Darcy McKeough

William Darcy McKeough Template:Post-nominals (January 31, 1933 – November 29, 2023) was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1978 who represented the ridings of Kent West and Chatham—Kent. He was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Robarts and Bill Davis. Due to McKeough's senior position in cabinet as Treasurer, Minister of Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Municipal Affairs, he was often referred to as the 'Duke of Kent'.

After he retired from politics in 1978, McKeough spent a further career in business administering his companies McKeough Investments and McKeough Supply. He also spent time as a member of the board of Hydro One and was CEO of Union Gas.

Background

Born in Chatham, Ontario and educated at Ridley College in St. Catharines, Canada. After which received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1954.

Politics

From 1960 to 1961 and 1962 to 1963, McKeough was a member of the Chatham City Council.

In the 1963 provincial election, McKeough ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the southwestern Ontario riding of Kent West. He defeated Liberal candidate G.R. Newkirk by 1,739 votes.<ref name="1963 Election Results">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1967, he ran in the new riding of Chatham—Kent and defeated Liberal Tom Henry by 1,291 votes.<ref name="1967 Election Results">Template:Cite news</ref> He was re-elected in 1971, 1975 and 1977.<ref name="1971 Election Results">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="1975 Election Results">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="1977 Election Results">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1966, McKeough was appointed to cabinet as a Minister without portfolio by Premier John Robarts.<ref name="1966RobartsCabinet">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1967 he was promoted to Minister of Municipal Affairs after the previous minister, Wilf Spooner was defeated in the 1967 election.<ref name="1967RobartsCabinet">Template:Cite news</ref> Among other things, he introduced legislation to create the city of Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario by an amalgamation of existing municipalities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1971, McKeough entered the leadership race to replace Robarts who retired in December 1970.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was viewed as a compromise candidate between front runner Bill Davis and contender Allan Lawrence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He placed third in the contest which was won by Davis. After McKeough dropped out he endorsed Davis which was seen as a key move in Davis's narrow victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In return, Davis appointed McKeough to the senior cabinet post of Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Economics.<ref name="1971DavisCabinet">Template:Cite news</ref>

In September 1972, McKeough resigned from cabinet when it was revealed in a story by The Globe and Mail that he was involved in a conflict of interest when, as Minister of Municipal Affairs, his ministry had approved a housing development in which he was financially involved.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his resignation announcement, McKeough claimed he had done nothing wrong but felt that he could no longer continue in his position when his credibility would be continually questioned.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1973, McKeough was returned to cabinet as Minister of Energy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 1975, he was restored to the posts of Treasurer and Minister of Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs.<ref name="1975JanDavisCabinet">Template:Cite news</ref> In August 1978 he retired from politics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Later life and death

After leaving political office in 1978, McKeough returned to the private sector and has had a number of positions, particularly in the energy sector. In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for his "successful business ventures and fund-raising efforts on behalf of educational, medical, research and cultural institutions".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

McKeough died from complications of pneumonia on November 29, 2023, at the age of 90.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Template:OntarioMPPbio