Peter Kormos Welland MPP Peter Kormos – a One-Of- Principal and Restrictions on Students’ Right A-Kind Socialist Cowboy and a Stalwart to Expression
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PETER KORMOS Welland MPP Peter Kormos – a one-of- principal and restrictions on students’ right a-kind socialist cowboy and a stalwart to expression. His campaign earned him an in Ontario’s New Democratic Party for 23 arrest and expulsion. Living on his own from years – hung up his signature cowboy the age of 16, Peter put himself through From his first days in office, Peter boots on March 30, 2013 when he passed Toronto’s Osgoode Hall Law School. He established himself as one of Ontario’s away peacefully in his home at age 60. returned to Welland as a criminal defence most eloquent and intellectual politicians, There is no question that Peter left big lawyer where he earned a reputation for his with a legendary encyclopedic knowledge boots to fill. pro bono work and his penchant for long- of parliamentary procedure. In 1990, Peter has been eulogized by friends and shot cases. Peter launched into a 17-hour filibuster politicians of every political leaning as against the Liberal government’s no- a rebel, a maverick and a cowboy. He is “Peter was the fault insurance plan that kept politicians universally recognized as a principled true conscience of sitting through the night as he sermonized champion of the underdog. Peter’s without relying on written notes. It was unrestrained “give ‘em hell” approach Queen’s Park whose an early signal to his colleagues and earned him the love of his constituents, first loyalty was to opponents that Peter’s true loyalties were but his contrarian independent streak often the working class.” with the people he represented. ruffled the feathers of his colleagues in In government, as in life, Peter was, in government and in his own caucus. - Sid Ryan - the affectionate words of former NDP “There is no question that Peter’s firebrand Leader Howard Hampton, “a brilliant man politics, brilliant speaking skills and Peter was first elected as the Ontario NDP and a stubborn son-of-a-gun.” He was a unwavering convictions earned him a MPP for Welland in a 1988 provincial by- thorn in the side of Premiers of any stripe. place as the true conscience of Queen’s election when he replaced veteran NDP In opposition, Peter was a principled Park,” said OFL President Sid Ryan. “Peter legislator Mel Swart. He was re-elected in watchdog who championed many issues was born to speak truth to power and, every subsequent Ontario general election and hounded the party’s opponents. In while in government, he never suffered until he retired from Queen’s Park in 2011 government, he refused to be muzzled fools, opportunists or flip-floppers. He and was promptly elected to the Niagara when his own party strayed from its values. Regional Council. saved his loyalty for the working class.” When the NDP formed government under Peter hailed from the blue-collar town of Peter served as NDP House Leader from then leader Bob Rae, Peter doggedly set Welland where his father worked in the 2001 until his retirement in 2011 and upon the NDP Premier for caving on his Atlas Steels plant. He grew up in the union also held numerous critic portfolios in promise to introduce public auto insurance. hall and never forgot his roots. Peter’s Opposition, including Labour, Justice, Community Safety and Correctional Grasping for excuses to silence his internal tenacious idealism fueled his commitment critic, Rae booted Peter from cabinet to justice and caused him to lead a week- Services, Consumer and Business Services, and Democratic Renewal. in 1991, citing a recent controversy long high school strike against an autocratic surrounding Peter’s fully-clothed pose for a 1952-2013 Toronto Sun “sunshine boy” feature as the On another occasion, he declared: Peter respected the NDP’s labour roots cause. For the remainder of Rae’s term in “Rats, sneaks, scabs and finks: Nobody and refused to shift his convictions with office, Peter acted as part of an unofficial likes any of them.” According to Peter, changing political winds. He was a true “left opposition” within the NDP caucus. “the most despicable form of life possibly warrior for the working class.” In 1993, he and three other colleagues— conceivable, [is a scab] who would cross Peter’s deep respect for working people Dennis Drainville, Karen Haslam and Mark a picket line to steal a job from a worker was most evident in the action he put Morrow—were the only NDP MPPs to vote fighting for a little bit of improvement.” behind his words. His outspoken support against the Rae government’s notorious for organ donation and health care Social Contract legislation that imposed “I don’t change produced many memorable quotes and unpaid days off on civil servants. his dedication to child support for single In 1996, Peter ran for leader of the NDP my values mothers almost earned him a criminal in a close three-way race with Frances conviction. He dressed like a worker Lankin and Howard Hampton. After the way some in the legislature and insisted on using Hampton took the top spot, Peter went on bank tellers over ATMs. He was a regular to play a prominent role within Opposition. people change presence on picket lines and at plant He served as the NDP Labour Critic from their socks.” gates. Peter was truly a man of the people. 2001 to 2011 and during that time, proudly - Peter Kormos - When he retired from provincial office, introduced anti-scab legislation in every Peter told the Welland Tribune: “I’ve been legislative session. incredibly lucky. … I’ve been blessed to Always a man of words, Peter was known “Peter had a deep respect for working work in a job I would have done for half for pouring over a thesaurus to find vivid class people that permeated everything he the price. Not too many working people and creative new ways to describe scabs did. He didn’t believe that you could be a have that luxury. Not too many working for the government records. “Scabs, union part-time supporter of Labour,” said Ryan. people do a job they love, enjoy and that busters, hired goons and other thugs “He stood by workers through every labour inspires them.” … earn their pay by busting unions and dispute, regardless of popular support. He defended our right to collectively bargain The labour movement, joins working breaking up union drives,” he said. “To people across Ontario in mourning the allow corporate bosses to circumvent, to and when we were killed or injured on the job, he demanded justice and fair loss of one of their most principled and avoid, collective bargaining at the table by straight-talkin’ allies. importing scabs is an outrage.” treatment for victims and survivors. ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 202, Toronto, ON M3C 1Y8 Telephone: 416-441-2731 Fax: 416-441-1893 .