Ian Thomas Strachan (1898–1964) was a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of St. George in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1934 to 1943. He was a member of the Ontario Liberal Party."Six Liberals Are Victorious in Toronto Battle: Only Two Ridings Give Conservatives Sizable Majorities". The Globe, June 20, 1934.
Background Born in Brockville, Ontario in 1898, he was a great-grandson of former Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie."City's New Legislators In Brief Biographies". The Globe, June 22, 1934. He graduated from the University of Toronto Schools,"Recognition for Mr. Strachan". The Globe, October 13, 1937. and served with the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion during World War I,"City Registrar Was Party Whip Under Hepburn". The Globe and Mail, February 6, 1964. and later studied political science at the University of Toronto and law at Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the bar in 1925, and practiced law with the firm Erichsen-Brown and Strachan. He was made King's Counsel in 1934.
Political career He was selected as the Liberal candidate in St. George for the 1934 election after his mother Helen Strachan, the president of the Toronto Liberal Women's Association and the riding's original Liberal candidate, withdrew from the race for health reasons."St. George's Riding Names Scion of Famed Liberal". The Globe, April 14, 1934. He won the election, and served in the government of Mitchell Hepburn.
In his first term in the legislature, he served as a member of various standing committees. In 1936, he pledged to support Hepburn's then-controversial bill to extend funding to Roman Catholic separate schools in the province even if his support of the bill led to his defeat in the next election, on the grounds that equal funding for Roman Catholic education in the province was an important principle of religious rights."Two Members Will Back Bill, Despite Risks". The Globe, April 8, 1936.
After being reelected in the 1937 election,"Liberals Take Lead In Toronto Returns: Government Candidates Ahead in Five Ridings, Conservatives in Four, With Four More Close". The Globe and Mail, October 7, 1937. he was appointed as the Liberal caucus whip."Revised Ontario Cabinet Takes Office: New Faces in Shuffle Total Eight". The Globe and Mail, October 13, 1937. He served as whip until 1942, when he was dropped from the position after Gordon Daniel Conant succeeded Hepburn as Liberal leader and premier.
Life after politics He did not run for reelection in the 1943 election, instead accepting an appointment as registrar of deeds for the city of Toronto."Ian Strachan Is Registrar: Liberal Whip Named for $6,000 Position". The Globe and Mail, June 2, 1943.
He died on February 4, 1964, at his home in Toronto of a heart attack.
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