13 Facts About Keith Norton

Keith Calder Norton was a Canadian politician and public servant.

Keith Norton served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1985, and was until 2005 the chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Keith Norton was elected as an alderman in Kingston in 1972, and became the city's deputy mayor in 1974.

Keith Norton was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election, defeating Liberal candidate Ken Keyes by 203 votes in Kingston and the Islands.

Keith Norton served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis's government for the next two years, and was re-elected with an increased majority in the 1977 election.

Keith Norton was appointed to cabinet on February 3,1977, as Minister of Community and Social Services and held this portfolio throughout the parliament that followed.

Keith Norton was transferred to the Ministry of Health on July 6,1983, and held this position until Davis resigned as Premier in early 1985.

Keith Norton supported Dennis Timbrell's unsuccessful bid to succeed Davis as Progressive Conservative Party leader in January 1985.

The Progressive Conservatives lost government following the 1985 provincial election, and Keith Norton was personally defeated in the Kingston and the Islands riding, losing to Keyes by more than 2,000 votes.

Keith Norton attempted to return to politics in the 1990 election, running in Toronto against Liberal Attorney General Ian Scott.

In 1992, Keith Norton was appointed to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, and served as its president from 1992 until 1995.

On July 18,1996, Keith Norton was appointed chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission by Premier Mike Harris.

Keith Norton died on January 31,2010, of cancer at the Toronto General Hospital.