26 Facts About Morton Shulman

Morton Shulman was a Canadian politician, businessman, broadcaster, columnist, coroner, and physician.

Morton Shulman first came to public notice as Ontario's Chief Coroner in the early 1960s.

Morton Shulman was fired and then ran for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, defeating a government Member of Provincial Parliament.

Morton Shulman served two terms as the MPP for High Park from 1967 to 1975.

Morton Shulman was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the early 1980s and became a pharmaceutical entrepreneur specializing in treatments for that disease.

Morton Shulman was born on 25 April 1925 to a Jewish family in Toronto, Ontario, where he grew up and was educated.

Morton Shulman received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1948 and maintained a general practice on Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto.

Morton Shulman became wealthy through investing in the stock market and wrote a bestselling book, Anyone Can Make a Million in 1966.

Morton Shulman was married to Gloria Shulman and they had two children: environmental lawyer and Toronto city councillor Dianne Saxe; and Dr Geoffrey Shulman.

Morton Shulman was appointed to the Coroner's Office as a junior in 1952, in exchange for his helping Conservative candidate William James Stewart defeat incumbent CCF MPP Lloyd Fell in Parkdale in the 1951 election,.

Morton Shulman was outspoken and used his position as coroner to crusade on a number of issues such as enacting tougher regulations on lifejackets for small boats, having government regulate car safety, introducing breathalysers and loosening abortion laws after he investigated the deaths of women who had died while trying to terminate their pregnancies.

Morton Shulman campaigned to force surgeons to count instruments before and after surgery, and construction companies to provide better bracing in trenches.

In 1967, Morton Shulman embarrassed the Progressive Conservative provincial government by revealing its inaction in enforcing the fire code in a recently built hospital.

Morton Shulman decided to avenge himself on the Ontario government by running for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Morton Shulman joined the social democratic party because it gave him a free hand in choosing where to run, and because its views on public safety were compatible with his.

Morton Shulman was elected in the that year's election, defeating High Park's incumbent MPP, Progressive Conservative Alfred Cowling by over 6,200 votes.

Morton Shulman used his position in the legislature to become a thorn in the side of the Tory government.

Morton Shulman asked provocative questions in the legislature and was known for stunts such as selling the book The Happy Hooker from his office after it had been banned by the Toronto Police morality squad.

In 1975, shortly before the next general election, Morton Shulman demanded that he be appointed Attorney General in the event that the NDP won.

Morton Shulman later wrote a memoir of his political career entitled Member of the Legislature.

Morton Shulman became involved in finance, heading a mutual fund and pursuing various business interests.

Morton Shulman was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1983, and formed a company, Deprenyl Research Ltd.

Morton Shulman's company engaged in a long fight with the federal government for approval of the drug for sale in Canada.

Morton Shulman started a second pharmaceutical company, called DUSA, later run by his son.

In 1993, Morton Shulman was awarded the Order of Canada, and was invested as an Officer of the Order on January 6,1994.

Morton Shulman was buried in Pardes Shalom Cemetery on Dufferin Street two days later.