Stuart Lyon Smith facts for kids

Stuart Lyon Smith (born May 7, 1938 – died June 10, 2020) was an important person in Ontario, Canada. He was a politician, a doctor who specialized in the mind (a psychiatrist), and a public servant.

He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1982. For most of this time, he was the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party.

Who Was Stuart Smith?

His Early Life and Education

Stuart Smith was born in Montreal, Quebec. His parents were Nettie and Moe Samuel Smith. His father ran a grocery store. Stuart's grandparents were Jewish immigrants from countries like Russia, Poland, and Austria.

He went to McGill University. There, he became president of the student society. He was also very good at debating. In 1957, he helped organize a student strike. This strike led to the government creating a student loan program. He later became a doctor, graduating from McGill University Medical School.

Starting in Politics

Stuart Smith joined the Liberal Party. He worked for a Member of Parliament (MP) named Alan Macnaughton. When Macnaughton decided to retire, Smith thought about running for his seat. However, he stepped aside to let Pierre Trudeau run. Trudeau later became the Prime Minister of Canada.

In 1967, Smith moved to Hamilton, Ontario. He became a professor of psychiatry at McMaster University Medical School. He also managed a hospital unit at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

Stuart Smith in Media

While he was in medical school, Stuart Smith co-hosted a TV show. It was called Youth Special on CBC Television. He hosted it for four years with Paddy Springate, who later became his wife. After that, he hosted another CBC show called The New Generation.

As a psychiatrist, he also wrote and presented a weekly TV show. This show was called This is Psychiatry on CHCH-TV.

Stuart Smith's Political Career in Ontario

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Stuart Smith was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1975. He represented the Ontario Liberal Party. He won his seat in Hamilton West by a small number of votes.

After this election, the Liberal leader, Robert Nixon, retired. Stuart Smith decided to run to become the new leader. He was seen as a more left-leaning candidate. He won the leadership vote and became the new leader of the party.

Leading the Opposition Party

In the 1977 election, the Liberals lost one seat. However, they became the Official Opposition party. This meant they were the main party against the government. Stuart Smith became the Leader of the Opposition.

As a politician, Stuart Smith was known for being smart. But some people found him a bit serious or distant. The government, led by Premier William Davis, nicknamed him Dr. No. This was because he often criticized government spending. He also found it hard to manage some members of his own party.

In the 1981 election, the Liberals did not gain many seats. They still had 34 seats. Stuart Smith resigned as leader after this election. He left the legislature in January 1982. David Peterson became the new leader of the party.

Many people say that Stuart Smith changed the Ontario Liberal Party. He helped it become more modern and appeal to people in cities. He also helped the party connect with different cultural groups. This work helped the party win the 1985 election. That election ended 42 years of the Progressive Conservative party being in power.

Life After Politics

Public Service Roles

In 1982, Stuart Smith became the chairman of the Science Council of Canada. This was a federal government group. He led it until 1987.

From 1995 to 2002, he was the chairman of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. In 1991, he led the Smith Commission. This group looked into education after high school across Canada. His report said that teaching should be as important as research.

Work in Private Business

After leaving the Science Council, he started a company. It was called RockCliffe Research and Technology Inc. This company helped government labs work with private businesses.

In 1994, Smith suggested creating a private water company in Hamilton. He wanted to build a business that could work globally. The city agreed, and he became the first president of Philip Utilities Management Corporation (PUMC). This company helped reduce the number of workers from the city's old public water system.

The company expanded into the American market in 1996. Stuart Smith left the company soon after. Later, the parent company had financial problems. Stuart Smith did not get much money from the success of his company. He later said, "If anybody is bitter about the Philip experience, I am."

Later, Smith was chairman of the board for Esna Tech. He also chaired the board for Humber College in Toronto.

Stuart Smith was a big fan of baseball. In 2012, he became the commissioner of the Intercounty Baseball League. This is a semi-professional baseball league in Ontario. He left this role after the 2013 season.

His Final Years

Stuart Smith passed away on June 10, 2020. He had been ill with a condition called Lewy body dementia for two years.