Former Ontario cabinet minister David Caplan should have turned 60 years old today.
He should have been celebrating with his wife, Leigh, and their two sons, Benjamin and Jacob. And even though his father, Wilf, died earlier this year, he no doubt would have been overjoyed by the fact that his 80-year-old mother, Elinor — a former federal and provincial cabinet minister — was healthy and energetic enough to join the celebration. And he’d have been delighted to see his sister, Meredith, who drove four hours from Renfrew to attend.
That’s what should be happening today.
Instead, these Caplan family members have to take solace in the fact that David left a legacy of good works behind — while they miss the hell out of him because he’s not here to celebrate his birthday with them.
It’s been five years since David died under tragic and mysterious circumstances at his home in Don Mills. While his family was away at the cottage, there was some kind of explosion and then an ensuing fire at his home. David was grievously wounded and died the next day.
From left to right: David's mother, former cabinet minister Elinor Caplan, arrives at the new park, greeted by current MP Han Dong and long-time Liberal stalwart Joe Ragusa; MP Michael Coteau, MPP Adil Shamji, MP Han Dong, and the Toronto Star's Robert Benzie. (Steve Paikin)
David was one of those guys who loved politics, and, for the most part, politics loved him back. He got his start in 1997, when his mother, the 12-year veteran MPP from the Oriole riding in North York, decided to leave the opposition benches at Queen’s Park and run federally. Elinor then spent seven years as an MP in Jean Chrétien’s government, while David won the byelection to replace her at the Ontario legislature.
From left to right: Shelley Carroll was the Toronto city councillor who initiated the park creation and naming; Michael Coteau succeeded David as the MPP for Don Valley East. (Steve Paikin)
Six years later, in 2003, Dalton McGuinty led the Liberals back to power at Queen’s Park, and David was named infrastructure minister, becoming responsible for the Places to Grow Act — an attempt by the province to ensure that rapid growth would be handled properly to ensure that families could maintain a high quality of life.
After McGuinty’s re-election in 2007, David was shuffled to minister of health — the same portfolio his mother had occupied 20 years earlier under Premier David Peterson. However, by this time, health was in the opposition’s crosshairs, and David had a very bumpy ride. When it became public that eHealth Ontario’s CEO had offered almost $5 million in no-bid contracts and other controversial spending practices came to light, Caplan, ever the good soldier, fell on his sword and resigned in 2009. He declined to run for re-election in 2011.
From left to right: David's mother, Elinor, and his widow, Leigh, attend the park-naming ceremony; David's son Jacob speaks at the event. (Steve Paikin)
David was one of those guys who was born to do politics. When he smiled (which was often), he had the aura of a jolly, happy warrior.
Some of the members of the Caplan family and the Don Valley Liberal political machine gathered for a reunion of sorts last month to cut the ribbon on a new park. Toronto city councillor Shelley Carroll got the park, located just northeast of the intersection of Highways 404 and 401 in North York, named after her political mentor.
Friends and family of David's cut the ribbon to open the new park. From left to right: Michael Coteau (David's successor as Don Valley East MPP), Shelley Carroll (Toronto city councillor), Ben Caplan (David's son), Meredith Caplan Jamieson (his sister), Elinor Caplan (his mother), and Jacob Caplan (his son). (Steve Paikin)
“The benefit of this park comes from a section of the Places to Grow Act that David deliberately planted in there to make sure there would be community,” Carroll said at the ceremony. “If you were raising a family in North York, this was here for you.”
Coincidentally (or perhaps not), the park is located across the road from David’s old constituency office.
David Caplan being sworn in as an MPP at Queen's Park, surrounded by his staff and friends.
“I would have had nothing to do with politics without his inspiration,” added Carroll, who’s been a city councillor for more than two decades.
“We’re all here because of David, and it’s a wonderful thing,” said Michael Coteau, the current MP for Don Valley East and another Caplan mentee. “David set a standard of what a good politician should be, and I learned from him. We all did.” In response, Don Valley North MP Han Dong and Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji nodded approvingly.
A plaque marks the new park near the intersection of Highways 404 and 401; Leigh Caplan (David's widow), her two sons, and David's mother, Elinor. (Steve Paikin)
“I even said to [David’s son] Ben, you can bring your girlfriend here,” Coteau joked. “Come to my dad’s park, and have a little picnic.”
As joyous as the occasion was, it was also bittersweet. David’s mother had a hard time holding back tears — because, David, you really should have been there.
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