James P. Whitney
Sir James Pliny Whitney (1843-1914) was an eastern Ontario lawyer, Conservative member for Dundas ([1888]]-1914), and Premier of Ontario, 1905-1914.
Whitney led the Tories to victory for the first time in 33 years by defeating the Liberal government of George William Ross in 1905.
He became leader of the party in 1896 taking it from a narrow, bigoted rump into a forward looking party determined to build the province. Whitney's government laid the basis for Ontario's industrial development by creating the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario with Sir Adam Beck as its chairman and driving force. His government also passed the Workmen's Compensation Act and enacted temperance legislation. He also appeased anti-Catholic, anti-French-Canadian sentiment originating from supporters of the Orange Order in his caucus such as George Howard Ferguson by passing Regulation 17 which banned the teaching of French in schools beyond the first three years of school. The measure inflamed French-Canadian opinion across Canada, particularly in Quebec and split the country as it entered World War I.
Whitney died in office shortly after winning the 1914 election.
