View source for Dave Levac

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Dave Levac
| image               = Hon Dave Levac Toronto 2017.jpg
| imagesize           = 
| caption             = 
| order               = 41st
| office              = Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
| term_start          = November 21, 2011
| term_end            = July 11, 2018
| predecessor         = [[Steve Peters (Ontario politician)|Steve Peters]]
| successor           = [[Ted Arnott]]
| parliament2         = Ontario Provincial
| term_start2         = June 3, 1999
| term_end2           = June 7, 2018
| predecessor2        = [[Ron Johnson (Ontario politician)|Ron Johnson]]
| successor2          = [[Will Bouma]]
| riding2             = [[Brantford—Brant (provincial electoral district)|Brant]]
| party               = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Ontario Liberal]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1954|04|6}}
| birth_place         = [[Brantford]], [[Ontario]]
| residence           = [[Brantford]], [[Ontario]]
| occupation          = Teacher
| spouse              = 
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|CAN|OOnt|size=100%}}
| education           = [[Wilfrid Laurier University]] (BA, 1976)<br />[[Queen's University at Kingston]] (BEd, 1977)<br />[[Niagara University]] (MSc, 1992)
}}
'''David Joseph Levac''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt}} (born April 6, 1954) is a retired Canadian politician who was the 41st [[speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 2011 to 2018. Levac was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Legislative Assembly]] in 1999 as a member of the [[Ontario Liberal Party]]. He served as the [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada)|member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for [[Brant (provincial electoral district)|Brant]] until 2018 and is the Ontario legislature's longest serving speaker.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=970828342898413568|user=spaikin|title=How did I miss this? Last month, @davelevac became the longest-serving speaker in Ontario history: more than seven…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. -->|date=March 6, 2018}}</ref>

==Background==
Born in [[Brantford]], [[Ontario]], Levac attended [[Wilfrid Laurier University]], where he earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1976.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title='Extraordinary citizen' appointed to Order of Ontario |url=https://brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/extraordinary-citizen-appointed-to-order-of-ontario |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=brantfordexpositor |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Bidding farewell to politics |url=https://campusmagazine.wlu.ca/2018/summer/features/qa-bidding-farewell-to-politics.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Campus Magazine |language=en}}</ref> He completed teacher's college at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] in 1977,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two alumni named to Order of Ontario {{!}} Queen's Alumni |url=https://www.queensu.ca/alumni/news/two-alumni-named-to-order-of-ontario |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=www.queensu.ca |language=en}}</ref> beginning to work a teacher in the early 1980s, and became a principal in Brantford in 1989.<ref name=":0" /> In 1992, he attended [[Niagara University]] to complete a master's degree in education.<ref>{{Cite web |title={{!}} Ontario College of Teachers |url=https://apps.oct.ca/FindATeacher/memberdetail?id=158078 |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=apps.oct.ca}}</ref> Levac received the Canada 125 Medal in 1993, was named OECTA Distinguished Teacher in 1994 for his work in conflict resolution programs, and was named Brantford's Citizen of the Year in 1997 by readers of the ''[[Brantford Expositor]]''. He also served as co-ordinator of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]'s Royal Visit to Brantford in 1997. He was awarded the [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.ca/honour.aspx?id=31953&t=6&ln=Levac |title=The Golden Jubilee Medal |publisher=The Governor General of Canada |date=2002}}</ref> In 2011 he was awarded the [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Chevalier of the Order of Merit]] for his educational efforts with respect to the Ukrainian famine in the 1930s.<ref name=holodomor>{{cite news |title=Levac made a Chevalier of the Ukrainian Order of Merit |url=http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2011/01/24/levac-made-a-chevalier-of-the-ukrainian-order-of-merit-watch-video |first=Vincent |last=Ball |newspaper=Brantford Expositor |date=January 24, 2011 |access-date=September 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205112502/http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2011/01/24/levac-made-a-chevalier-of-the-ukrainian-order-of-merit-watch-video |archive-date=December 5, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Political career==
Levac was elected in the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 provincial election]], defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] (PC) candidate Alayne Sokoloski by 956 votes in the riding of [[Brant (provincial electoral district)|Brant]].<ref name="1999 results">{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=Brant&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 3, 1999 }} {{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The PCs won a majority government in this election, and Levac sat as an opposition member for the next four years.

