Bob Callahan
Robert V. Callahan (April 11, 1937–December 26, 2020) is a former politician from Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1995 representing the ridings of Brampton and Brampton South. From 1969 to 1985, and from 1997 to 2014 he served as a Brampton city councillor. Background. Callahan was born and raised in South Bronx, New York City. His family left for Canada when he was 17. Callahan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall at York  University. He operated a private legal practice in Toronto from 1965 to 1966, when he joined the firm of Beatty, Bowyer & Greenslade in Brampton. In 1969, he became a partner in the Brampton firm of Cook, Callahan & Leschied. Following the departure of partners Cooke and Leschied in 1982 and 1989, he continued in private practice. Callahan lives in Brampton with his wife Lyn. Together they raised four boys and have four grandchildren. Brampton City Council. Callahan served as an alderman on the Brampton City Council from 1969 to 1985, representing Ward 3. Provincial politics. He ran for the Ontario legislature  in the 1977 provincial election, but finished third against Progressive Conservative Bill Davis, the sitting Premier, the riding of Brampton. He challenged Davis again in the 1981 election, and finished a distant second. 33rd Parliament, MPP for Brampton (1985-1987). Bill Davis retired from the legislature in early 1985, and Callahan was able to win the Brampton seat on his third effort. In the provincial election of 1985, the Progressive Conservatives under Frank Miller were reduced to a minority government as Liberal support increased in much of the province. Callahan defeated PC candidate Jeff Rice in Brampton by over 4,000  votes, and became a backbench supporter of David Peterson's Liberal government after Miller's ministry was defeated in the legislature. Roles. During this term, Callahan served in a variety of roles: 34th Parliament, MPP for Brampton South (1987-1990). The Liberals won a landslide re-election victory in the 1987 provincial election, and Callahan defeated his nearest opponent by over 11,000 votes in the redistributed riding of Brampton South. He was not appointed to cabinet, and remained in the backbenches. He chaired the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislative Assembly, which studied alcohol and drug addiction, and treatment. "The  Ottawa Citizen" noted that he was suited to the role, given his exposure to the issue; he believed that 75% of those jailed had substance issues. He advocated for the funding of treatment, telling the "Citizen" "It's kind of like the mechanic said. You can 'pay me now' by treating them 'or pay me later' by putting them in jail or putting up with crime and family breakdown." Roles. During this term, Callahan served in a variety of roles: 35th Parliament, MPP for Brampton (1990-1995). The New Democratic Party won a majority government in the 1990 provincial election , and the Liberals were reduced to only 36 MPPs. Callahan was one of these, defeating NDP challenger John Scheer by 424 votes. In 1992, he was appointed as his party's critic for Correctional Services. In 1993, Callahan was a vocal opponent of the NDP government's plans to prohibit the picketing of abortion clinics within Ontario. Roles. During this term, Callahan served in a variety of roles: 1995 defeat. In the 1995 provincial election, the Progressive Conservative Party under Mike Harris won a majority government based primarily on support from Greater Toronto Area communities such as Brampton. Callahan lost  his own seat to PC candidate Tony Clement, later a provincial cabinet minister and a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. Return to city council. Callahan returned to municipal politics after his defeat, and was re-elected for Ward 3 on the Brampton City Council in 1997. He was re-elected up until 2010. He decided to retire from politics and did not put his name forward for the 2014 municipal election.