Former MPP, MP Michael Breaugh passes away
Former Oshawa MPP and MP Michael Breaugh passed away Nov. 22 at the age of 78. (Obituary photo)
By Dave Flaherty/The Oshawa Express
Michael Breaugh, a former provincial and federal representative for Oshawa, has passed away at the age of 78.
Premier Doug Ford shared his condolences to Breaugh’s family early Tuesday morning.
An obituary for Breaugh from the Courtice Funeral Chapel notes he passed away at Lakeridge Health on Friday, Nov. 22.
Breaugh was first elected as a New Democrat MPP in 1975, winning re-election in 1977, 1981, 1985 and 1987.
He ran for party leadership in 1978, finishing third.
In 1990, he left Queen’s Park to run for the city’s federal seat in a by-election to fill the hole left by legendary Oshawa MP and long-time federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent’s resignation.
Breaugh was successful, defeating Liberal candidate Cathy O’ Flynn.
He lost the seat in 1993 to Liberal Ivan Grose, part of an election where the NDP lost all of its Ontario seats.
Breaugh’s obituary described him as a leader with “careful listening, sentient reflection, a deep passion, and an abiding joy for the community he engaged with.”
Visitation will be held at the Courtice Funeral Chapel, 1587 Hwy. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29. Funeral services will be held in the chapel on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m., followed by a private internment at Mount Hope Cemetery in Toronto.