Al Kolyn

Al Kolyn
Ontario MPP
In office
1981–1985
Preceded byPatrick Lawlor
Succeeded byRuth Grier
ConstituencyLakeshore
Personal details
Born
Albert Kolyn

(1932-11-13)November 13, 1932
Fort William, Ontario, Canada
DiedJanuary 17, 2024(2024-01-17) (aged 91)
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationBusinessman

Albert Kolyn (November 13, 1932 – January 17, 2024) was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.

Background

Kolyn was born in Fort William, and was educated in the city. He later moved to Toronto, where he worked as a businessman. Kolyn was an active freemason, and a member of the Ukrainian National Federation. He died on January 17, 2024, at the age of 91.[1]

Politics

Kolyn ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial election, and lost to Pat Lawlor of the New Democratic Party (NDP) by 5,295 votes in Lakeshore.[2] He then contested Etobicoke—Lakeshore in the 1979 federal election as a candidate of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, and lost to Liberal Ken Robinson by only 747 votes in a close three-way race.[3] He campaigned federally again in the 1980 election, and this time lost to Robinson by 4,694 votes.[4]

Kolyn was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1981 provincial election, defeating NDP newcomer Don Sullivan by 1,232 votes.[5] He served as a backbench supporter of the William Davis and Frank Miller ministries for the next four years.

The Progressive Conservatives lost several seats in the 1985 provincial election, and Kolyn was personally defeated in Lakeshore. He finished third out of three candidates, losing to New Democrat Ruth Grier by 3,653 votes.[6] He attempted a comeback in the 1987 election, and finished a distant third against Grier.[7]

Electoral record

1980 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ken Robinson 17,903 40.8 +6.1
Progressive Conservative Al Kolyn 13,209 30.1 -3.0
New Democratic Terry Meagher 12,405 28.3 -2.6
Libertarian Stephen Kimish 247 0.6 -0.2
Marxist–Leninist Diane Waldman 88 0.2 0.0
Total valid votes 43,852 100.0
lop.parl.ca
1979 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ken Robinson 15,791 34.7 -5.4
Progressive Conservative Al Kolyn 15,044 33.1 +9.2
New Democratic Terry Meagher 14,044 30.9 -4.5
Libertarian Sheldon Gold 349 0.8
Communist Tom Morris 169 0.4 0.0
Marxist–Leninist Diane Waldman 72 0.2 0.0
Total valid votes 45,469 100.0

References

  1. ^ "Albert Kolyn". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 19 March 1981. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Ontario provincial election results riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1977. p. D9.
  3. ^ "Counting the votes: The Liberals watch from their Quebec fortress...as Conservatives sweep most of the West". The Globe and Mail. May 24, 1979. pp. 10–11.
  4. ^ "Election '80". The Toronto Star. February 19, 1987. p. B7.
  5. ^ Canadian Press (1981-03-20). "Election results for Metro Toronto". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 22. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  6. ^ "Results of vote in Ontario election". The Globe and Mail. May 3, 1985. p. 13.
  7. ^ "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.