP he was correctional services critic. He was defeated in the 1971 general election by Robert G. Eaton after serving in office for two years.

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