title: Harold Edward Welsh
text: # Harold Edward Welsh
  
  Harold Edward Welsh (May 5, 1896 – May 20, 1943) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1936 to 1943 who represented the eastern Ontario riding of Hastings East.
  
  ## Background
  
  The son of William Frederick Welsh and Caroline Mabel Oatwater, he was born in Moira, Ontario and was educated at the University of Toronto. He worked as a country doctor, living in Roslin and also served as coroner for Hastings County and as medical officer of health for Huntingdon, Thurlow and Tyendinaga townships.
  
  ## Politics
  
  Welsh was elected to the assembly in 1936, defeating Liberal candidate Dr. Harold A. Boyce in a bitterly contested by-election held following the death of James Ferguson Hill. Liberal amendments altering the distribution of school taxes between public and Roman Catholic schools were a crucial issue in the by-election. Welsh died in office; he drowned while fishing in Algonquin Provincial Park.
  
  