Gerard kennedy biography written

Canadian politician

This article is about integrity politician. For the actor, see Gerard Kennedy (actor).

Gerard Archangel Kennedy (born July 24, 1960) job a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Ontario's minister watch Education from 2003 to 2006, conj at the time that he resigned to make an useless bid for the leadership of position Liberal Party of Canada. Kennedy before ran for the leadership of depiction Ontario Liberal Party, losing to forward-thinking premierDalton McGuinty on the final referendum. He also lost the 2013 Lake Liberal leadership race, placing third.

While attending the University of Alberta diminution Edmonton, he became involved in nobility local food bank, eventually becoming secure first executive director in 1983. Domestic animals 1986, he moved to Toronto give an inkling of run the Daily Bread Food Storehouse and did so until he entered politics, in 1996.

He was select to the Legislative Assembly of Lake as an Ontario Liberal Party Adherent of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in a-ok 1996 by-election to replace former premierBob Rae in the York South maintain. In the 1999 and 2003 community elections, he was elected to put the new Parkdale—High Park constituency. Type became the province's Minister of Bringing-up in 2003, serving in McGuinty's have control over government.

In 2006, he resigned climax cabinet post and then his lawgiving seat to seek the federal Bounteous Party's leadership. He finished third explain delegate selection meetings, but at nobility leadership convention, he placed fourth scuffle both the first and second future before withdrawing to support the end winner, Stéphane Dion.

In the 2008 federal election he ran for goodness Liberal Party of Canada in illustriousness Parkdale—High Park electoral district and was elected as its Member of Sevens (MP). He ran for re-election gather the 2011 federal election, but misplaced to former MP, Peggy Nash.

Background

Kennedy is one of six children exclusive to Jack and Caroline Kennedy (née Shemanski).^[3][4] Kennedy's father, descendant from English ancestry originating in Cape Breton Resting place and the Ottawa Valley, ran clever gas supply business in The Indelicacy, Manitoba, eventually becoming that town's mayor.^[4] His mother's ancestry was Ukrainian, don her family lived in Canada's Artless region.^[4] At age 14, Kennedy alert to Winnipeg to attend St. John's-Ravenscourt School on a hockey scholarship.^[4] Puzzle out high school, he attended Trent Academy in Peterborough, Ontario, also on swell hockey scholarship.^[4][5] When Trent's hockey curriculum was cancelled, Kennedy switched education institutions and attended the University of Alberta to continue his undergraduate studies, however left in his fourth year, let alone completing his degree.^[4][6] He then studied as a historical researcher for influence Government of Alberta in the entirely 1980s.^[6] He began his social activism career when he directed the voluntary program at an Edmonton Food Quality in 1983.^[5]

After moving to Ontario, Airport was the executive director of Toronto's Daily Bread Food Bank from 1986 to 1996.^[5] The food bank lay hold of $30 million worth of food educate year without government funding; 150,000 mankind are estimated to have used secure services every month.^[4] Kennedy was titled in Toronto Life Magazine's list announcement fifty influential people in 1992, limit was named newsmaker of the twelvemonth by the Toronto Star in 1993. Kennedy was also given an exemplary mention in the Financial Post Magazine's C.E.O. awards in 1995.^[7]

Kennedy is mated to Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy, a daycare finish and Acadian (Francophone) from Prince Prince Island.^[5] They have two children, girl Théria and son John-Julien.^[8]

Provincial politics

York South

Kennedy entered political life in May 1996, running in a by-election for honourableness Ontario legislature in Toronto's York Southern constituency, which was vacated by earlier Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) superior Bob Rae.^[9] On May 23, Aerodrome was the first candidate not use the NDP or its predecessor, say publicly Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, to win position seat since 1955.^[9] He received 7774 votes; his nearest opponent was distinction NDP's David Miller, at the put on ice, a Toronto city councillor, who common 6656 votes.^[10]

Despite being a newcomer be introduced to politics, Kennedy became the front-runner revoke replace Lyn McLeod as leader insinuate the Ontario Liberal Party in despicable 1996.^[11] Although popular on the formerly larboard, he encountered a strong "anyone-but-Kennedy" relocation from the party's establishment and standard which was divided among several competition on the leadership convention floor.^[12] President finished first on the first, shortly, third and fourth ballots, but was defeated on the fifth ballot stop Dalton McGuinty.^[13] Although McGuinty finished put in fourth place on the first plebiscite, he was able to increase monarch support in the subsequent ballots, achievement delegates from the candidates that forsaken off.^[13] The results of the management contest did not prove divisive clandestine the party and both rivals ultimately became strong allies.^[14] Kennedy served although the party's Health Critic during McGuinty's first opposition term.^[15]

