Jim Henderson
- May 2, 2020
- 79 years
About Jim Henderson
Jim Henderson, 79, Canadian politician, Ontario MLA (1985–1995), complications from Parkinson's disease and COVID-19.
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Full Biography
|Donald James Henderson (August 7, 1940 – May 2, 2020) was a Canadian politician, who served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1995. He represented the ridings of Humber and Etobicoke—Humber.
Background
Henderson was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario, Johns Hopkins University, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He worked as a physician, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, Director of Psychiatry at the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital in Toronto and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie before entering political life, and served as an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry, and Psychiatrist in Chief for the Student Health Services, at the University of Toronto.
Politics
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1985, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Morley Kells by about 2,000 votes in the Toronto constituency of Humber. The Liberal Party formed a minority government after this election. Henderson states that his decision to enter politics was as simple as stepping off the street car and saying "I want to be a candidate" at the Liberal constituency office for the riding.
Initially Henderson was named as the parliamentary assistant (PA) for the Ministry of Community and Social Services. In 1986, Henderson took a highly public stance against the Liberal government in its attempt to ban extra-billing by doctors, a practice by which physicians bill patients directly an amount in addition to what is provided by the provincial health plan, and was generally supportive of doctors in their illegal strike that followed. Consequently, he fell into disfavour with the premier David Peterson, and was generally regarded as being on the political right of the Liberal Party.
He was later appointed as PA for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. In the 1987 provincial election he was re-elected by an increased margin in the redistributed riding of Etobicoke—Humber. He again served as a PA to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, before being appointed as PA for a minister without portfolio responsible for the province's Anti-Drug Strategy.
The Liberals were upset by the New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election, although Henderson managed to defeat his NDP opponent by about 3,500 votes. He served as his party's critic for Culture and Communications in the parliament which followed.
The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in the 1995 provincial election, and Henderson was defeated by PC challenger Doug Ford, Sr. (the father of Toronto city councillor Rob Ford).
While a private member of the legislature, Henderson brought forward a private member's bills on several topics. One such bill, Bill 95, which received first reading in 1988, would have amended the Children's Law Reform Act, to create a presumption of joint custody for parents in the event of a divorce, absent evidence of harm to the children, and required mandatory mediation of custody disputes. In another, which received first reading in 1987, would have allowed individuals to request anonymous HIV testing by amending the mandatory reporting requirements in the Health Protection and Promotion Act. He also proposed a private member's bill to give members greater freedom to take positions consistent with their constituent's views and individual perspective. In 1997, he wrote favourably in The Globe and Mail of a meeting he had had with Fidel Castro several years earlier.
After politics, he returned to the practice of psychoanalysis in the City of Toronto until 2011. He died on May 2, 2020, from complications from Parkinson's disease and COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Henderson_(Ontario_politician)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jim Henderson's archived record and the sources above.
1.Which university is among those where Donald James Henderson was educated?
- A.University of Ottawa
- B.McGill University
- C.University of Torontocorrect
- D.Queen's University
Donald James Henderson was educated at the University of Toronto, among other institutions.
Source: Background section
2.What was the professional role held by Donald James Henderson at the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital?
- A.Head of Pediatrics
- B.Chief Surgeon
- C.Director of Psychiatrycorrect
- D.Administrative Clerk
Donald James Henderson served as the Director of Psychiatry at the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital in Toronto.
Source: Background section
3.In which year was Donald James Henderson first elected to the Ontario legislature?
- A.1985correct
- B.1995
- C.1987
- D.1990
Donald James Henderson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1985.
Source: Politics section
4.Which incumbent did Donald James Henderson defeat in the 1985 provincial election?
- A.David Peterson
- B.Rob Ford
- C.Doug Ford, Sr.
- D.Morley Kellscorrect
Donald James Henderson defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Morley Kells in the 1985 election.
Source: Politics section
5.What issue caused Donald James Henderson to fall into disfavour with Premier David Peterson in 1986?
- A.Criticism of the Anti-Drug Strategy
- B.Support for tax increases on citizens
- C.Disagreement over education funding policies
- D.Opposition to the ban on extra-billing by doctorscorrect
Donald James Henderson took a public stance against the government's attempt to ban extra-billing by doctors in 1986.
Source: Politics section
6.Donald James Henderson served as a parliamentary assistant for which ministry after the 1987 election?
- A.Finance and Economic Development
- B.Transportation and Infrastructure
- C.Health and Long-Term Care
- D.Colleges and Universitiescorrect
Donald James Henderson served as a parliamentary assistant for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
Source: Politics section
7.Who defeated Donald James Henderson in the 1995 provincial election?
- A.Doug Ford, Sr.correct
- B.David Peterson
- C.Morley Kells
- D.Rob Ford
In the 1995 election, Donald James Henderson was defeated by Progressive Conservative challenger Doug Ford, Sr.
Source: Politics section
8.What was the purpose of the private member's bill, Bill 95, introduced by Donald James Henderson in 1988?
- A.To restrict the power of provincial premiers
- B.To create a presumption of joint custody for parentscorrect
- C.To legalize anonymous HIV testing statewide
- D.To increase funding for provincial mental health care
Bill 95 proposed amending the Children's Law Reform Act to create a presumption of joint custody in divorce cases.
Source: Politics section
9.What subject did Donald James Henderson propose for a private member's bill in 1987 regarding health reporting?
- A.Anonymous HIV testingcorrect
- B.Public dental care access
- C.Mental health facility staffing
- D.Childhood immunization mandates
Donald James Henderson proposed a bill to allow anonymous HIV testing by amending mandatory reporting requirements.
Source: Politics section
10.In what publication did Donald James Henderson write about a meeting with Fidel Castro?
- A.National Post
- B.The Toronto Star
- C.The Globe and Mailcorrect
- D.The Ottawa Citizen
In 1997, Donald James Henderson wrote favourably in The Globe and Mail about a meeting he had with Fidel Castro.
Source: Politics section
11.What profession did Donald James Henderson return to after leaving politics?
- A.Medical surgery
- B.Psychoanalysiscorrect
- C.Legal consultancy
- D.University administration
After leaving politics, Donald James Henderson returned to practicing psychoanalysis in Toronto.
Source: Politics section
12.What were the causes of Donald James Henderson's death?
- A.Heart failure and diabetes
- B.Stroke and pneumonia
- C.Parkinson's disease and COVID-19correct
- D.Cancer and respiratory complications
Donald James Henderson died from complications from Parkinson's disease and COVID-19.
Source: Biography introduction
13.In what year did Donald James Henderson cease practicing psychoanalysis?
- A.2015
- B.2020
- C.1997
- D.2011correct
Donald James Henderson returned to the practice of psychoanalysis until the year 2011.
Source: Politics section
14.Which riding did Donald James Henderson represent in the 1987 election?
- A.Humber
- B.York Centre
- C.Etobicoke—Humbercorrect
- D.Downtown Toronto
In the 1987 election, Donald James Henderson was re-elected in the redistributed riding of Etobicoke—Humber.
Source: Politics section
15.What role did Donald James Henderson hold at the University of Toronto's Student Health Services?
- A.Student Counselor
- B.Head of Admissions
- C.University Dean
- D.Psychiatrist in Chiefcorrect
Donald James Henderson served as the Psychiatrist in Chief for the Student Health Services at the University of Toronto.
Source: Background section
16.On what date was Donald James Henderson born?
- A.August 7, 1940correct
- B.May 2, 1945
- C.August 7, 1945
- D.May 2, 1940
The biography states that Donald James Henderson was born on August 7, 1940.
Source: Biography introduction
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