View source for Marion Boyd

{{Short description|Canadian politician (1946–2022)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name          = Marion Boyd
| image         =
| caption       =
| office1       = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start1   = 1990
| term_end1     = 1999
| predecessor1  = [[David Peterson]]
| successor1    = ''Riding abolished''
| constituency1 = [[London Centre (provincial electoral district)|London Centre]]
| birth_name   = Phyllis Marion Watt
| birth_date    = {{birth date|1946|03|26}}
| birth_place   = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| death_date    = {{death date and age|2022|10|11|1946|03|26}}
| death_place   = [[Inverhuron, Ontario|Inverhuron]], Ontario, Canada
| residence     = [[London, Ontario]]
| party         = [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democrat]]
| occupation    = Mediator
}}

'''Phyllis Marion Boyd''' ({{nee}} '''Watt'''; March 26, 1946 – October 11, 2022) was a Canadian politician in [[Ontario]]. She was a [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 1990 to 1999 who represented the [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[London Centre (provincial electoral district)|London Centre]]. She served as a member of cabinet in the government of [[Bob Rae]].

==Early life==
Boyd was born in Toronto on March 26, 1946, to Bill and Dorothy Watt.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marion Boyd Obituary|url=https://memorials.daveylinklaterfuneralhome.com/marion--boyd/5044513/index.php|publisher=Davey-Linklater Funeral Home|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref><ref name="OLA bio">{{cite web|title=Marion Boyd|url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/marion-boyd|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=[[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]}}</ref>  She studied at [[Glendon College]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in English and history in 1968. From 1968 to 1973, she worked as an assistant to the president of [[York University]]. In 1975–76, she helped faculty members of York University win their first union contract.<ref name="activist">{{cite news|title=Social activist eager to make changes|first=Joseph|last=Hall|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=September 14, 1990|page=A11}}</ref> She subsequently worked as an executive director of the London Battered Women's Advocacy Clinic, and served two terms as president of the London Status of Women Action Group.<ref>{{cite news|title=Police lax on wife-beaters, critics say|first=Kim|last=Zarzour|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=July 21, 1987|page=D1}}</ref> She was widely known as a [[feminist]].<ref name="activist"/>

==Politics==
In 1985, Boyd was the [[Ontario New Democratic Party|NDP]] candidate in [[London North]] in the [[1985 Ontario general election|provincial election of 1985]], but finished third against incumbent [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Ron Van Horne]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Across the province |author=Canadian Press |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=May 3, 1985 |page=A13}}</ref> She ran in [[London Centre (provincial electoral district)|London Centre]] in the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 election]], and lost to sitting [[Premier of Ontario|Premier]] [[David Peterson]] by almost 9,000 votes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Here's how red tide swamped Ontario – riding by riding; Peterson's Liberals romp to victory|newspaper=The Gazette|location=Montreal|date=September 11, 1987|page=A6}}</ref> She campaigned as a federal [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democrat]] in the [[1988 Canadian federal election|1988 general election]], finished third behind [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[Joe Fontana]] and [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] [[Jim Jepson]] in [[London East]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Riding-by-riding look at election results from across the country|newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen|date=November 22, 1988|page=B6}}</ref>

Boyd sought a rematch against Peterson in the [[1990 Ontario general election|1990 provincial election]]. This time she won, defeating the Premier by more than 8,000 votes.<ref name="1990 Election Results">{{cite news|title=Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=September 7, 1990|page=A12}}</ref> It was almost unheard of for a provincial premier to be defeated in his own riding, and the size of Boyd's victory was all the more surprising. The NDP won the election, and the new Premier, [[Bob Rae]], appointed her as [[Minister of Education (Ontario)|Minister of Education]] on October 1, 1990.<ref name="1990RaeCabinet">{{cite news |title=Ontario cabinet|newspaper=The Windsor Star|date=October 1, 1990 |page=A4}}</ref>

When fellow cabinet member [[Anne Swarbrick]] resigned due to health issues, Boyd took over responsibility for [[Women's Issues (Ontario ministry)|Women's Issues]] on September 11, 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swarbrick gives up women's portfolio|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=September 12, 1991|page=A12}}</ref> Boyd launched a high-profile campaign against domestic abuse in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ontario ads may be triggering assaults |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=November 3, 1992 |page=A1}}</ref> She was transferred to the [[Minister of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Ministry of Community and Social Services]] on October 15, 1991, when [[Zanana Akande]] resigned due to a conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rae reassigns cabinet ministers|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|date=October 16, 1991|page=A16}}</ref>

