William Douglas Balfour (August 2, 1851 – August 19, 1896) was a speaker for the Legislature of Ontario in 1895–1896 and served as Liberal MLA for Essex South from 1882 to 1896. He was born in Forfar, Scotland in 1851, the son of David Balfour and Janet Douglas, and came to St. Catharines, Canada West, with his family in 1857. He studied at the Grantham Academy and went on to teach school in Grantham and Louth townships. In 1872, with Robert Matheson, he became the owner of the St. Catharines News. Balfour moved to Amherstburg in 1874 and became owner of the Amherstburg Echo with John Allan Auld. He married Josephine Brodhead that same year. Balfour served as reeve for Amherstburg from 1878 to 1882. He ran unsuccessfully in the provincial riding of Essex South in 1879 but was later elected