Article: Meet Ontario's New Premier, Kathleen Wynne

Upcoming Political Anniversaries

Mr. Kevin Daniel Flynn
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Oakville

Mr. John Milloy
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Kitchener Centre

Ms. Laurel Broten
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Etobicoke - Lakeshore

Mr. Brad Duguid
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Scarborough Centre

Ms. Deborah Matthews
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
London North Centre

Mr. Kim Craitor
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Niagara Falls

Ms. Liz Sandals
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Guelph

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Scarborough Southwest

Ms. Linda Jeffrey
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Brampton - Springdale

Mr. Harinder Takhar
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Mississauga - Erindale

Mr. Shafiq Qaadri
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Etobicoke North

Ms. Kathleen Wynne
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Don Valley West

Ms. Laurie Scott
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. PC
Haliburton -Kawartha Lakes - Brock

Mr. Phil McNeely
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Ottawa - Orleans

Mr. John Yakabuski
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. PC
Renfrew - Nipissing - Pembroke

Mr. Bill Mauro
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Thunder Bay - Atikokan

Mr. Jeff Leal
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Peterborough

Mr. Bob Delaney
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Mississauga - Streetsville

Ms. Madeleine Meilleur
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Ottawa - Vanier

Ms. Donna Cansfield
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Etobicoke Centre

Mr. David Orazietti
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Sault Ste. Marie

Mr. Christopher Bentley
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
London West

Mr. Vic Dhillon
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Brampton West

Mr. David Zimmer
Elected: Thu 2^nd Oct 2003
Prov. Liberal
Willowdale

Mr. Jeff Yurek
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Elgin - Middlesex - London

Ms. Monique Taylor
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Hamilton Mountain

Mr. Grant Crack
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
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Mr. Taras Natyshak
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Essex

Mr. Rick Nicholls
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
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Ms. Lisa Thompson
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Huron-Bruce

Mr. Jonah Schein
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
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Mr. Vic Fedeli
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Nipissing

Mr. Jagmeet Singh
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Bramalea-Gore-Malton

Mr. Michael Coteau
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
Don Valley East

Mr. Todd Smith
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Prince Edward - Hastings

Mr. Michael Harris
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Kitchener - Conestoga

Ms. Cindy Forster
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Welland

Ms. Sarah Campbell
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Kenora - Rainy River

Mr. Rob Milligan
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Northumberland - Quinte West

Mr. Michael Mantha
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Algoma - Manitoulin

Mr. Bill Walker
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Bruce - Grey - Owen Sound

Mr. John Vanthof
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
Timiskaming-Cochrane

Mr. Jim McDonell
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Stormont - Dundas - South Glengarry

Mr. Randy Pettapiece
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Perth - Wellington

Ms. Teresa Piruzza
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
Windsor West

Ms. Jane McKenna
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Burlington

Ms. Soo Wong
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
Scarborough - Agincourt

Mr. Monte McNaughton
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Lambton - Kent - Middlesex

Mr. Jack MacLaren
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Carleton - Mississippi Mills

Ms. Dipika Damerla
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
Mississauga East - Cooksville

Mr. Rod Jackson
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Barrie

Ms. Teresa Armstrong
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. NDP
London-Fanshawe

Mr. Rob Leone
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. PC
Cambridge

Ms. Tracy MacCharles
Elected: Thu 6^th Oct 2011
Prov. Liberal
Pickering - Scarborough East

Mr. Joe Dickson
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Ajax - Pickering

Mr. Randy Hillier
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. PC
Lanark - Frontenac - Lennox and Addington

Ms. Sylvia Jones
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. PC
Dufferin - Caledon

Ms. Helena Jaczek
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Oak Ridges - Markham

Ms. Margarett Best
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Scarborough - Guildwood

Mr. Yasir Naqvi
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Ottawa Centre

Mr. Bob Bailey
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. PC
Sarnia-Lambton

Ms. Laura Albanese
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
York South - Weston

Mr. Peter Shurman
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. PC
Thornhill

Mr. Paul Miller
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. NDP
Hamilton East - Stoney Creek

Ms. Amrit Mangat
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Mississauga - Brampton South

Mr. Charles Sousa
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Mississauga South

Mr. Reza Moridi
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. Liberal
Richmond Hill

Ms. France Gelinas
Elected: Wed 10^th Oct 2007
Prov. NDP
Nickel Belt

Mr. Claude Gravelle
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. NDP
Nickel Belt

Mr. Peter Kent
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Thornhill

Mr. Peter Braid
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Kitchener-Waterloo

Ms. Kristy Duncan
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. Liberal
Etobicoke North

Mr. Malcolm Allen
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. NDP
Welland

Mrs. Lois Brown
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Newmarket-Aurora

Mr. Paul Calandra
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Oak Ridges-Markham

Mr. Glenn Thibeault
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. NDP
Sudbury

Mr. Ed Holder
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
London West

Mr. Greg Rickford
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Kenora

Mr. Terence Young
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Oakville

Mr. Stephen Woodworth
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Kitchener Centre

Mr. Bruce Hyer
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Thunder Bay-Superior North

Ms. Carol Hughes
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. NDP
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing

Mr. Frank Valeriote
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. Liberal
Guelph

Mr. Bob Dechert
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Mississauga-Erindale

