Ralph Bronson Cowan (May 6, 1902 – April 21, 1990) was a Canadian politician, who represented York—Humber in the House of Commons of Canada from 1962 to 1968.Dick Beddoes, "Windmill tilter par excellence". The Globe and Mail, October 7, 1977.

Federal political career Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Ralph Cowan was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1962 election, defeating Margaret Aitken."Metro Liberals Taste Sweet Success". The Globe and Mail, June 19, 1962. A Liberal, he was re-elected in 1963 and 1965. In 1964, he filed a lawsuit against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation after it converted its secondary Toronto station CJBC to an affiliate of the francophone Radio-Canada network, arguing that since the French language had no legal status outside of Quebec, the station's conversion to French was inappropriate and illegal;"CBC to Fight Cowan On CJBC Switchover". The Globe and Mail, September 29, 1964. however, his case was dismissed by the Ontario Supreme Court in 1965 on the grounds that Cowan did not have legal standing and could not show material harm from the format change."Bid to Outlaw CJBC By Cowan Dismissed". The Globe and Mail, June 24, 1965.

Although a Liberal, Cowan was considered a renegade and often voted against his own caucus;Geoffrey Stevens, "Cowan voted down: Broadcast bill clears Commons with aid from NDP". The Globe and Mail, February 8, 1968. most notably, he filibustered both Lawrence Pennell's 1967 bill to abolish capital punishment in CanadaGeoffrey Stevens, "Hanging vote expected today after Cowan's delaying move". The Globe and Mail, November 23, 1967. and the 1968 Broadcasting Act,John Dafoe, "Judy LaMarsh offers Cowan $5.48 to shut off his CBC channel and shut up". The Globe and Mail, January 27, 1968. and opposed Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau's 1968 revisions to the Criminal Code, including the decriminalization of homosexuality and abortion."Cowan assails changes in Code". The Globe and Mail, January 29, 1968. He was expelled from the Liberal Party caucus in March 1968 after voting against the government's tax bill,Michael Gillan, "Cowan ousted, fights for right to vote on leadership". The Globe and Mail, March 16, 1968. but fought to retain his rights as a voting party member at the 1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention,Michael Gillan, "Turner wants Cowan to keep voting right". The Globe and Mail, March 22, 1968. and pledged that he would continue to support the government if it faced a motion of non-confidence."Cowan to support Liberals". The Globe and Mail, February 28, 1968.

He ran in the 1968 federal election as an Independent Liberal in High Park after being expelled from caucus,"Cowan states he will run in High Park". The Globe and Mail, April 25, 1968. and distributed pamphlets published by far right activist Ron Gostick alleging that Trudeau was a communist sympathizer as part of his campaign, but was defeated by Liberal candidate Walter Deakon.John Burns, "Style was catching: Metro ethnic groups rallied to Trudeau". The Globe and Mail, June 27, 1968.

Municipal politics Following his federal defeat, Cowan attempted to intervene in the 1969 election for Metro Toronto Chairman, alleging in a speech made days before the election that the York mayor Jack Mould had a personal financial interest in a construction company whose tax arrears had been written off by York's municipal council."Charge by Cowan: Mould denies Council wrote off firm's taxes". The Globe and Mail, September 24, 1969. Mould was forced out of the contest when, at the last minute, two Metro Councillors who had agreed to nominate him decided to nominate another candidate instead as they decided not to nominate Mould "in view of developments in York"."Mould reddens as support lost; Goodhead dejected", The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]01 Oct 1969: 5. Mould filed a slander lawsuit against Cowan days after he made the allegation,"Writ filed by Mould charges libel, slander". The Globe and Mail, September 27, 1969. but the suit never went to court and Cowan later claimed that it had been filed solely to silence him."Launched to quash comment: Grys and Mould suits similar, Cowan says". The Globe and Mail, February 16, 1972.

Following the death of York municipal councillor Robert Hewitt in 1971, Cowan applied for appointment to the seat;"Council chooses on Monday: Cowan, Mrs. Gell rivals for vacant York seat". The Globe and Mail, March 17, 1971. he was not appointed, with council instead selecting Robert Waclawski."Former alderman rejected: York Council appoints lawyer to vacant seat". The Globe and Mail, March 23, 1971.

Electoral record

|Liberal |Ralph Cowan |align="right"|15,526

|Progressive Conservative |Margaret Aitken |align="right"| 14,864

|New Democratic Party |Charles Millard |align="right"| 11,622

|Liberal |Ralph Cowan |align="right"|20,188

|Progressive Conservative |Douglas Morton |align="right"|12,218

|New Democratic Party |Charles Millard |align="right"|11,821

|Liberal |Ralph Cowan |align="right"| 17,172

|New Democratic Party |Don Stevenson |align="right"|12,792

|Progressive Conservative |Victor Colebourn |align="right"|11,325

|New Capitalist Party |D. C. Tilley |align="right"|235

References

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