Charles MacNaughton

Charles Steel MacNaughton (May 15, 1911 – November 20, 1987) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1958 to 1973 who represented the central Ontario riding of Huron. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of John Robarts and Bill Davis.

Charles MacNaughton
McNaughton, c. 1966
Ontario MPP
In office
1958–1973
Preceded byThomas Pryde
Succeeded byJack Riddell
ConstituencyHuron
Personal details
Born(1911-05-15)May 15, 1911
Strasbourg, Saskatchewan
DiedNovember 17, 1987(1987-11-17) (aged 76)
Exeter, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationSeed distributor

Background

MacNaughton was born in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan in 1911 and grew up and lived in Brandon, Manitoba, where he worked in the seed industry, before moving to Exeter, Ontario in 1944 as a seed distributor.[1] He was a founding member of the South Huron Hospital in Exeter and served as a member of the South Huron District High School Board for nine years, including two as chairman.

MacNaughton died in Exeter on November 17, 1987.[1] He was married to Adeline M. W. Fulcher (1913–1997) and was survived by son, John MacNaughton (d. 2013), a Toronto investment banker[2] and Heather MacNaughton. MacNaughton is buried in the Exeter Cemetery, Huron County, Ontario. MacNaughton Park and MacNaughton-Morrison section of South Huron Trail are named for the former MPP.[3]

Politics

MacNaughton ran as the PC candidate in a by-election held on May 12, 1958. He defeated his Liberal opponent J.A. Addison by 1,197 votes.[4] He was re-elected four times before retiring in 1973.

On October 25, 1962 he was appointed as Minister of Highways.[5] In this position he oversaw the completion of Highway 401 and its expansion of six lanes and more in some places.[6] On November 25, 1966 he was appointed as Treasurer of Ontario.[7]

When Bill Davis became Premier in 1971 he returned MacNaughton to the Transportation portfolio.[8]

MacNaughton retired from politics in January, 1973 and Davis appointed him as chairman of the Ontario Racing Commission.[9]

Cabinet posts

Ontario provincial government of Bill Davis
Cabinet posts (3)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
Darcy McKeoughTreasurer of Ontario
1972-1973
John White
Darcy McKeoughMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs
1972-1973
John White
George GommeMinister of Transportation and Communications
1971-1972
Gordon Carton
Ontario provincial government of John Robarts
Cabinet posts (3)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
New positionMinister of Revenue
1968 (July–October)
John White
James AllanTreasurer of Ontario
1966-1971
Also Treasury Board chair
John White
Bill GoodfellowMinister of Highways
1962-1966
George Gomme

References