Skip to Content
Sign up for Grass Roots Public Affairs Quarterly Newsletter Twitter Facebook
---

 

Upcoming Political Anniversaries

Mr. Tony Clement Mr. Tony Clement
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Parry Sound - Muskoka
Mr. Mike Wallace Mr. Mike Wallace
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Burlington
Mr. Pierre Lemieux Mr. Pierre Lemieux
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
Ms. Irene Mathyssen Ms. Irene Mathyssen
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
London-Fanshawe
Mr. Dean Del Mastro Mr. Dean Del Mastro
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Peterborough
Mr. John Baird Mr. John Baird
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Ottawa West - Nepean
Mr. David Sweet Mr. David Sweet
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
Mr. Paul Dewar Mr. Paul Dewar
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
Ottawa Centre
Mr. Dave Van Kesteren Mr. Dave Van Kesteren
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Chatham-Kent-Essex
Mr. Wayne Marston Mr. Wayne Marston
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
Hamilton East - Stoney Creek
Mr. Royal Galipeau Mr. Royal Galipeau
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Ottawa-Orleans
Mr. Bruce Stanton Mr. Bruce Stanton
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Simcoe North
Ms. Patricia Davidson Ms. Patricia Davidson
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Sarnia-Lambton
Mr. Rick Norlock Mr. Rick Norlock
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Northumberland-Quinte West
Mr. Jim Flaherty Mr. Jim Flaherty
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Whitby-Oshawa
Ms. Peggy Nash Ms. Peggy Nash
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
Parkdale-High Park
Mr. Harold Albrecht Mr. Harold Albrecht
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Kitchener-Conestoga
Ms. Chris Charlton Ms. Chris Charlton
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
Hamilton Mountain
Mr. Bev Shipley Mr. Bev Shipley
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
Ms. Olivia Chow Ms. Olivia Chow
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed. NDP
Trinity-Spadina
Mr. Patrick Brown Mr. Patrick Brown
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
Barrie
Mr. Rick Dykstra Mr. Rick Dykstra
Elected: Mon 23rd Jan 2006
Fed.
St. Catharines
Mr. Glen Murray Mr. Glen Murray
Elected: Thu 4th Feb 2010
Prov. Liberal
Toronto Centre

Click here for all election aniversaries.

Article: Liberal Leadership Candidates

Mon 26th Nov 2012
Race Summary

In the wake of Premier McGuinty’s resignation, the Liberal Party announced in October that it would be holding its Leadership Convention on January 25 – 26th, 2013. Candidates interested to run for party leader had up until 11:59pm on Friday November 23rd to declare their intentions. As a result, seven candidates have entered the race, five of whom currently sit in the legislature. The following summary provides some detail on the candidates including information related to their campaign.


Candidate Name:  DR. ERIC HOSKINS (age 51)

Website:  www.ericforleader.ca

Twitter: @ericforleader 

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/drerichoskins

Political Background / Experience:  Sitting MPP for St. Pauls, first elected on September 30th,
2009. Resigned from role as Minister of Children and Youth Services (2011-12), previously
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2010-2011)

Occupation before Politics: Physician/Founder of ‘War Child Canada’

Family / Hometown:  Wife Samantha Nutt, 1 child / Simcoe, Ontario

Education / Awards
  • B. Sc. Degree in Chemistry at McMaster University 
  • M.D. McMaster’s Medical School
  • Ph D. Public Health & Epidemiology, University of Oxford
  • Graduate Degree, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Aberdeen
Notable Endorsements
  • Tracey McCharles – MPP, Pickering Scarborough East
  • Jim Brownell, Former Liberal MPP
Issues and Areas of Focus
  • Stated priority on campaign launch would be to address fiscal reality
Grassroots Commentary
  • Longshot to win, having served only short terms in cabinet
  • Will be touting his rural southwestern Ontario roots to set himself apart from all other Toronto area candidates
 
 

GERARD KENNEDY  (age 52)

Website:  www.gerardkennedy.ca

Twitter: @GKennedyOLP

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/gkennedymp

Political Background / Experience:  Former MPP for Parkdale-High Park (1999-2006) and York
South (1996-1999). Minister of Education from 2003-2006. Federal MP for Parkdale, High Park (2008-2011)

