Ronald Eddy
Canadian politician (1931–2026)
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Ronald Earl Foster Eddy (June 21, 1931 – April 2, 2026) was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1992 to 1995. Eddy represented the riding of Brant—Haldimand, and the mayor of the County of Brant from 1999 to 2018.
Ron Eddy | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mayor of Brant | |
| In office 1999–2018 | |
| Preceded by | Municipality established |
| Succeeded by | David Bailey |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Brant—Haldimand | |
| In office 1992–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Nixon |
| Succeeded by | Peter Preston |
| Reeve of South Dumfries | |
| In office 1978–1991 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 21, 1931 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | April 2, 2026 (aged 94) |
| Party | Independent (municipal politicians are elected on a non-partisan basis) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal |
| Children | 3[1] |
| Occupation | Farmer, administrator |
Background
Ronald Earl Foster Eddy was born in Toronto, Ontario on June 21, 1931,[2][1] and raised on a farm near Brantford.[3] He worked as a farmer and municipal administrator. He was a clerk-administrator in Wentworth County, Ontario from 1955 to 1973, and for Middlesex County from 1974 to 1992. He was reeve of South Dumfries Township from 1978 to 1991, and was a councillor in Brant County. On one occasion, he served as president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. In 1990, Eddy was president of an international plowing competition.
Politics
Eddy was elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election held on March 5, 1992, following the resignation of former Liberal leader Robert Nixon in Brant—Haldimand. Eddy was elected over Progressive Conservative candidate David Timms by almost 5,000 votes.[5][6]
The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in the 1995 provincial election, and Eddy lost his seat to PC candidate Peter Preston by about 3,500 votes.[7]
In 1999, Eddy returned to municipal politics and became the mayor of the County of Brant.[8][9] He also served on the board of directors for Brant County Power and was vice-president of the Children's Aid Society of Brant. Eddy lost re-election to businessman David Bailey in 2018.[10]
Electoral record
| Mayoral Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| David Bailey | 4,478 | 47.58 |
| Ronald Eddy | 3,156 | 33.54 |
| Don Cardy | 1,133 | 12.04 |
| Shawn Pratt | 644 | 6.84 |
| Mayoral Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Eddy | 5,357 | 56.77 |
| Roy Haggart | 2,508 | 26.58 |
| Shawn Pratt | 1,571 | 16.65 |
| Mayoral Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Eddy | 3,187 | 33.65 |
| Steve Comisky | 3,048 | 32.18 |
| John Weaver | 1,695 | 17.89 |
| Roy Haggart | 1,155 | 12.19 |
| Shawn Pratt | 387 | 4.09 |
| Mayoral Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Eddy | 6,300 | 67.2 |
| Shawn Pratt | 3,073 | 22.8 |
| Mayoral Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Ronald Eddy | 4,391 | 55.02 |
| Steve Comisky | 3,590 | 44.98 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive Conservative | Peter Preston | 14,184 | 47.80 | +24.34 | |
| Liberal | Ronald Eddy | 10,589 | 35.69 | -11.47 | |
| New Democratic | Willem Hanrath | 3,030 | 10.21 | -4.06 | |
| Family Coalition | Steve Elgersma | 1,340 | 4.52 | -5.62 | |
| Green | Terry Childs | 527 | 1.77 | -1.97 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Ronald Eddy | 9,565 | 47.16 | +9.81 | ||
| Progressive Conservative | David Timms | 4,758 | 23.46 | +1.82 | ||
| New Democratic | Christopher Stanek | 2,895 | 14.27 | -17.98 | ||
| Family Coalition | Don Pennell | 2,056 | 10.14 | – | ||
| Green | Ella Haley | 759 | 3.74 | +0.25 | ||
| Independent | Janice Wilson | 250 | 1.23 | – | ||
| Source: Our Campaigns[11] | ||||||