Patrick Lawlor

Patrick Daniel Lawlor (November 16, 1923 – March 28, 1993) was a Canadian politician who served as the Ontario New Democratic Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the Toronto riding of Lakeshore from 1967 to 1981.

Background Lawlor was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1923. He and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario when he was 7 years old. at the University of Toronto and then earned a law degree from the University of Toronto Law School and opened a law practice in Long Branch, Ontario, and also wrote an unpublished play. He and his wife Leslie raised four children. They lived in New Toronto. In a book dedication he called the writing of the book, "a distillation of a peculiar experience - a learning - an end which is also a beginning."

In 1967 he ran again, this time at the provincial level, and was successful by defeating Progressive Conservative MPP Alan Eagleson to win the Lakeshore seat in the 1967 provincial election. He was subsequently re-elected in the 1971, 1975 and 1977 provincial elections. Lawlor served as the NDP's justice critic and, briefly, finance critic.

Lawlor was friends with Ontario Premier John Robarts despite their different political allegiances.

Later life After leaving the legislature, Lawlor was commissioned to investigate legal reforms surrounding hate speech by attorney-general Roy McMurtry. His report, issued in 1984, advocated allowing parties to seek relief in court or before the Ontario Human Rights Commission by using a class action.

After suffering a heart attack, Lawlor was rushed to St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto where he died shortly after.

Electoral record