Occupation before Politics: Executive for the Toronto Food Bank

Family / Hometown: Wife Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy, 2 children / The Pas, Manitoba

Education / Awards
  • Toronto Life Magazine, list of 50 most influential people, 1992
  • Newsmaker of the Year, Toronto Star, 1993
  • Honourable Mention, Financial Post Magazine’s CEO Awards, 1995
Notable Endorsements
  • George Smitherman, former MPP
  • Steve Peters, former MPP
Issues and Areas of Focus
  • Opposes government’s current Bill 115 and supports negotiation and bargaining with teachers
  • Supports Liberal policies of All Day Kindergarten as well as the Green Energy Act
Grassroots Commentary
  • Considered by many to be one of the far left candidates, longshot at best to win at this point
  • Was favourite to win at last Liberal leadership convention, but time away from provincial politics will limit his profile
 
 
 
 

Candidate Name:  GLENN MURRAY  (age 55)

Website: www.renewliberal.ca

Twitter: @Glen4ONT  

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RenewLiberal

Political Background / Experience:  Current MPP for Toronto Centre (2010-2012), Minister of
Training, Colleges & Universities (2011-2012), Minister of Research & Innovation (2010-2011),
Member of Standing Committee on Finance & Economic Affairs (2010), Mayor of Winnipeg
(1998-2004). Winnipeg City Councillor (1989-1998)

Occupation before Politics: Advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, Founding Member of the Canadian AIDS Society

Family / Hometown:  Partner Rick Neeves, 1 son / Montreal

Education / Awards
  • President’s Award, Canadian Institute of Planners, 2006
Notable Endorsements
  • George Smitherman, former MPP
  • Steve Peters, former MPP
Issues and Areas of Focus
  • Provide low interest, long term loans for post secondary student education
  • Invest in government services to enhance service and productivity
  • Supports 15% grant to individual RRSP contributions, and 10% refundable child care grant
  • Supports lower Ontario capital gains tax rate for financing small business to a maximum of 10%
  • Supports creation of $2B investment pool in collaboration with Angel investors and venture capitalists
Grassroots Commentary
  • One of the early candidates to declare, his base of support is likely limited to Toronto and the GTA
  • Campaign is lacking many high profile endorsements, chances to win are slim at this time
 
 
 

SANDRA PUPATELLO  (age 50)

Website:  www.signup4sandra.ca

Twitter: @SandraPupatello 

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Pupatello

Political Background / Experience:  Former MPP from Windsor West (1999-2011) and Windsor
Sandwich (1995-1999). Minister of Community & Social Services (2003), Minister of Education
(2006), Minister of Economic Development & Trade (2006), Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues (2005), Minister of International Trade & Investment (2008)

Occupation Outside of Politics: General Manager of Windsor’s Rotary Club, Executive Director of the Essex County Kidney Foundation of Canada. Recently was a Director of Business and Global Markets at Pricewaterhouse Coopers

Family / Hometown: Husband Jim Bennet / Windsor

Education / Awards
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Windsor
  • Italian of the Year, Windsor Essex County, 1996
  • Charlie Clark Award for Outstanding Service, University of Windsor, 2001 
  • Windsor Woman of the Year, 2003
Notable Endorsements
  • Dwight Duncan, MPP, Windsor Tecumseth 
  • Bob Chiarelly, MPP, Ottawa West, Nepean
  • John Milloy, MPP, Kitchener Centre
  • Michael Chan, MPP, Markham Unionville
  • Teresa Piruzza, MPP Windsor West
  • Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay Atikokan
  • Helena Jaczek, MOO, Oak Ridges-Markham
  • Phil McNeeley, MPP, Ottawa-Orleans
  • Joe Dickenson, MPP, Ajax-Pickering
  • Grant Crack, MPP, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
  • Dipika Damerla, MPP, Mississauga-East Cooksville
  • David Orazietti, MPP, Sault Ste Marie
Issues and Areas of Focus
  •  Focused primarily on economic policies leading to the creation of well paying jobs
Grassroots Commentary
  • With strong caucus support and a senior campaign team, she is seen as the frontrunner at this time
  • Widespread experience in multiple Ministries as well as Bay Street connections in Toronto
  • Only candidate from outside GTA, she will use her Windsor roots to her advantage

