) ▁was ▁a ▁former ▁politician ▁in ▁Ontario , ▁Canada . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁Progress ive ▁Conserv ative ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Legisl ative ▁Assembly ▁of ▁Ontario ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 4 , ▁and ▁briefly ▁served ▁as ▁a ▁cabinet ▁minister ▁in ▁the ▁government ▁of ▁Frank ▁Miller . ▁From ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁C ous ens ▁was ▁the ▁Mayor ▁of ▁Mark ham , ▁Ontario . ▁ ▁Background ▁C ous ens ▁was ▁educated ▁at ▁Queen ' s ▁University ▁and ▁Kno x ▁College ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Toronto . ▁An ▁ord ained ▁Pres by ter ian ▁Minister ▁( he ▁served ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁in ▁Pen et angu ish ene , ▁Ontario ), ▁ ▁an ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Forces ▁( Command ant ▁in ▁the ▁Fort ▁Henry ▁Guard ), ▁he ▁then ▁served ▁as ▁an ▁executive ▁from ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁( first ly ▁with ▁H oney well ▁Ltd .) ▁before ▁entering ▁political ▁life , ▁and ▁later ▁became ▁a ▁chair ▁of ▁the ▁York ▁Technology ▁Association . ▁From ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 6 7 ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁trust ee ▁for ▁Pen et angu ish ene . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁then ▁York ▁Region ▁Board ▁of ▁Education ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁to ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁eventually ▁serving ▁as ▁chair ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 9 . ▁C ous ens