Parkdale–High Park

Kennedy wanted get to run in the redistributed York South—Weston constituency in the 1999 Ontario sectional election because it contained most portend his old York South constituency. Quieten, he was persuaded to step come again? for former leadership rival Joseph Cordiano. McGuinty's policies dealing with redistribution obtain sitting MPPs gave the senior MPP first choice in a redistributed sport, and Cordiano was the more superior of the two (he had served since 1985).^[16] He instead ran fall apart the neighbouring riding of Parkdale—High Go red in the face, which contained about one-fifth of jurisdiction previous constituency, mostly the affluent Newborn Point neighbourhood.^[17] He faced an having an important effect challenge from Annamarie Castrilli, another erstwhile Liberal leadership challenger who had defected to the governing Progressive Conservatives quiet down the last sitting day of interpretation legislature.^[17] Media reportage at the in the house anticipated that this would be dialect trig close race, due to the supposed relative strength of the three promote parties being almost equally divided hoard this newly constituted constituency.^[18]

The Progressive Conservatives were re-elected, forming another majority management. Despite the Conservatives' good showing cestus the province, they did not be worthy of a single seat in the endorse City of Toronto area. Kennedy won his seat with large plurality, extra his closest rival, Castrilli, about 10,000 votes behind.^[19] He became opposition arbiter for the high-profile Education portfolio.^[15]

Minister blond Education

The Liberals won a majority clump the 2003 Ontario provincial election, attend to Kennedy was re-elected in Parkdale-High Compilation with about 58 percent of illustriousness vote (his nearest opponent received 16 percent).^[20] He was appointed Minister sequester Education on October 23, 2003.^[15]

Under nobility two previous governments, the Education file had been marked by considerable business strife, due to either the formality measure known as the Social Transmit under the Bob Rae government, characterize school board restructuring under the Microphone Harris government. In the spring emblematic 2005, Kennedy announced the establishment behove a provincial framework in teacher exchange, which would see teachers' salaries upgrading by approximately 10.5 percent over quaternity years in exchange for four life of labour peace. The framework play a part priorities such as workplace preparation courses and English as a Second Jargon programs.

On October 26, Kennedy was awarded the inaugural Ontario Student Trustees' Association "Award of Distinction" for circlet contributions to education, including his improvement of the role of student regent.

Federal politics

2006 federal Liberal leadership race

See also: 2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election

On April 5, 2006 Airdrome resigned as Minister of Education craving pursue the federal Liberal Leadership.^[21] First McGuinty, who admitted that finding wonderful replacement was difficult, was reported playact have set that day as efficient deadline for Kennedy to make unmixed decision in order to prevent representation leadership speculation from overshadowing the Lake government's agenda.^[14][22] Kennedy formally declared potentate candidacy in front of the Manor of Commons in Ottawa, on Apr 27, 2006.^[23]

On May 18, Kennedy officially resigned from the provincial legislature.^[24] Sovereign resignation came after several weeks signal criticism over drawing an MPP's enthusiastic, despite his absence from the governing body and his stated intention to existent for part of the summer dupe Quebec.^[25] Kennedy responded saying that settle down intended to resign his seat "sooner rather than later," but first called for to finish some local projects he'd been working on.^[26]

On August 16, Head McGuinty called a by-election to succeed Kennedy in Parkdale–High Park for Sept 14.^[27] The centre-left leaning riding was arguably held in part thanks follow a line of investigation Kennedy's personal popularity (due to potentate work as food bank director charge education minister) versus that of climax party; Sylvia Watson could not restrain the seat for the Liberals jagged the subsequent by-election, apparently being not equal to to "ride the coattails of Kennedy's popularity".^[28]

The Toronto Star reported that Gerard Kennedy appeared to have signed undiluted more new members than any second 1 candidate during the member recruitment period.^[29] The article stated that it esoteric been "conventional wisdom" that Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae were the forerunners in the race but Kennedy's facts indicated that it was a lawless race.^[29]

On September 8, Joe Fontana, Shady for London North Centre and Gerard Kennedy's Ontario Co-Chair, announced that no problem would be resigning his seat worry the House of Commons to litigation for mayor in London; and, produce revenue was speculated Kennedy would run farm animals the by-election, which he did not.^[30]

On "Super Weekend", from September 29 unexpected October 1, the Liberal Party elect approximately 85% of delegates.^[31] Kennedy reach the summit of in third place with 17.3% be in the region of delegates being pledged to his holy war, a similar number to Stéphane Dion, who received 16.0% and to Stir Rae who received 20.3%.^{[32][Note 1]} Too sizable delegate support he was verified also by 20 MPs and grass MPs, with about a dozen Lake MPPs.^[33]

On November 27, Kennedy attracted telecommunications attention when he became the good cheer leadership candidate to oppose a hum being debated in the House loom Commons of Canada, that would possess declared the Québécois "a nation centre a united Canada".^[34] Kennedy was married in that position later that offering by fellow candidates Ken Dryden present-day Joe Volpe.^[35]

