Michael Cassidy | |
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Cassidy speaks at a federal NDP rally in 2006
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Leader of the Ontario NDP | |
In office 1978–1982 |
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Preceded by | Stephen Lewis |
Succeeded by | Bob Rae |
Member of Parliament (MP) | |
In office 1984–1988 |
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Preceded by | John Leslie Evans |
Succeeded by | Mac Harb |
Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
Ontario MPP | |
In office 1971–1982 |
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Preceded by | Harold MacKenzie |
Succeeded by | Evelyn Gigantes |
Constituency | Ottawa Centre |
Alderman on Ottawa City Council | |
In office 1970–1972 |
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Preceded by | Mary Harrison and Lionel O'Connor |
Succeeded by | Joe Cassey |
Constituency | Wellington Ward |
Personal details | |
Born |
Michael Morris Cassidy May 10, 1937 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
Political party |
Ontario NDP (1978-1982) Federal NDP (1984-1988) |
Occupation | Radio and television broadcaster |
Religion | Unitarian |
Michael Morris Cassidy (born May 10, 1937) is a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1984, and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 1988. Cassidy was the leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) from 1978 to 1982.
He was born in Victoria, British Columbia, and was educated at the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto and the London School of Economics. He worked as a journalist before entering political life, and was bureau chief of the Financial Times in Ottawa for a period. His parents were Beatrice Pearce and Harry Cassidy, who was a founding member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, a one time candidate for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Toronto.
Cassidy was elected as an Ottawa alderman in January 1970. The following year, he was elected to the Ontario legislature for Ottawa Centre in the 1971 provincial election. Cassidy defeated Progressive Conservative candidate Garry Guzzo, who later served in the legislature from 1995 to 2003, by 182 votes. He did not immediately resign from his council seat, and held both positions until the provincial government banned concurrent tenure in 1972. Cassidy was re-elected with an increased majority in the 1975 election, in which the NDP under Stephen Lewis reduced the Conservatives to a minority government and became the official opposition in the legislature.