Boyd was promoted to [[Attorney General of Ontario]] on February 3, 1993, the first woman to hold that position as well as the first non-lawyer.<ref name="1993RaeCabinet">{{cite news|title=Rae chops 10 ministries 'leaner' cabinet sworn in|first=William|last=Walker|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=February 3, 1993|page=A1}}</ref> In this capacity she was responsible for the [[Equality Rights Statute Amendment Act]] (Bill 167), that would have provided same-sex couples with rights and obligations mostly equal to those of opposite-sex [[Common-law marriage|common law couples]].<ref>{{cite news|title=NDP bill to grant more spousal rights to same-sex couples|first=Bruce|last=DeMara|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=June 11, 1993|page=A1}}</ref> The bill failed on a [[free vote]] when twelve NDP members voted with the opposition parties against the bill.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ontario rejects same-sex bill; Angry gay activists shout 'shame' after compromise defeated|last=Powell|first=Betsy |newspaper=The Gazette|date=June 10, 1994|page=A1}}</ref> The bill's failure was a personal disappointment for Boyd, who had invested considerable effort in promoting its passage. The Progressive Conservative Party, which voted unanimously against Bill 167, formed government after the next election and ultimately passed similar legislation five years later when required by the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]'s ruling in ''[[M v H]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Same-sex couples granted new rights; Bill's passage follows order by top court to end discrimination|last=Mallan|first=Caroline|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=October 28, 1999|page=1}}</ref>

Boyd also approved a highly controversial plea-bargain deal that allowed serial killer [[Karla Homolka]] to receive a 12-year prison sentence in return for testimony which led to the conviction of Homolka's then-husband, [[Paul Bernardo]]. The deal was criticized in much of the Canadian media, and many questioned Boyd's judgment in the matter. At the time the extent of Homolka's personal involvement in Bernardo's crimes was not known.<ref>{{cite news|title=Deal With The Devil|first1=John|last1=Duncanson|first2=Nick|last2=Pron|first3=Jim|last3=Rankin |newspaper=Toronto Star|date=September 3, 1995|page=F1}}</ref>

Boyd remained as Attorney General until the Rae government was defeated in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 election]].  She was one of seventeen NDP MPPs to successfully retain their seats in that election, defeating PC candidate Patrick McGuinness by 1,732 votes.<ref name="1995 Election Results">{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=london+centre&flag=E&layout=G|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031131304/https://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=london+centre&flag=E&layout=G|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2020|title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate|publisher=Elections Ontario|date=June 8, 1995}}</ref> Boyd remained a high-profile MPP, serving as the NDP's Health Critic from 1997 to 1999.<ref name="OLA bio"/>

The London Centre riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996. Boyd ran against fellow incumbent [[Dianne Cunningham]] of the Progressive Conservative Party in [[London North Centre (provincial electoral district)|London North Centre]], and lost by just over 1,700 votes.<ref name="1999 Election Results">{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=London+north+centre&flag=E&layout=G|title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate|publisher=Elections Ontario|date=June 3, 1999|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330083326/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=london+north+centre&flag=E&layout=G|archivedate=March 30, 2014}}</ref>

===Cabinet positions===
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Bob_Rae}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post3preceded = [[Howard Hampton]]
| post3         = [[Attorney General (Ontario)|Attorney General]]
| post3years    = 1993–1995
| post3note     = also named Minister of Justice and Responsible for Women's Issues
| post3followed = [[Charles Harnick]]

| post2preceded = [[Zanana Akande]]
| post2         = [[Ministry of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Minister of Community and Social Services]]
| post2years    = 1991–1993
| post2note     = Also Responsible for Women's Issues
| post2followed = [[Tony Silipo]]

| post1preceded = [[Sean Conway (Canadian politician)|Sean Conway]]
| post1         = [[Ministry of Education (Ontario)|Minister of Education]]
| post1years    = 1990–1991
| post1note     =
| post1followed = [[Tony Silipo]]
}}
{{s-end}}
<small>Source:<ref name="OLA bio"/></small>

