He worked as a high-school math teacher and principal before entering political life, and was a Freemason.
He first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial election, but lost to Progressive Conservative incumbent James Snow by about 6,500 votes in the constituency of Oakville.
[3] Elliot was a backbench supporter of David Peterson's government after the election, and served as a parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Housing in 1989-90.
The Liberals were defeated by the New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election, and Elliot lost his seat to NDP candidate Noel Duignan by 548 votes.
[4] He sought a comeback to the legislature in the 1995 election, but lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Ted Chudleigh in a landslide.