Bud Wildman Charles Jackson `` Bud '' Wildman ( born June 3 , 1946 in Ottawa , Ontario ) is a Canadian politician . He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament ( MPP ) from 1975 to 1999 , representing the riding of Algoma , and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae . He was educated at Carleton University , the McArthur College of Education , Queen 's University and Algoma University . He lived in Echo Bay , Ontario after graduating , and worked as a high school history teacher . Wildman was first elected to the legislature in the provincial election of 1975 , defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Bernt Gilbertson by 398 votes . Wildman 's victory was regarded by many as an upset ; he received support from NDP bastions such as Wawa , but also from more traditionally Conservative areas on the north shore of Lake Huron . He was re-elected by an increased margin over PC candidate Dave Liddle in the 1977 election , and retained his seat by significant margins in the elections of 1981 , 1985 , 1987 and 1990 . Wildman supported Jim Foulds 's bid to lead the provincial NDP in 1982 , and made little secret of his opposition to Bob Rae 's leadership in the years that followed . He was actively preparing a leadership campaign of his own in early 1990 , as Rae appeared ready to leave provincial politics and run for the leadership of the federal NDP . By all accounts , he was extremely disappointed when Rae eventually decided to remain as provincial leader . The NDP unexpectedly won the 1990 provincial election , and Wildman was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for Native Affairs on October 1 , 1990 . He was promoted to Minister of the Environment on February 3 , 1993 , while retaining the Native Affairs portfolio . He claimed that he gained a greater appreciation of Rae 's leadership abilities during this period . As Natural Resources minister , Wildman was a prominent defender of continued public ownership for Hydro Ontario . As Environment minister , he initiated the first public audit of Ontario’s forest resources and promoted an ecosystem management approach for sustainability . Ontario 's Environmental Bill of Rights was also approved during his tenure . As Minster responsible for Native Affairs during the entire tenure of the Rae government , Wildman instituted a regime of dealing with First Nations on a government to government basis and conluded a number of land claims settlements . He also estabished the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy , which sought to address health problems among native peoples in a culturally sensitive manner . The NDP were defeated in the 1995 general election and reduced to third-party status , although Wildman retained the Algoma riding by a reduced margin . Rae resigned as leader the next year and Wildman served as interim leader in the legislature from February 10 , 1996 until June 24 , 1996 when Howard Hampton took over the position after his victory in that year 's Ontario NDP leadership convention . The Algoma riding was radically redistributed in 1996 , merging with the neighbouring riding of Algoma—Manitoulin and incorporating other territory from surrounding ridings as well . Wildman decided not to run in the 1999 election , and retired from provincial politics after almost a quarter century at Queen 's Park . Wildman attempted to win a seat in the federal House of Commons in the 2000 federal election , running in Sault Ste . Marie for the New Democratic Party . The NDP actively targeted this seat as winnable , and party leader Alexa McDonough visited the riding very late in the campaign . Wildman was however unsuccessful , finishing a surprisingly poor second with less than 25% of the vote against Liberal incumbent Carmen Provenzano . During his time in office , Wildman was known as an intense parliamentary debater and a vociferous defender of northern Ontario 's interests . After being appointed Environment Minister , he recommended shipping garbage from Toronto to Kirkland Lake as a means of stimulating industry in the north ; he was overruled by others in cabinet . Wildman was also an active defender of native interests and improved cultural understanding . Since leaving politics Wildman has worked as a consultant . He is also the chair of the Board of Governors of Algoma University . His son Jody Wildman was a federal NDP candidate in 1997 . Categories : 1946 births | Living people | Historical Ontario MPPs | New Democratic Party of Ontario MPPs 