Peter Shurman

Last updated

Peter Shurman
Ontario MPP
In office
2007–2013

Shurman was born in Montreal, Quebec. He attended Sir George Williams University, now Concordia University, and apprenticed in communications with Standard Broadcasting, holding various positions with the company's Montreal AM and FM stations, CJAD and CJFM, including general manager. [1]

Shurman left university without completing his BA degree and started out in technical maintenance, progressing through a number of positions including program announcing, reporting, sales, and management. He moved to Toronto in 1983 and eventually rising through the ranks to become Standard Broadcasting's President of Radio at age 36. [1]

Shurman left Standard Broadcasting in 1987. His activities immediately thereafter included buying 14 radio stations for a total of $22.5 million in less than one year for third parties; undertaking an assignment to grow a minor Toronto paging company, into one of the area's largest and most important operators in only eighteen months; applying for an FM radio licence in Toronto in 1990. When the licence was not granted, he purchased an ailing telephone answering service, The Receptionists Ltd., and renamed it Universal TeleResponse Corporation. UTR became a multimillion-dollar enterprise handling 7x24 communications for FP/Fortune 500 companies. After 22 years in the radio broadcasting business, Shurman became CEO and principal shareholder of Universal TeleResponse Corporation (UTR), a major call centre in North Toronto.

In 2003, Shurman sold UTR and remained for one year as part of the sale agreement before returning to broadcasting. He was a talk radio host for CFRB until announcing his intention to run in the 2007 Ontario provincial election.

Politics

In 2007, Shurman ran for the Progressive Conservative nomination for the riding of Thornhill and was challenged by Norm Gardner. [2] John Tory, the party leader at the time requested that Gardner step aside for Shurman. Shurman then successfully campaigned as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2007 Ontario general election becoming the MPP for the riding of Thornhill. His election provided focus for the issue surrounding public funding of private faith-based schools, a major issue in Thornhill which has a large Jewish (35%) population.

Towards the end of 2008, York University (a university that is close to Shurman's political riding) was effectively shut down due to a call for a strike by Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3903. Shurman became involved with a student anti-strike group, York Not Hostage and was successful in bringing significant pressure to bear on the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.[ citation needed ] Back-to-work legislation was presented to the Legislature which was recalled from winter break to pass it and bring an end to the strike.

Shurman subsequently brought a resolution to the floor of the Ontario Legislative Assembly condemning Israeli Apartheid Week on Ontario campuses. The resolution, debated in late February 2010, passed unanimously. Shurman also co-sponsored two private member's bills with Liberal and NDP members. One proclaimed May as Jewish Heritage Month in Ontario and the other created Italian Heritage Month in the province every June. Both of these bills became law and the affected communities celebrate annually.

During his tenure he served as the Opposition Critic for Economic Development & Trade, Francophone Affairs and was Vice-Chair of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He served as PC Caucus Finance Critic until September 8, 2013 when he was removed from the position after a "heated exchange" with party leader Tim Hudak in which Shurman refused to repay a housing allowance he had received for a Toronto apartment . Shurman was permitted to do this under the rules as he had moved his principal residence from his riding to Niagara-on-the-Lake which is more than 50 kilometres away from the provincial capital. [3] It was later reported that Shurman had proposed to Hudak that he run in a Niagara area riding, in or near his new home, in the 2011 provincial election but Hudak insisted he run in Thornhill because he was concerned that the seat would otherwise be lost. [4] Hudak refused to admit to media that he was aware of the accommodation arrangement which Shurman noted had been discussed with Hudak in early 2011. In the October 2011 election, Shurman ran and held his Thornhill seat against a challenge by former Canadian Jewish Congress CEO Bernie Farber, running as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate.

In December 2013, leaks to media suggested an impending resignation would be tendered by Shurman - December 9, 2013. Shurman received a letter dated December 3 and delivered by hand to his office on December 8 by senior staff of Progressive Conservative leader, Tim Hudak. The letter admonished Shurman for claiming mileage from his Niagara-on-the-Lake home to Toronto as an expense, something specifically cleared by the Legislative Finance Department. Shurman dismissed Hudak's accusation as nonsensical and politically motivated and labeled it 'bogus'. He did announce (on December 9) that he would resign his seat effective December 31. In a letter to his constituents, he said, "The decision is entirely my own and results from lengthy reflection and discussion with family... I have concluded that continuing with my political career would be a mistake for me." [5] [6]

Peter Shurman continued to reside in Niagara-on-the-Lake until 2018 and now makes his home in midtown Toronto. He is engaged in business and political consulting activities and talk radio broadcasting. He appeared regularly on Global News Radio 640 Toronto as a fill-in host until October 2021.

Related Research Articles

John Tory Canadian politician, 65th mayor of Toronto

John Howard Tory is a Canadian politician who has served as the 65th and current mayor of Toronto since December 1, 2014.

Frank Klees is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2014. He was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.

Leader of the Official Opposition (Ontario) Parliamentary position of the legislature of Ontario, Canada

The Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario, officially Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, is the leader of the largest party in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario which is not part of the government. The current Leader of the Opposition is Peter Tabuns, interim leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, because the NDP won the second largest number of seats as a result of the 2022 election. This is the sixth time the CCF/NDP has formed Ontario's official opposition.

Robert William "Bob" Runciman is a veteran Canadian politician and former provincial Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature. First elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1981, he held the seat continuously for Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario for the next 29 years. On January 29, 2010, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada as a Conservative, where he served until August 10, 2017.

