QUEEN’S PARK – Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak spoke in favour of Stoney Creek MPP Jennifer Mossop's Private Member’s Bill today to proclaim the third Wednesday of February as Lincoln Alexander Day in Ontario’s public schools.

The second reading of the Bill received unanimous support from MPPs in the House this afternoon. In a speech from the Assembly floor, Hudak congratulated Mossop on her idea to honour one of Hamilton's and Ontario’s most prolific politicians.

“Lincoln Alexander is absolutely inspiring; that great Canadian immigrant story that we all love to celebrate,” Hudak said in the Assembly. “He faced enormous obstacles at the time, incredibly bearing through it; and (earned) a list of accomplishments that made him very worthy of winning in 2006 the greatest Hamiltonian of all time in the Hamilton Spectator contest.”

Lincoln Alexander, 85, has had a formidable and lasting impact on both the Province of Ontario and Canada as a whole. He was Canada's first black MP, serving as the PC MP for Hamilton-West for four terms; Canada's first black cabinet minister under the Joe Clark PC government, He also served as the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and as the Chair of Ontario Heritage Trust.

His career outside of politics is just as celebrated. He remains active is numerous charities and is a member on several boards, including the University of Guelph and the Chamber Works Ensemble in Hamilton, and is chairman of both The Raptors’ Foundation and the Ontario Heritage Trust. He is an Honourary Patron of the Children First: School Choice Trust which gives scholarships to low-income families to attend independent and faith based schools.

The Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway in Hamilton is named after him, he is a Companion in the Order of Canada and Member in the Order of Ontario, and was named "Greatest Hamiltonian of All Time" in a June 2006 contest sponsored by the Hamilton Spectator.

Hudak recognized Alexander’s accomplishments by including him in the Great Dominion Dust-Up tournament in March, which Hudak organized to determine Canada’s most inspiring politician.

Hudak worked closely with the Hon. Lincoln Alexander when Hudak was the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation to make investments in Ontario's heritage properties and to expand Doors Open Ontario. They recently participated in ceremonies to commemorate the Battle of Ridgeway and the founding of the Niagara Parks Commission.

Lincoln Alexander Day would coincide with Heritage Week in Ontario, as well as Black History Month.

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For further information:
Tim Hudak, MPP Erie-Lincoln