The Liberals won a majority government in the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 provincial election]] and Levac again defeated Sokoloski, this time by over 10,000 votes.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Brant&flag=E&layout=G |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140902173056/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Brant&flag=E&layout=G |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2014 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 }}</ref> Levac was named [[Chief Government Whip (Ontario)|chief government whip]]. Levac was re-elected in [[2007 Ontario general election|2007]], [[2011 Ontario general election|2011]], and [[2014 Ontario general election|2014]].<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |page=2 (xi) |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |page=2 }}</ref><ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=General Election by District: Brant |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614000746/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=009 |archive-date=June 14, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

On April 9, 2009 Levac, along with co-sponsors [[Cheri DiNovo]] and [[Frank Klees]] passed bill 147 – the ''[[Holodomor]] Memorial Day Act''. This was the first piece of legislation in Ontario history to be introduced with tri-partisan sponsorship. This historic legislation recognizes Ukrainian man-made famine as an act of [[Genocide]].<ref name=holodomor/>

On January 25, 2010, Levac was named parliamentary assistant to the [[Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (Ontario)|minister of energy and infrastructure]].

After the 2011 election, Levac was elected [[Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]. He beat three other Liberal members, [[David Zimmer]], [[Kevin Flynn (politician)|Kevin Flynn]], and [[Donna Cansfield]]. Cansfield was an early favourite for the position but lost to Levac on a second ballot after the [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] (NDP) voted in a bloc for Levac. No NDP or PC members put their names forward due to the Liberal government's delicate one-seat minority status in the legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-21 |title=MPP Dave Levac elected Speaker |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/11/21/mpp_dave_levac_elected_speaker.html |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=[[Toronto Star]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-principal becomes Ontario Speaker: Dave Levac, who beat out three ... |last=Howlett |first=Karen |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=November 22, 2011 |page=A11}}</ref> Levac was re-elected as speaker after the 2014 election defeating four other contenders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Throne speech to lay out Liberals' long-term agenda, including pension plan |last=Babbage |first=Maria |publisher=The Canadian Press |location=Toronto,, Ont. |date=July 2, 2014}}</ref>

On May 5, 2017, Levac announced he would not run for his seat again in the [[2018 Ontario general election]] after 19 years in the legislature and seven of those years as speaker.<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/05/05/queens-park-speaker-not-seeking-re-election.html | title=Queen’s Park speaker not seeking re-election | first=Robert | last= Benzie | date=5 May 2017 | newspaper=Toronto Star}}</ref>

In 2022, Levac was appointed to the [[Order of Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2022 |title=The 2021 Appointees to the Order of Ontario |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1002446/the-2021-appointees-to-the-order-of-ontario |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=Ontario Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Levac appointed to Order of Ontario |url=https://brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/levac-appointed-to-order-of-ontario |access-date=2022-12-05 |website=brantfordexpositor |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==Electoral record==

{{CANelec/top|ON|2014|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Dave Levac  |19,346 |37.14 |+0.06 }}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|[[Phil Gillies]]  |16,041 |30.80 |-3.85 }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Alex Felsky |13,992  |26.86 |+2.66 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Ken Burns | 2,095 |4.02 |+1.92 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Rob Ferguson |374 |0.72 |+0.30 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Brittni Mitchell |179 |0.34 |+0.04 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Paupers|[[John Turmel]] |61 |0.12 |-0.07 }}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|52,088|100.00}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|Liberal|+1.96}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Ontario]]<ref name="2014 results"/>}}
{{end}}

{{CANelec/top|ON|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Dave Levac  |16,867 |37.08 |-12.10 }}
{{CANelec|ON|PC |Michael St. Amant |15,761 |34.65|+5.77}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Brian Van Tilborg|11,006 |24.20|+10.53 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Ken Burns |957 |2.10|-2.47 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Martin Sitko|244 |0.54|&nbsp;}}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Daniel Hockley|237 |0.52 |-0.32 }}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Rob Ferguson|190 |0.42 |&nbsp;}}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Dustin Jenner|136 |0.30 |&nbsp;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|[[John Turmel]]|86 |0.19 |-0.38}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|45,484 |100.00 }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|195|0.43}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|45,679|48.23}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|94,717}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|Liberal|-8.94}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario<ref name="2011 results"/>}}
{{end}}

{{2007 Ontario general election/Brant}}

{{2003 Ontario general election/Brant}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[1999 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Dave Levac|21,166|46.98|-}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Alayne Sokoloski |20,210|44.86|-}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|David Sharpe |2,889|6.41|-}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Graham Mcrae |495|1.1|-}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Eleanor T. Hyodo|294|0.65| }}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{OntarioMPPbio|id=dave-levac}}

{{Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Levac, Dave}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:Heads of schools in Canada]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Order of Merit (Ukraine)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Métis politicians]] <!-- ref: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/07/a-missed-opportunity-for-our-people-indigenous-leaders-urge-province-to-revisit-electoral-map.html -->
[[Category:Niagara University alumni]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Politicians from Brantford]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]