By Doug Draper
Peter Kormos, the fearless, outspoken member of the Ontario NDP who has served the Welland Riding since the late 1980, announced this June 3 that he will not be running in this October’s provincial election.
Peter Kormos
And admire Kormos or not, the decision by this always colourful personality to retire from provincial politics definitely marks the end of an era. The political landscape in Niagara and Ontario may never be quite the same.
“After 23 years in the Ontario legislature, I’ve decided to pursue new interests,” said Kormos in a statement. “I remain indebted to Mel Swart, my predecessor. He set an extremely high standard (and) I thank NDP leader Andrea Horwath and former leader Howard Hampton for their leadership and guidance. I’m proud of the work they and New Democrats have done over the years. By putting people and communities first, we’ve made a real difference for Ontario families.”
A Welland native, Kormos earned a reputation as a no-holes-barred activist going back to his school days when, as president of the student council at Eastdale Secondary School he was expelled after leading a student walk-out against a repressive principal. He recovered from that, thanks to significant others in and outside of the educational system who got him back in the classroom, and went on to study and practice law before getting elected to Welland’s city council.
In the late 1980s, Kormos ran for and won the provincial seat his mentor and friend Mel Swart was forced to abandon for health reasons, and he has swept to victory in the Welland riding ever since.
The decision to finally give that seat up “wasn’t tough at all,” he told Niagara At Large during an interview this June 3. Now 58 years old, Kormos said he feels he still has time to pursue another career, although he does not yet know what that will be. “I never intended to be a lifer here at Queen’s Park.”
About 10 years ago, during a talk he gave to grade students at a Thorold public school, Kormos said he felt too many people get into politics with the hope of making it a career. He said at the time that he planned to leave politics one day and take on other challenges while he was still young enough to do so. Obviously, he has stayed true to that.
“I don’t think it is healthy for people to make a career of politics,” he told NAL this June 3. “It is not healthy for the parliamentary system.”
In a statement this June 3, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath had this to say in the wake of Kormos’s announcement; “For over two decades, Peter Kormos has been a defining characteristic of this Legislature: a voice for Niagara, an unwavering New Democrat, a champion for working people, a defender of the underdog, a thorn in the side of every premier, a maverick’s maverick, a friend and an ally – he will be missed by all of us.”
“In my short time as leader,” continued Horwath, “I’ve relied on his advice, his insights, and his understanding and advocacy for the everyday people we so often forget about in this Legislature. To say “it won’t be the same without him” is too big of an understatement.”
“In his own way, he’s become as iconic as the premiers and ministers he’s questioned, debated, needled and provoked over 20 years here. I’ve already warned him that I will still be calling on him for his advice and insight.”
“On behalf of New Democrats, and on behalf of the people across Ontario he’s so tirelessly represented and fought for, I want to offer my thanks.”
Kormos said he will continue the fight as an MPP until the Oct. 6 election and will work hard to see that a new NDP candidate (yet to be chosen) for the Welland Riding keeps it in the NDP camp.
Niagara At Large will feature more on Peter Kormos in the months ahead.
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Niagara At Large 
This has come as a shock — but not, on sober reflection, a surprise. In a way, it’s a wake-up call for progressives in this riding. We’ve got some hard work ahead of us to find and support a candidate. Peter has set the bar very high. It’ll be fascinating to see how he chooses to use his considerable talents in the next phase of his life.
And yes, Doug — this riding and this region and this Legislature will not be the same.
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I will certainly miss Peter Kormos at the Legislature and in my many appearances in the years before various committees he was on. It was always a pleasure to know I was being heard when Peter was part of the committee I was presenting to, as he was truly a voice of the people. I am now saddened and wondering who we will find to replace him – we continue to need a progressive voice in Niagara in Ontario’s legislature.
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Peter Kormos is one of the few politicians that I think of fondly and it’s a shame that he is leaving Queen’s Park – I wish more of them had the tenacity, the spirit and the will to do even half the job that he had done…..
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