1. Bill Murdoch was a former politician in Ontario, Canada.
20 Facts About Bill Murdoch
1. 2.
Bill Murdoch was a Freemason and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
3.
Bill Murdoch served as chair of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority for five years.
4.
Bill Murdoch began his political career at the municipal level by serving in for four years as a councillor in Sydenham Township and as reeve for a further eight years.
5.
Bill Murdoch was elected as warden of Grey County in 1987.
6.
Bill Murdoch served as vice-president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for two years and was a member of the board of directors for five years.
7.
Bill Murdoch ran as a Progressive Conservative for the riding of Grey in the 1987 Ontario election, in which the Liberals under David Peterson won a landslide majority.
8.
Bill Murdoch lost to the Liberal Ron Lipsett, candidate, by about 2000 votes.
9.
The Liberals saw their support base decline during the 1990 election and Bill Murdoch was able to win the seat on his second attempt, defeating the New Democrat, candidate Peggy Hutchinson, by about 2500 votes.
10.
Bill Murdoch was easily re-elected in the provincial elections of 1995 and 1999, both of which were won by the Progressive Conservatives under Mike Harris.
11.
Bill Murdoch developed a reputation as a party maverick, and was never seriously considered for a cabinet appointment.
12.
Bill Murdoch has never been afraid to criticize his own party, whether in government or opposition.
13.
Bill Murdoch opposed the Harris government's decision to cancel the province's spring bear hunt and claims that he was fired from a parliamentary assistant position after calling for more free votes in the house.
14.
Bill Murdoch once demanded a recorded vote on a same-sex benefits bill brought forward by the McGuinty government.
15.
Only 3 of the required 5 members stood to request a recorded vote and the Bill Murdoch passed on an unrecorded voice vote.
16.
Some criticized Bill Murdoch for rejecting the possibility that his government's cutbacks were partly responsible for the outbreak.
17.
The Progressive Conservatives lost the 2003 election though Bill Murdoch was re-elected in his own riding.
18.
Bill Murdoch stated that although he initially supported the plan, the widespread opposition by his constituents convinced him to reconsider his position.
19.
Bill Murdoch has stated that if the issue came before the legislature, he would vote against it.
20.
Bill Murdoch was awarded a Platinum Jubilee medal by MP Alex Ruff for his community service.