Basil Stewart

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Basil Stewart is a Canadian politician serving as the mayor of Summerside, Prince Edward Island since 2018. He previously served as mayor from 1985 to 2014 and as the president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities in 2009–2010.[1] Stewart was defeated in the 2014 Summerside mayoral election by Bill Martin.

Before mayorship[]

Before his election as mayor, Stewart was a police officer for the Summerside Police Department from 1971 to 1984, when he retired from the force.

Mayorship[]

After his retirement from the police force, Stewart entered municipal politics, being elected mayor of the Town of Summerside in 1985. He was re-elected in 1988 and 1991. In 1994, he became the first mayor of the now City of Summerside (Summerside formerly being a town). He was re-elected in the municipal elections held in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2010.

In 1993, Stewart ran in a federal election as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the riding of Egmont. He was defeated by then-incumbent Liberal MP Joe McGuire, who won with a plurality of approximately 3,700 votes.

He was accused of wasting $1.3 million of taxpayers' money, which was forwarded as a purported deposit towards a Michael Jackson tribute concert that never ended up happening,[2][3][4] "In January 2011, the city filed a complaint with the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division, for fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, negligent misrepresentation and rescission (rescinding) of a contract against Katrina Berg Sussmeier and Starlink Productions Inc."

At the 2014 Summerside mayoral election, Bill Martin, a Summerside businessman, was elected mayor with a vote of 4614 compared to Stewart's 2092, thus ending Stewart's 29-year run as mayor of Summerside.[5]

Goals and objectives[]

Stewart has many goals and objectives to make Summerside a better place to work, live, and raise a family. Stewart has been instrumental in drawing large tournaments and events, such as the Canadian PeeWee Baseball Championship, the Canadian Women's Softball Championship, and an exhibition National Hockey League game to the city. He was also a major force behind the construction of the Consolidated Credit Union Place.

Other associations[]

Stewart is also a member of various associations. He is the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and a member of the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities, and National Board of Directors to Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure. In the past, he was also served as Chair of Atlantic Caucus in 1998 and Chair of National Economic Development Committee from 1998–2000.

In 2015, he was named to the National Capital Commission.[6] In 2017, Stewart was named to the Order of Canada.[7]

Lawsuit against David Griffin[]

Mayor Stewart and city council of Summerside filed a lawsuit[8] against Deputy Police Chief David Griffin in 1997. The case is still in the courts as of October 2010 appealing the payment of interest on the damages owed to Griffin based on a judgement in March 2006 by Supreme Court Justice Wayne Cheverie who ruled in favour of Griffin in his malicious prosecution suit against the city.

Family and interests[]

Stewart lives in Summerside with his wife, Gail Inman-Stewart. He has two children—Mary-Jane (Steve) Dyer and Major (Holly Peters) Stewart. Stewart also has four granddaughters — Mya Stewart and Amber, Emma and Madison Dyer. He has four grandsons- Brett, Isaac and Joseph Stewart, and Lincoln Dyer.

His interests include hockey, swimming, and music (he plays guitar, harmonica, fiddle, and mandolin).

Electoral record[]

  • v
  • t
1993 Canadian federal election: Egmont
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Joe McGuire 10,547 57.71 +4.62
Progressive Conservative Basil Stewart 6,850 37.48 -1.92
New Democratic Basil Brian Dumville 880 4.81 -2.71
Total valid votes 18,277 100.00

References[]

  1. ^ "Summerside mayor takes charge of Federation of Canadian Municipalities". CBC.ca. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on 11 June 2009. Retrieved June 21, 2009.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". peicanada.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Jackson tribute trouble denied during election".
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-01-01. Retrieved 2012-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Elections Prince Edward Island". Elections PEI, Canada. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Basil Stewart, former Summerside mayor, named to National Capital Commission". CBC News \date=June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "3 Islanders invested into Order of Canada". CBC News. December 29, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Guardian 20 October 2010". Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2010.

External links[]

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