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James Snow
James Snow
James Snow
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James Wilfred Snow (July 12, 1929 – September 13, 2008) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1985 who represented the GTA ridings of Halton East and Oakville. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.

Key Information

Background

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He was born in Esquesing Township, Ontario. He was the son of Wilfred Oliver Snow and Margaret Florence Devlin. He was educated in Milton. He worked as a farmer and a carpenter and he started his own business called Snow Construction Ltd. which built houses in post war Ontario. In 1950 he also founded Snow Properties Ltd. and Oakville Investments Ltd. In 1969 he created another company in Streetville, Tube-Fab Ltd. which made aircraft parts. In 1953 he married Barbara Hughes and together they raised four children.[1]

Politics

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Snow was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1967 provincial election defeating Liberal candidate Robin Skuce by 164 votes in Halton East.[2] He served as a backbench supporter of premier John Robarts for the next four years. In 1967 he introduced a resolution urging the province to adopt Canada's national building code.[1] On March 1, 1971, he was named a minister without portfolio when Davis replaced Robarts as Premier. He was re-elected with a much increased majority in the 1971 election.[3] He was promoted to Minister of Public Works and Minister of Government Services on February 2, 1972.[4]

The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a minority government in the 1975 election. Snow was re-elected in the redistributed riding of Oakville, and was promoted to Minister of Transportation and Communications on October 7, 1975.[5][6]

During his time as minister, he introduced mandatory seat belt legislation for adults and child restraint seats for children. In 1981, he approved the extension of Highway 404 before the completion of an environmental assessment. Even though his deputy minister claimed responsibility, he personally paid the $3,500 fine. In 1983, he pushed for the construction of a 3.4 kilometre highway linking his home town of Milton to Highway 401. He claimed that it was needed to increase industrial development.[1]

Snow supported Frank Miller to succeed Davis as party leader in January 1985, and was retained in Miller's portfolio as a minister without portfolio responsible for Urban Transit.[7] He retired from politics in 1985.[1]

Cabinet positions

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Later life

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Snow self-published an autobiography after leaving political life, and purchased a golf course in Hornby, Ontario. He donated his family wheelchair van to the Lions Foundation of Canada in August 2005.

In 2006 Snow and his wife Barbara donated half-a-million dollars to the Milton District Hospital Foundation's CT Scanner Campaign. The complex housing the scanner is named the "James and Barbara Snow Family Trust Diagnostic Imaging Annex".

The town of Milton, Ontario, renamed Fourth Line (in the former Trafalgar Township) James Snow Parkway (Halton Regional Road 4), with initial approval for an interchange with Highway 401 coming in 1979.[8] It was upgraded in the early 1980s to become a major arterial road, and is in the process of being extended on both north and south ends. The overpass of the James Snow Parkway at Highway 401 was damaged in 1986 when it was hit by a fuel tanker that caught fire, necessitating that the bridge deck be entirely replaced. It was renamed after James Snow paid to pave the road extended over the 401 so he could get home faster.[9]

Snow died on September 13, 2008, of complications from diabetes. He was 79.[1]

References

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James Snow

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from Grokipedia
James Wilfred Snow (commonly known as James or Jim Snow) was a Canadian politician known for his long service in the Ontario Legislative Assembly as a Progressive Conservative and for his influential tenure as Minister of Transportation and Communications. Born on July 12, 1929, in Esquesing Township, Ontario, he built a career as a farmer, carpenter, and businessman before entering politics. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1967, representing Halton East until 1975 and then Oakville until his retirement in 1985. During his 18-year legislative career, Snow held several cabinet roles under Premier Bill Davis, including Minister of Government Services from 1972 to 1975 and Minister of Transportation and Communications from 1975 to 1985. He played a key role in advancing road safety by introducing mandatory seat belt legislation for adults and child restraint requirements in Ontario. He oversaw major highway infrastructure projects, including developments that supported regional growth, though he notably paid a personal fine for approving a highway extension prior to completing an environmental assessment. The James Snow Parkway in Milton, Ontario, is named in his honor, reflecting his impact on local transportation networks. Snow retired from politics in 1985 and later pursued business interests, including owning a golf course, while making significant charitable contributions, such as donations to Milton District Hospital. He died on September 13, 2008, in Milton at the age of 79 due to complications from diabetes, survived by his wife Barbara and their four children. Described as a forceful and determined figure in Ontario politics, Snow left a lasting legacy in provincial infrastructure and public safety policy.

Early life

Birth and background

James Snow was born on July 12, 1929, on the family farm in Esquesing Township, Ontario (now part of Milton). He was the son of Wilfred O. Snow and Margaret F. (Devlin) Snow, and grew up in a farming community in the Region of Halton. He attended Quatra Bras and Bruce Street Public Schools, followed by Milton District High School. In 1947, he began working as a carpenter in Oakville. The following year, at age 19, he founded Snow Construction Limited, initially building houses and later expanding to schools, churches, factories, commercial buildings, and apartments in the area.

Career

Pre-political career

James Snow worked as a farmer, carpenter, and businessman before entering politics. He founded Snow Construction Ltd. and Tube-Fab Ltd.

Political career

Snow was first elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly in the 1967 general election as a Progressive Conservative, representing Halton East until 1975 and then Oakville until his retirement in 1985. He was re-elected in subsequent elections. He held several cabinet positions under Premier Bill Davis. He served as Minister Without Portfolio (1971-1972), Minister of Public Works (1972), Minister of Government Services (1972-1975), and Minister of Transportation and Communications (1975-1985), his longest-serving role. He briefly returned to Minister Without Portfolio in 1985 before retiring. As Minister of Transportation and Communications, Snow advanced road safety initiatives, including introducing mandatory seat belt legislation for adults and child restraint requirements in Ontario. He oversaw major highway infrastructure projects supporting regional growth. In 1981, he was fined $3,500 for violating the Environmental Assessment Act by approving an extension of Highway 404 before completing the required assessment. The James Snow Parkway in Milton, Ontario, is named in his honor.

Personal life

James Wilfred Snow was born on July 12, 1929, on the family farm in Esquesing Township, Ontario, to Wilfred O. Snow and Margaret F. (Devlin) Snow. He had an older brother, Flight Sgt. William Oliver Snow, who was killed in action in 1942 during World War II, and a surviving brother, Delbert Snow. Snow married Barbara Hughes on September 13, 1952. They raised four children: James Douglas Snow (of Hornby), Julie Barbara Snow (married to Kelly, of St. Catharines), Jeffrey Owen Snow (married to Susan, of Streetsville), and Jennifer Nancy Snow (married to Ralph, of Georgetown). He was survived by six grandchildren: Tara Snow, Tabitha Snow, Amy Snow, Ryan Snow, Travis Osborne, and Matthew Osborne. He was a licensed pilot and aircraft owner for over 40 years, operating a Cessna 210 until selling it in 1999 at age 70. Snow and his wife lived for 46 years at their Pineland Hornby property, which they later donated to the Salvation Army. After selling the family-owned Hornby Glen Golf Course in 2005, they relocated to a home on the Niagara Escarpment. Snow died on September 13, 2008, at Milton District Hospital from complications of diabetes, on his 56th wedding anniversary.

Death

James Snow died on September 13, 2008, at Milton District Hospital in Milton, Ontario, at the age of 79 due to complications from diabetes. He was surrounded by family and is survived by his wife Barbara and their four children.
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