==Electoral record (Federal)==
===[[London East]]===
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1988|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Joe Fontana]]|19,547|37.7% |+11.8%}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Jim Jepson|19,445|37.5% |−9.7%}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|'''Marion Boyd'''|12,667|24.4% |−2.5%}}
{{CANelec|XX|Independent|Peter Ewart|201|0.4% |+0.4% }}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Profile – London East, Ontario (1968-04-23 – 1997-04-26)|url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=4934|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=Library of Parliament|location=Ottawa, Canada}}</ref></small>

==Electoral record (provincial)==
===[[London North]]===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1985 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Ronald Van Horne|20,536|54.4%|+4.8%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|George Auold|11,433|30.3%|−7.7%}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|'''Marion Boyd'''|5,191|13.8%|+1.4%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Robert Smeenk|566|1.5%|+1.5%}}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite news|title=Election Ontario – Riding candidates for the Sept. 10 vote|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/386129093|page=A10|date=August 28, 1987|access-date=October 14, 2022|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|id={{ProQuest|386129093}}}}</ref></small>

===[[London Centre (provincial electoral district)|London Centre]]===
{{Election box begin | title=[[1987 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|[[David Peterson]]|18,194|55.2%|+0.4%}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|'''Marion Boyd'''|9,266|28.1%|+11.0%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Dennis McKaig|3,864|11.7%|−14.8%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Brenda Rowe|695|2.1%|+2.1%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Lloyd Walker|589|1.8%|+0.2%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Stunning Bentley|375|1.1%|+1.1%}}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite news|title=Winners across Ontario|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/435632657|page=A13|date=September 11, 1987|access-date=October 14, 2022|newspaper=Toronto Star|id={{ProQuest|435632657}}}}</ref></small>

{{Election box begin | title=[[1990 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|'''Marion Boyd'''|17,837|51.3%|+23.2%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|David Peterson|9,671|27.8%|−27.4%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Mark Handelman|5,348|15.4%|+3.7%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|John Van Geldersen|982|2.8%|+0.7%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Lloyd Walker|589|1.4%|−0.4%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Terry Smart|375|0.8%|+0.8%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Communist|Issam Mansour|84|0.2%|+0.2%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Sidney Tarleton|73|0.2%|+0.2%}}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref>{{cite news|title=Results from across province|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436266773|page=A11|date=September 7, 1990|access-date=October 14, 2022|newspaper=Toronto Star|id={{ProQuest|435632657}}}}</ref></small>

{{Election box begin | title=[[1995 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|'''Marion Boyd'''|11,096|36.8%|−14.5%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Patrick McGuinness|9,364|31.0%|+15.6%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Ron Postian|7,559|25.1%|−2.7%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Mike Dwyer|1,041|3.5%|+0.7%}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Jeff Culbert |533 |1.8% |+1.8%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Lloyd Walker|452|1.5%|+0.1%}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Liz Overall|134|0.4%|+0.4%}}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref name="95 and 99 results">{{cite web|title=Data Explorer|url=https://results.elections.on.ca/en/data-explorer?fromYear=1867&toYear=2019&candidateNames=Marion%20Boyd&levelOfDetail=candidate|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=[[Elections Ontario]]|location=Toronto}}</ref></small>

===[[London North Centre (provincial electoral district)|London North Centre]]===
{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1999|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|[[Dianne Cunningham]]| 18,320| 40.2|}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Marion Boyd| 16,611| 36.5|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Roger Caranci| 9,518| 20.9|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Andrew Jezierski| 466| 1.0|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Jeff Culbert| 366| 0.8|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Robert Metz| 156| 0.3|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Stephen Porter| 120| 0.3|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|45,557 | 100| | }}
{{end}}
<small>Source:<ref name="95 and 99 results"/></small>

==After politics==
Boyd was appointed chair to the Task Force on the Health Effects of Woman Abuse in 2000. It was convened in response to the problem of domestic violence against women.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Abuse against women a public health issue: MD |last1=Swanson |first1=Lynne |journal=CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=162 |issue=6 |date=March 21, 2000 |pages=848 |pmid=10750474 |pmc=1231285 |issn=0820-3946}}</ref> Later that year the task force produced a report with 29 recommendations. The key conclusion was that doctors should begin screening female patients as young as 12 years old for signs of abuse.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Task force recommends screening females for abuse beginning at age 12 |last1=Swanson |first1=Lynne |journal=CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal |volume=163 |issue=11 |date=November 28, 2000 |pages=1492 |pmc=80431 |issn=0820-3946}}</ref>

