Edmund L. Morris

Edmund Leverett Morris (4 February 1923 – 3 January 2003) was a Canadian politician, broadcaster and university administrator.

Edmund Leverett Morris
MLA for Halifax Needham
In office
1980–1988
Preceded byGerald Regan
Succeeded byGerry O'Malley
Mayor of Halifax
In office
1974–1980
Preceded byWalter Fitzgerald
Succeeded byRonald Hanson
Member of Parliament for Halifax
In office
June 1957 – February 1963
Preceded byJohn Dickey
Succeeded byGerald Regan
Personal details
Born4 February 1923
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Died3 January 2003(2003-01-03) (aged 79)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseLorraine Ware
Professionbroadcaster, journalist, radio commentator

Early life and education

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was the only son of Leverett Morris and Catherine Larsen.[1] He attended school at Saint Mary's Boys School. After graduating high school, he pursued an undergraduate and graduate degree in political science from Dalhousie University. After graduation, he went to work for a local radio station in Halifax.

Political career

In the 1953 federal election, Morris made his first attempt into politics when he ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the electoral district of Halifax. Although he lost, he continued to be involved in politics at the local level, and offered himself for election again in the 1957 election, in which he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada.

Between 1957 and 1963, Morris represented the riding of Halifax in the House of Commons. He held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Postmaster General, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Commerce.

In 1963, Morris was appointed as chief assistant to the President of Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Saint Mary's, a Catholic university administered by the Society of Jesus, saw Morris serving as one of the few lay persons on staff. Morris was instrumental in large scale building programs at the university throughout the 1960s as well as the eventual change of the university to non-denominational institution in 1970. Morris served as Interim President of Saint Mary's University during the school year 1970–1971.

Between 1974 and 1980, Morris served as Mayor of the City of Halifax.

After stepping down as Mayor of Halifax, Morris, entered provincial politics by standing as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the urban riding of Halifax Needham, during a by-election, on 6 May 1980. Morris won the seat by 26 votes.[2][3] Morris was re-elected in 1981 and 1984. Morris served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Municipal Affairs, Fisheries and Social Services.

Morris received an honorary degree, Doctor of Civil Law, from Saint Mary's University in 1986.

Death

Morris died on 3 January 2003, at age 79.[4]

Personal life

He was married to Lorraine Ware and had six children.

Electoral record
1962 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
Progressive ConservativeRobert McCleave42,96423.77Green tickY
Progressive ConservativeEdmund L. Morris41,80423.12Green tickY
LiberalJohn Lloyd41,47222.94 
LiberalGerald A. Regan40,63522.48 
New DemocraticJames H. Aitchison6,4643.58 
New DemocraticPerry Ronayne5,6533.13 
Social CreditRobert J. Kuglin1,7840.99 
Total valid votes 180,776 100.00
1958 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
Progressive ConservativeRobert McCleave53,69330.05Green tickY
Progressive ConservativeEdmund L. Morris53,25529.80Green tickY
LiberalJohn Horace Dickey34,22719.15 
LiberalLeonard Kitz32,91618.42 
Co-operative CommonwealthHyacinth Lawrence MacIntosh2,5521.43 
Co-operative CommonwealthLloyd Carman Wilson2,0481.15 
Total valid votes 178,691 100.00
1957 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
Progressive ConservativeRobert McCleave41,14025.32Green tickY
Progressive ConservativeEdmund L. Morris41,09925.29Green tickY
LiberalSamuel Rosborough Balcom38,50423.70 
LiberalJohn Horace Dickey38,19123.51 
Co-operative CommonwealthHyacinth Lawrence MacIntosh1,9841.22 
Co-operative CommonwealthLloyd Carman Wilson1,5620.96 
Total valid votes 162,480 100.00
1953 Canadian federal election: Halifax
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
LiberalJohn Horace Dickey34,58727.82Green tickY
LiberalSamuel Rosborough Balcom34,22227.53Green tickY
Progressive ConservativeEdmund L. Morris26,55221.36 
Progressive ConservativeFrederick William Bissett24,11219.39 
Co-operative CommonwealthHyacinth Lawrence MacIntosh2,7312.20 
Co-operative CommonwealthLloyd Carman Wilson2,1201.71 
Total valid votes 124,324 100.00

References
  1. Halifax Herald - January 5, 2003
  2. "N.S. Tories win 2 of 3 by-elections". The Globe and Mail. 7 May 1980.
  3. "Returns of By-elections for the House of Assembly 1980" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. 1980. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  4. "Longtime politician Morris dies at 79". The Chronicle Herald. 4 January 2003. Archived from the original on 29 April 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  • Beck, J. Murray. Politics of Nova Scotia: Vol. Two: Murray to Buchanan, 1896-1988. Tantallon, Nova Scotia: Four East Publications, 1988.
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