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Hollis Beckett

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Hollis Edward Beckett
Ontario MPP
In office
1951–1967
Preceded byAgnes Macphail
Succeeded byArthur Meen
ConstituencyYork East
Personal details
Born(1896-06-22)June 22, 1896
Scarborough, Ontario
DiedOctober 22, 1976(1976-10-22) (aged 80)
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseEmily Stephens Copeland
OccupationLawyer

Hollis Edward Beckett (June 22, 1896 – October 22, 1976) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of York East from 1951 to 1967.

Background

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Beckett was born in Scarborough, Ontario to George M. Beckett and Margaret P. Drew. He married Emily Stephens Copeland, who was born in Collingwood, Ontario, on September 24, 1927, in York, Ontario.

Politics

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He was elected in the general election in 1951, Beckett defeated Agnes Macphail, the CCF MPP, one of the most prominent socialists in Ontario.[1] Beckett was re-elected in the general elections in 1955,[2] 1959,[3] and 1963.[4]

In 1958, he defeated a challenge by Richard Rohmer for the Progressive Conservative nomination.[5]

He served as a backbench member in governments headed by Premiers Leslie Frost and John Robarts.

On March 27, 1961, Beckett was appointed the Chair of a Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly whose goal was the review and consolidation of the Municipal act and all related Acts, including the Planning Act, the Assessment Act and the Ontario Municipal Board Act. The Committee presented its Final Report on June 15, 1967 and the work of the Committee formed the basis of legislative reforms which remained in effect for over thirty years.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Canadian Press (November 22, 1951). "Complete Ontario Vote". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  2. ^ Canadian Press (June 10, 1955). "Complete Results of Ontario Voting by Constituencies". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. p. 4. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  3. ^ Canadian Press (June 12, 1959). "Complete Results of Ontario Voting by Constituencies". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. p. 26. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  4. ^ Canadian Press (September 26, 1963). "78 in Tory Blue Wave -- 23 Is All Grits Saved". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 25. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  5. ^ Rohmer, Richard (2004). Generally Speaking: The Memoirs of Major-General Richard Rohmer. Dundurn. pp. 275–317. ISBN 9781550025187. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Select Committee Report
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