In December 2003, it came to light that religious tribunals had some legal basis under the Arbitration Act. Some argued that this interpretation allowed for Muslim [[Sharia]] law to be applied in settling family disputes.<ref name="CWS2006">{{cite journal|title=Arbitration and Family Laws: Muslim Women Campaign to Eliminate the Use of Religious Laws in Legally-Binding Arbitration|last=Hogben|first=Alia|journal=Canadian Woman Studies|volume=25|issue=Summer 2006|pages=133–136}}</ref> In the spring of 2004, the issue flared up even more with some claiming that the use of Sharia law tribunals was infringing on the rights of Muslim women.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ontario sharia tribunals assailed; Women fighting use of Islamic law But backers say rights protected|last=Hurst|first=Lynda|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=May 22, 2004|page=A1}}</ref> In the summer of 2004, Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]] asked Boyd to investigate the issue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Attorney General And Women's Issues Minister To Review Arbitrations Processes|url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/25409/former-attorney-general-and-womens-issues-minister-to-review-arbitrations-processes|date=June 25, 2004|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=Government of Ontario}}</ref>

In December 2004, Boyd released a report that found no evidence of complaints with regards to faith-based arbitration. She concluded that no changes to the act were needed with respect to religious tribunals. She made 46 recommendations for changes to the Arbitration Act primarily dealing with  arbitrator training and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of tribunals.<ref name="CWS2006"/> In 2005, in response to public opinion, McGuinty ignored Boyd's main conclusion and tabled changes to the act under the ''Family Statute Law Amendment Act''.<ref>{{cite news|title=McGuinty government rules out use of sharia law|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/mcguinty-government-rules-out-use-of-sharia-law/article18247682/|first1=Colin|last1=Freeze|first2=Karen|last2=Howlett|date=September 12, 2005|access-date=October 14, 2022|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Legal Integration of Islam: A Transatlantic Comparison|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nxADcOfIoMC&pg=PT92|publisher=Harvard University Press|date=2013|last=Joppke|first=Christian|isbn=9780674074934}}</ref>

While incorporating many of Boyd's recommendations, the act specifically removed any legal status for the arbitration of custodial and marital disputes by religious tribunals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sharia, pensions, health care on MPPs' agenda|first=Ian|last=Urquhart|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=February 11, 2006|page=F5}}</ref> The act mandated that all family law arbitrations in Ontario be conducted only in accordance with Canadian law.<ref>{{cite news|title=McGuinty Government Modernizes Provincial Laws|publisher=Canada NewsWire|location=Ottawa|date=June 22, 2006}}</ref> Some critics argued that this was a missed opportunity to incorporate aspects of Islamic law into the Canadian judicial system.<ref>{{cite journal |ssrn=1749046|title=The Myth and Reality of 'Shari'a' Courts in Canada: A Delayed Opportunity for the Indigenization of Islamic Legal Rulings |url=http://ir.stthomas.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1235&context=ustlj |journal=University of St. Thomas Law Journal |volume=7 |issue=3 |page=559 |date=2010 |last1=Kutty |first1=Faisal }}</ref>

Boyd died in [[Inverhuron, Ontario]] on October 11, 2022, at the age of 76.<ref name=Needles>{{cite news|title=Former London MPP and Ontario Attorney General Marion Boyd dies at 76|url=https://blackburnnews.com/london/london-news/2022/10/14/former-london-mpp-ontario-attorney-general-marion-boyd-dies-76/|first=Craig|last=Needles|date=October 14, 2022|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=Blackburn News}}</ref><ref name="CBC obit">{{cite news|title=Former Ontario attorney general Marion Boyd dead at 76|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/former-ontario-attorney-general-marion-boyd-dead-at-76-1.6617314|date=October 14, 2022|accessdate=October 14, 2022|publisher=CBC News}}</ref><ref name=Richmond>{{cite news|title='Giant killer' Marion Boyd remembered for advocacy for same-sex rights, women|url=https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/giant-killer-marion-boyd-remembered-for-advocacy-for-same-sex-rights-women|first=Randy|last=Richmond|date=October 14, 2022|access-date=October 14, 2022|newspaper=[[The London Free Press]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{OntarioMPPbio|id=marion-boyd}}

{{Rae Ministry}}
{{Ontario Attorneys General}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyd, Marion}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:Attorneys general of Ontario]]
[[Category:Glendon College alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Politicians from London, Ontario]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Canada]]
[[Category:Women MPPs in Ontario]]