Margaret Birch
| Margaret Birch | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
|
In office 1971–1985 |
|
| Preceded by | Tim Reid |
| Succeeded by | Ed Fulton |
| Constituency | Scarborough East |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
June 13, 1921 Leamington, Ontario |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Guy Cochran Birch |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Scarborough, Ontario |
Margaret Birch (born June 13, 1921) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1985 who represented the east Toronto riding of Scarborough East. She served as a cabinet minister in the government of William Davis. She was the first female cabinet minister in Ontario.
Birch was born in Leamington, Ontario, and was educated in the area. She was chair of the Scarborough Board of Health from 1963 to 1971, was on the Mental Health Council from 1967 to 1971, and was vice-chairman of the Social Planning Council from 1967 to 1970. She also served on the Board of Governors for Scarborough Centenary Hospital. Birch became the first woman member of the conservative Albany Club of Toronto, proposed by the then premier, Bill Davis. She married Guy Birch in 1949, a newspaper editor. They raised two children. Guy died in 1992. The Margaret Birch Wing was opened at the Centenary Hospital in 1986, now part of the Rouge Valley Health System.
Birch ran for Scarborough council, ward 6 in 1962. She came in 3rd behind winner F.D. Cummings.
She was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election, defeating incumbent Liberal Tim Reid by 670 votes in Scarborough East. She was re-elected in 1975, 1977 and 1981.
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