Frank Drea
| Frank Drea | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1971–1985 |
|
| Preceded by | Margaret Renwick |
| Succeeded by | William C. Davis |
| Constituency | Scarborough Centre |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Francis Drea July 7, 1933 St. Catharines, Ontario |
| Died | January 15, 2003 (aged 69) |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Jeanne |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Journalist |
James Francis "Frank" Drea (July 7, 1933 – January 15, 2003) was a Canadian journalist, broadcaster, politician and racehorse enthusiast. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1985 representing the riding of Scarborough Centre. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of Premier Bill Davis.
Drea was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, and educated at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. He was hired by the Toronto Telegram in 1955, and was a long-time reporter and columnist at the paper. In 1961, he won the National Newspaper Award and the Heywood Broun Award for Crusading Journalism for his work as a labour reporter for his coverage of a strike by Italian-Canadian building trade workers.
From 1963 to 1965, he worked as public relations director for the United Steel Workers of America in Sudbury, Ontario. A fervent anti-Communist, Drea played a leading role in the Steelworkers' unsuccessful campaign to raid and destroy the Communist Party influenced Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union which had dominated the mining industry in Sudbury. Drea's campaign was a failure, and he was fired.
He returned to the Telegram in 1965 as the paper's Action Line columnist, serving as an early consumer advocate. He remained with the newspaper until shortly before its demise in 1971. He also served with Dale Goldhawk as an outspoken, open-line host at CHIC Radio in Brampton, Ontario and worked for CTV on the public affairs program W5.
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