The Honourable
Ron Ghitter
CM
Senator for Alberta
In office
March 25, 1993 – March 31, 2000[1]
Appointed byBrian Mulroney
Preceded byStanley Waters
Succeeded byTommy Banks
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Buffalo
In office
August 30, 1971 – March 13, 1979[2]
Preceded byNew District
Succeeded byTom Sindlinger
Personal details
Born (1935-08-22) August 22, 1935
Calgary, Alberta, canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseMyrna Ghitter[3]

Ronald D. Ghitter CM (born August 22, 1935) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from August 30, 1971, to March 13, 1979, sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. Ghitter was appointed to the Senate of Canada on March 25, 1993, where he sat as a senator from Alberta until his retirement on March 31, 2000.

Life and career

Born in Calgary, Alberta, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 and his Bachelor of Law degree in 1959 from the University of Alberta. He practised real estate law in Calgary. From 1986 to 1988, he was executive vice president of development at Trizec Corporation.

He was first elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the electoral district of Calgary-Buffalo in the 1971 Alberta general election, defeating popular Calgary Stampeders star Don Luzzi from the Alberta Social Credit Party in a very tight race.[4] He was elected again in 1975 and then retired, having served two terms.[5] As a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus, Ghitter was a critic of many decisions made by his party, including purchasing Pacific Western Airlines and the governments use of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. Ghitter announced he would not retire from the legislature in November 1978, and not contest the upcoming 1979 Alberta general election.[6]

Following revelations that Eckville school teacher James Keegstra had taught his students anti-semitic propaganda, Ghitter headed a Committee on Tolerance and Understanding. The committee investigated issues of tolerance and understanding within the educational system.[7] This committee released its report to the government in 1984.[8]

Ghitter re-entered politics in 1985 to run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party but came in third losing to Don Getty.

He was appointed to the Senate in 1993 representing the senatorial division of Alberta. From 1996 to 1999, he was the chair of the Senate Standing Committee of Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. Sitting as a Progressive Conservative, he resigned in 2000.

In 1990, he was awarded the Alberta Human Rights Award.[9] He was awarded the Order of Canada on May 11, 2018, for his work on human rights legislation and various social issues.[10]

Electoral record

1971 Alberta general election results[4] Turnout 66.33% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeRon Ghitter5,70546.35%
Social CreditDon Luzzi5,23842.56%
New DemocraticJane Summers1,36411.09%
Total 12,307
Rejected, spoiled and declined 72
Eligible electors / turnout 18,664 %

1975 general election

1975 Alberta general election results[5] Turnout 50.67% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeRon Ghitter6,52570.88%24.53%
  Liberal Maria Eriksen 962 10.45% *
New DemocraticPaula Davies8779.53%-1.56%
Social CreditNorman Ashmead7868.54%-34.02%
CommunistDavid Wallis550.60%*
Total 9,205
Rejected, spoiled and declined 26
Eligible electors / turnout 18,219 %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 40.67%

Party leadership contest

Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1985
Second ballot
Candidate Votes Percentage
Don Getty 1,061 56.2%
Julian Koziak 827 43.8%
First ballot
Candidate Votes Percentage
Don Getty 913 48.4%
Julian Koziak 545 28.9%
Ron Ghitter 428 22.7%

References

  1. ↑ "Profile".
  2. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of Alberta".
  3. ↑ "Bill Brooks: DJD unveils incredible new space".
  4. 1 2 "Calgary-Buffalo Official Results 1971 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Calgary-Buffalo Official Results 1975 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Outspoken MLA won't run again". Edmonton Journal. November 3, 1978. p. B5. ProQuest 2397711112.
  7. ↑ Simons, Paula (June 14, 2014). "Jim Keegstra's haunted legacy; Hate-monger forced Alberta to confront its dark demons". edmontonjournal.com. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  8. ↑ Alberta. Committee on Tolerance and Understanding; Ghitter, Ron (1984). Final report. [Alberta : The Committee].
  9. ↑ "Ghitter: Alberta needs to regain its leadership in human rights". Calgary Herald. October 12, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  10. ↑ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Honourable Ronald D. Ghitter". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
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