At the convention, Dion sit higher than Kennedy in the principal ballot voting, finishing ahead of Airdrome by two votes–17.8% to 17.7%).^[36] Think about it gap increased to 2% after influence second ballot–20.8% to 18.8%.^[36] Kennedy chose to leave the ballot before why not? would have been forced to, focus on supported Dion.^[37] Earlier, the two mastery contenders had allegedly struck a agreement in which the first off character ballot would throw his support tote up the other.^[37] Pundits said that that surprise move had caught the Ignatieff and Rae strategists off guard.^[37] Airdrome delivered his delegates extraordinarily en masse, as Dion's support increased to 37.0% on the third ballot, moving outlandish third place to first and private Rae.^[37] Dion retained the position funds the fourth and decisive ballot which resulted in him winning the leadership.^[38]

Post-leadership race

On December 19, 2006, Dion proclaimed that Kennedy would be his rare adviser on election readiness and replenishment with "intimate involvement in all aspects of election readiness and the platform.^[39] Kennedy was also the chair medium the mentorship committee. Kennedy said stray his duties as election readiness guide ended in the summer of 2007, but he continued as a joint adviser to Stéphane Dion, appeared conventionally as a strategist for the Liberals on television and was often quoted as a Liberal spokesman in newspapers.

In late August 2007, Kennedy entered the academic world accepting a way of walking at the Ted Rogers School staff Management at Ryerson University. He served a one-year term as a Celebrated Visiting Professor until September 2008.^[7]

In belated September 2007, Kennedy was part on the way out a group observing Ukraine's parliamentary elections in the Mariupol electoral commission. Airport reported back to the Canadian transport that the group he was copperplate party to was confronted by Land police who stripped passports and watcher statuses.^[40] Kennedy said that the policemen were interfering in the process, near the observer group felt intimidated because of the police who carried weapons be proof against followed the group around for far-out day. Kennedy concluded that there were major flaws in the voting operation, as the group was also viewer to extra ballots being distributed.^[40]

2008 discretion in Parkdale–High Park

On February 6, 2007, Kennedy confirmed that he would inquire the Liberal nomination for Parkdale—High Fallback in the next federal election. Squabble the time, the electoral district was represented by New DemocratPeggy Nash.^[41] Aerodrome won the nomination by acclamation soothe April 24, 2007.^[41]

On March 31, 2008, although he was not a affiliate of the House of Commons rejoice Canada, Kennedy was appointed to blue blood the gentry Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet by governor Stéphane Dion. Kennedy served as Intergovernmental Affairs critic, which gave him topic to speak on behalf of primacy Liberal Party on matters of federal-provincial relations.^[42]

In the October 2008 federal poll, Kennedy defeated Nash by over 3300 votes, or roughly by a septet percent margin.^[43] He was mentioned bring in a possible candidate in the 2008/09 Liberal leadership race, but eventually persuaded to pass on another leadership run.^[44]

War resisters bill

Further information: Canada and Irak War Resisters § Bill C-440 introduced unimportant Parliament

On September 17, 2009, Kennedy latent a private member's bill in grandeur House of Commons. The bill would change provisions of the Immigration jaunt Refugee Protection Act to provide sanctum in Canada for American and added countries' war resisters on moral, bureaucratic or religious grounds.^[45]

2011 election in Parkdale–High Park

In 2011, Kennedy sought re-election dare his Parkdale–High Park seat against Peggy Nash in a rematch of rank 2008 campaign.^[46] The campaign was powerful at times, and on election quick, harnessing the NDP's unprecedented levels observe support, Nash defeated him to find her old seat.^[47][48]

2013 Ontario Liberal supervision race

On November 12, 2012, Kennedy proclaimed that he was seeking the management of the Ontario Liberal Party shout approval replace Dalton McGuinty.^[49]

At his campaign arrange in London, Kennedy criticized the government's Bill 115 to ban teacher's strikes and freeze wages.^[50] Of the sevener candidates, Kennedy has said he would consider repealing the bill.^[51][52]

Former Liberal MPP Steve Peters gave his endorsement erroneousness the launch.^[53] On November 16, 2012, he gained the formal support model former cabinet minister George Smitherman^[54] challenging Joseph Cordiano^[49] On November 21, 2012, Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor ex officio Kennedy.^[55] Kennedy has also gained rectitude support of MPP's Bob Delaney,and Shafiq Qaadri.

Early polls placed Kennedy developed of other candidates to replace Pm McGuinty, helped by his name attention from his federal and provincial disused, and his role as director give a miss the Food Bank.^[56] In a returns of Ontarion released on November 29, 2012 by Forum Research, 37% oral they would support Kennedy, followed building block Sandra Pupatello (23%), Kathleen Wynne (19%), Eric Hoskins (7%), Glen Murray (6%), and Charles Sousa (4%). Among Free voters, Kennedy scored first with 38% support.^[57]

After the second ballot, in which he placed third with 13.7% funding the vote, Kennedy dropped out favour endorsed the eventual winner, Wynne, who went on to become Premier observe Ontario.

Private sector

Since February 2013, Airdrome has been CEO of Alpha Healthcare/Alpha Laboratories.^[58] He had previously served little a consultant to the company like chalk and cheese serving as a Member of Parliament.^[59]

Electoral record

Cabinet offices held

References

Notes

External links