George Smitherman
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George Smitherman, Ontario MPP
George Smitherman (b. 1963) is a Canadian politician, who represents the riding of Toronto Centre—Rosedale in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is notable for being the first openly gay MPP elected in Ontario, and the first openly gay cabinet minister.
Smitherman was long active in politics, having been Chief of Staff and campaign manager to one-time Toronto mayor Barbara Hall, and a longtime Liberal policy advisor. He also ran a private consulting business, and owned a photofinishing shop in downtown Toronto.
In the 1999 Ontario election, Smitherman was nominated as the provincial Liberal candidate in Toronto Centre-Rosedale. The Toronto municipal amalgamation of 1997 proved to be a major issue in the campaign -- the riding's previous MPP, Progressive Conservative Al Leach, had chosen not to run again, and former Toronto mayor John Sewell was running as an independent candidate in protest against the "megacity" legislation. Sewell's entry into the race was controversial, with many activists accusing him of splitting the left wing vote with the NDP. As well, the provincial campaign dynamic was complex, with many union leaders and other traditional NDP supporters openly advocating strategic voting for the Liberals to defeat the PC government of Mike Harris.
Whatever dynamics played into the election result, however, Smitherman won the seat, becoming the first openly gay MPP in Ontario. He proved to be a fiercely partisan and combative politician. Smitherman once famously posed feeding several pigs at an "Ernie Eves-Trough" to highlight a patronage appointment by the government.
However, he is also known as a hard worker very committed to representing and working with and for his constituents. Smitherman was handed the difficult auto insurance file by Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and impressed industry, experts and consumer advocates with his quick grasp of the complex issues involved.
In the 2003 Ontario election, Smitherman's role in the campaign was the subject of considerable attention. The Liberal campaign was characterized by many observers as a "good cop/bad cop" routine --- the positive messages of the campaign were delivered by party leader Dalton McGuinty, while Smitherman was the face of the party's more confrontational campaign tactics.
The Liberals won the election, and when McGuinty was sworn in as the 24th Premier of Ontario on October 23, Smitherman was named to cabinet as Minister of Health, again making history as Ontario's first openly gay cabinet minister.
Smitherman has won both praise and criticism for his tough management of the difficult health portfolio, including a scandal involving improper cleaning of medical equipment. A fiercely partisan and passionate politician, he was dubbed "Furious George" for his blunt language with hospital CEOs who continue to run deficits year after year.
Smitherman also lent his support to Marc Hall, a gay student who fought for the right to bring his boyfriend to prom.
External Links
- Official Constituency Website (http://www.georgesmitherman.com/)
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography (http://olaap.ontla.on.ca/mpp/daMbr.do?locale=en&whr=Id=88)
- Ontario Ministry of Health biography (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/ministry/bios/smitherman.html)
- Ontario Liberal Party biography (http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/35090.htm)