CHARLES SOUSA  (age 54)

Website:  www.votesousa.ca

Twitter: @SousaCharles 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sousa.Charles

Political Background / Experience:  Current MPP for Mississauga South, first elected in 2007.
Minister of Citizenship & Immigration (2012), Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan American
Games (2012). Minister of Labour (2010), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development & Trade (2010)

Occupation Outside of Politics: 20 year career with RBC Financial Group including roles as Director of Business Development- Commercial Financial Services and Sr. Manager of Marketing at RBC Dominion Securities.

Family / Hometown: Wife Zenaida Sousa & 3 children / Toronto

Education / Awards
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Wilfred Laurier University
  • Fellowship at the Institute of Canadian Bankers
  • Executive MBA, Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario
Notable Endorsements

Issues and Areas of Focus
  • Focus on economic issues, mentioning specifically added support for auto industry, development of Northern
  • Ontario including enhanced transportation infrastructure
  • Mentioned need to expand energy transmission
  • Engaging with First Nations for job creation and economic stimulus
Grassroots Commentary
  • Could be a dark horse candidate that could win after the first couple of ballots
  • Cancelled power plant in his riding could hurt him, however he is on record as opposing it from the beginning
  • Strong experience outside politics including 20 years in banking will set him apart from other candidates
 
 
 

HARINDER TAKHAR  (age 61)

Website:  www.hstakhar.com

Twitter: @harindertakhar                    

Facebook:www.facebook.com/HarinderTakharMPP

Political Background / Experience: Current MPP for Mississauga Centre (first elected 2003),
Minister of Transportation (2003), Minister of Small Business & Entrepreneurship (2006),
Minister of Small Business & Consumer Services (2008), Minister of Government Services (2009) 

Occupation Outside of Politics:  Businessman with several private sector firms including role as president and CEO of the Chalmers Group of Companies. Instructor at Sheridan College for CMA and CHA accredited courses.

Family / Hometown: Married with 2 children / Punjab, India

Education / Awards
  • Masters Degree in Economics and Political Science
  • Undergraduate Degree in English
  • Certified Management Accountant & Professional Administrator
  • Community Service Award, Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, 2001
Notable Endorsements

Issues and Areas of Focus
  •  Early announcements focused on job creation and deficit fighting
Grassroots Commentary
  • Last candidate to enter the race, pushing support in various ethnic communities
  • Conflict of Interest charges laid against him in 2005 will not help his candidacy
  • Has demonstrated willingness to push policy discussion further than most candidates.  Should make it interesting but unlikely to win.
 
 
 

KATHLEEN WYNNE  (age 58)

Website:  www.kathleenwynne.ca

Twitter: @Kathleen_Wynne                              

Facebook: www.facebook.com/WynneFans

Political Background / Experience: Current MPP for Don Valley West

Occupation Outside of Politics:  President of the Toronto Institute of Human Relations. School trustee in Toronto.

Family / Hometown: Partner Jane Rounthwaite, 3 children / Richmond Hill, ON

Education / Awards
  • Bachelor of Arts, Queens University
  • Masters of Arts Degree in Linguistics, University of Toronto
  • Masters of Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education 
  • Mediation Training, Harvard University
Notable Endorsements
  • John Gerretsen, MPP, Kingston and the Islands
  • Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
  • Linda Jeffrey, MPP, Brampton Springdale
  • Michael Coteau, MPP, Don Valley East
  • Reza Moridi, MPP, Richmond Hill
  • Liz Sandals, MPP, Guelph
  • Mario Sergio, MPP, York West
  • David Zimmer, MPP, Willowdale
  • Monique Smith, Former MPP
Issues and Areas of Focus
  • Focus on Northern Ontario, including infrastructure, youth and education
  • Supportive of Dalton McGuinty’s leadership and record
Grassroots Commentary
  • Currently viewed as one of the top candidates to win
  • Experienced and hard working, she is respected by many in the legislature from all parties 
  • Many Toronto areas MPPs supporting and has a strong campaign team in place.
 
 
---