Ms. Lisa Raitt
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Halton

Mr. Ben Lobb
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Huron-Bruce

Mr. Phil McColeman
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed.
Brant

Mr. John Rafferty
Elected: Tue 14^th Oct 2008
Fed. NDP
Thunder Bay - Rainy River

Ms. Judy Sgro
Elected: Mon 15^th Nov 1999
Fed. Liberal
York West

Mr. Jim Karygiannis
Elected: Mon 21^st Nov 1988
Fed. Liberal
Scarborough-Agincourt

Mr. Bas Balkissoon
Elected: Thu 24^th Nov 2005
Prov. Liberal
Scarborough - Rouge River

Mr. John McCallum
Elected: Mon 27^th Nov 2000
Fed. Liberal
Markham-Unionville

Mr. Joe Comartin
Elected: Mon 27^th Nov 2000
Fed. NDP
Windsor-Tecumseh

Mr. Scott Reid
Elected: Mon 27^th Nov 2000
Fed.
Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington

Ms. Cheryl Gallant
Elected: Mon 27^th Nov 2000
Fed.
Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke

Click here for all election aniversaries.

Article: Meet Ontario's New Premier, Kathleen Wynne

Mon 28^th Jan 2013

Meet Ontario's New Premier

As the Liberal leadership convention wound to a close on Saturday night, the province of Ontario found itself with a new Premier-elect and newly minted leader of the Liberal party, Kathleen Wynne. As MPP for Don Valley West since 2003, Wynne has held several high-profile portfolios in cabinet. Most notably, Wynne served as Minister of Education from 2006-10, Minister of Transportation in 2010, and most recently as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Aboriginal Affairs since 2011. After she is sworn in by Lt. Governor David Onley, Wynne will make history as both Ontario’s first female, and first openly gay Premier. It is also notable that Wynne represents a Toronto riding, the first Premier to do so since Bob Rae ended his tenure in 1995.

Results of the Convention
While some pundits had pegged front-runner Sandra Pupatello as the favourite to win the Liberal leadership, Wynne, who had been in a close second place for the past few weeks, was able to edge out her rival and win decisively after several backroom dealings with other candidates.

Eliminated after the first ballot was Dr. Eric Hoskins, who in defeat chose to endorse Wynne. Pupatello, who held a narrow lead after the first ballot, secured the endorsement of candidate Harinder Takhar. Pupatello again held a slim lead after Takhar was eliminated on the 2^nd ballot; however, in a surprise move, both Charles Sousa and Gerrard Kennedy elected to drop out of the race before the 3^rd ballot and shift their collective support to Wynne. After the 3^rd and final ballot, buoyed by the support of Hoskins, Sousa, and Kennedy, Wynne came back to defeat Pupatello, winning the leadership in convincing fashion garnering 1,150 votes to Pupatello’s 866 at the final count.

Some of Wynne’s Policy Platform Highlights Included:

Prioritize ring of fire road corridor development
Create a cabinet committee on Northern Ontario, and invest in northern infrastructure
Along with her role as Premier, Wynne also committed to taking on the portfolio of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for at least the first year of her term
Streamline regulations impacting agri-food industry – develop single access point to government for agricultural community
Re-introduce Ontario Local Food Act
Ensure a sustainable horseracing industry, and increased municipal autonomy and local control on the siting of green energy infrastructure
Return to pre-recession debt-to-GDP ratio by restricting overall spending increases to 1% below GDP growth after 2017-18.
Create a sustainable model for wage negotiations.
Implement the adult component of the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy
Reintroduce Great Lakes Protection Act
Continue to expand full day kindergarten
30% tuition reduction grant for university students

What to expect in the Legislature
In the aftermath of her victory, Wynne stated that she plans to hold a Liberal caucus meeting in the coming week, and that the currently prorogued legislature will resume as scheduled on February 19^th. Wynne has indicated that as Premier, she will strive to be more willing to work with the opposition parties than her predecessor, and plans to meet separately with both PC leader Tim Hudak and NDP leader Andrea Horwath in a bid to avert an election.

Concerning the election, it is something that most pundits agree is coming; the larger question, however, is when it will take place. Both the PC and NDP parties likely recognize that it is not in their best interests to allow Premier Wynne to settle in to her new job; nor to allow the public to forget the scandals that plagued the Liberal government in the months leading up to prorogation.

The PC party is currently leading in the polls, and has been gearing up for an election for several months now, it is likely that they will want to press their advantage as soon as possible. For the government to be brought down, however, it will take a cooperative effort from both opposition parties. Although NDP support within the province is currently as high as it has been in years, it is not clear when they will be inclined to work with the PCs to force an election. There is also still a chance that leader Andrea Horwath will choose instead to avert an election for the time being by forging a deal with the Liberals.

Although the likeliest date for a forced-election remains sometime in the spring, it is possible that we won’t see an election until the fall, or later in the event the NDP chooses to make a deal with the Liberals. Most pundits agree that although there is a chance that an election won’t happen, it is remote at best. In any case it is a situation that is worth monitoring – this is most definitely a three horse race, and all parties will be seeking to bolster their support by making creative new policies aimed at different interest groups.

Grassroots will continue to monitor the events and news coming from Queens Park for all our clients in the weeks and months ahead.