Jim Wilson (Ontario politician) Retired Canadian politician

Jim Wilson is a retired Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the riding of Simcoe—Grey, and its predecessor riding of Simcoe West, from 1990 to 2022. He sat as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario caucus from his first election until November 2, 2018, when he resigned from caucus due to allegations of sexual misconduct. While part of the PC caucus, Wilson was chosen by his fellow caucus members on July 2, 2014, to serve as interim leader of the party and Leader of the Opposition following the resignation of Tim Hudak. He continued to serve as Leader of the Opposition until September 2015 when new party leader, Patrick Brown, entered the legislature through a by-election. He was reelected in June 2018, but resigned from cabinet and the Progressive Conservative caucus on November 2, 2018. He sat as an independent member for the remainder of the 42nd Parliament of Ontario and did not seek re-election in the 2022 Ontario general election.

Mario G. Racco is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2007 who represented the Greater Toronto Area riding of Thornhill.

Tim Hudak Canadian politician

Timothy Patrick Hudak is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2016. He successively represented the ridings of Niagara South, Erie—Lincoln, and then Niagara West—Glanbrook. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.

Philip Andrew Gillies is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987 as a Progressive Conservative, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller.

2011 Ontario general election

The 2011 Ontario general election was held on October 6, 2011, to elect members of the 40th Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Ontario Liberal Party was elected to a minority government, with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario serving as the Official Opposition and the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) serving as a third party. In the final result, Premier McGuinty's party fell one seat short of winning a majority government.

39th Parliament of Ontario

The 39th Legislative Assembly of Ontario was a legislature of the government of the Province of Ontario, Canada. It officially opened November 29, 2007, and ended on June 1, 2011. The membership was set by the 2007 Ontario general election on October 10, 2007.

2009 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election

On March 6, 2009, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader John Tory announced his intention to step down as leader following his defeat in a by-election. Tory was elected party leader in the party's 2004 leadership election, and led the party to defeat in the 2007 provincial election in which he failed to win personal election to the Ontario Legislature. He attempted again to enter the legislature in a March 5, 2009 by-election but was defeated by the Liberal candidate.

40th Parliament of Ontario

The 40th Legislative Assembly of Ontario was a legislature of the government of the province of Ontario, Canada. The membership was set by the 2011 Ontario general election.

Jack MacLaren is a Canadian former politician who represented the eastern Ontario riding of Carleton—Mississippi Mills in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2011 to 2018. Originally elected as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, he was removed from the party's legislative caucus in 2017 by party leader Patrick Brown after a video recording surfaced of him suggesting that the party would repeal Franco-Ontarian language rights in the province. MacLaren announced later that day that he had joined the Trillium Party of Ontario, becoming that party's first MPP.

2014 Ontario general election 2014 Canadian provincial general election

The 2014 Ontario general election was held on June 12, 2014, to elect the members of the 41st Parliament of Ontario. The Liberal Party won a majority of seats in the legislature, allowing its leader, Kathleen Wynne, to continue as premier, moving from a minority to majority government. This was the Liberals' fourth consecutive win since 2003 and an improvement from their performance in the 2011 election. The Progressive Conservatives under Tim Hudak were returned to the official opposition; following the election loss, Hudak announced his resignation as Progressive Conservative leader. The New Democratic Party under Andrea Horwath remained in third place, albeit with an improved share of the popular vote.

Gila Martow Canadian politician

Gila Deborah Gladstone-Martow is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She represented the electoral district of Thornhill in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a member of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party from 2014 to 2022. She held the position of Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour until November 2018, when she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Francophone Affairs Minister Caroline Mulroney following the departure of Amanda Simard from the PC Caucus. Martow did not seek re-election in the 2022 Ontario general election after unsuccessfully seeking the federal Conservative nomination in 2021.

Wayne Gates Canadian politician

Wayne J. Gates is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in a by-election in February 2014, and re-elected in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 General elections. He represents the riding of Niagara Falls.

41st Parliament of Ontario

The 41st Legislative Assembly of Ontario was a legislature of the government of the province of Ontario, Canada. The membership was set by the 2014 Ontario general election. The 41st parliament of Ontario was dissolved on May 8, 2018.

2015 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election

The 2015 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election was held on May 9, 2015, as a result of the resignation of Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak following the provincial election on June 12, 2014, his second loss in a row as party leader. Patrick Brown won the leadership with 61.8% of votes allocated, defeating Christine Elliott who had 38.2%.

Sam Oosterhoff Canadian politician (born 1997)

Samuel Earl Oosterhoff is a Canadian politician. Oosterhoff is currently the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Niagara West. Oosterhoff is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and was first elected at the age of 19 in a November 2016 byelection, the youngest Ontario MPP to ever be elected. The previous record was held by Reid Scott who was elected as a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MPP in 1948 at the age of 21.

Melissa Lantsman Canadian politician (born 1984)

Melissa LantsmanMP is a Canadian politician and public relations executive who serves as the Member of Parliament for Thornhill in the House of Commons of Canada. A member of the Conservative Party of Canada, she was elected in the 2021 Canadian federal election. She is the first LGBTQ woman and Jewish woman ever to be elected as a Conservative MP.

References

  1. 1 2 "Fasten your chinstrap: Former CJAD broadcaster takes seat in Ontario legislature". The Gazette. Montreal. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Nomination headaches dog Tories". Toronto Star. 26 June 2007.
  3. ↑ Morrow, Adrian (8 September 2013). "Shurman dropped as Ontario PC finance critic after billing taxpayers for second home". The Globe and Mail.
  4. ↑ "Peter Shurman was discouraged from running in riding where new home was". Toronto Star. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman announces resignation". Toronto Sun. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Tory MPP Peter Shurman resigns amid another spending controversy". Globe and Mail. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.