Ed Harper

Edward Harper (born April 9, 1931) is a former Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Simcoe Centre in the House of Commons of Canada from 1993 until 1997. A member of the Reform Party, Harper was the only MP from that party ever elected anywhere east of Manitoba.

Ed Harper
MP for Simcoe Centre
In office 1993–1997
Preceded by	Edna Anderson
Succeeded by	riding dissolved
Personal details
Born	(1931-04-09) April 9, 1931 (age 94) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Reform
Residence(s)	Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	businessman

He defeated Liberal candidate Janice Laking, the incumbent mayor of Barrie, by a margin of 182 votes. Political analysts credited his victory over Laking largely to her popularity rather than his, suggesting that many voters in Barrie switched their votes only because they didn't want Laking to step down as mayor.^[1]

Harper did not stand for reelection in the 1997 election. Before being elected to Parliament, Harper was a businessman in Barrie.

Electoral record

1993 Canadian federal election
Party	Candidate	Votes
	Reform	Ed Harper	25,404
	Liberal	Janice Laking	25,281
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Jagges	11,647
	New Democratic	Pat Peters	1,873
	National	Craig Busch	1,342
	Independent	Mike Ramsay	656
	Christian Heritage	Ann Marie Tomlins	412
	Natural Law	John Gregory	307
	Independent	John K. Carson	139
	Abolitionist	Gene Carter	41