John Yakabuski
John Yakabuski (born June 14, 1957) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in the eastern Ontario riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke in 2003. His father, Paul Yakabuski, was also a Tory Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the area from 1963 to 1987.
John Yakabuski | |
---|---|
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry | |
Assumed office November 5, 2018 | |
Premier | Doug Ford |
Preceded by | Jeff Yurek |
Minister of Transportation | |
In office June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018 | |
Premier | Doug Ford |
Preceded by | Kathryn McGarry |
Succeeded by | Jeff Yurek |
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke | |
Assumed office October 2, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Sean Conway |
Personal details | |
Born | Barry's Bay, Ontario | June 14, 1957
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Vicky |
Relations | Paul Yakabuski (Father) |
Children | 4 |
Residence | Barry's Bay, Ontario |
Profession | Businessman, Real Estate Agent |
Background
Yakabuski is a former real estate sales representative, and was for twenty years the owner and operator of Yakabuski's Home Hardware in Barry's Bay, Ontario. At the time of his election, he was a member of the steering committee of St. Francis Memorial Hospital's Capital Equipment Campaign. He is also active in the local Lutheran church. His late brother, Kim Yakabuski, was the life partner of former Liberal Attorney-General Ian Scott. His brother, Konrad Yakabuski, is a columnist for the Globe and Mail. He and his wife Vicky have four children.[1]
Politics
Yakabuski was elected to the Barry's Bay municipal council in 1997, and was responsible for overseeing various issues concerning the region's amalgamation. He did not seek re-election in 2000.
Yakabuski was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 2003 provincial election, defeating Liberal Derek Nighbor by 595 votes.[2] This result was regarded by some as an upset, as it was the only formerly Liberal seat to be won by the Tories in an election that saw the Liberals elected to a strong majority government. Moreover, the seat had been held for many years by Liberal Sean Conway (Yakabuski's second cousin). However, Yakabuski benefited from a growing social conservative trend in the region. He won the election despite publicizing of his earlier convictions by the opposition press.[3]
In the 2007 provincial election, he was easily re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Sean Kelly by over 15,000 votes.[4] He was re-elected in both the 2011 provincial election[5] and the 2014 provincial election.[6]
Yakabuski was the Labour and Training Critic in the Official Opposition and the Whip of the Official Opposition.[7] He ran for the position of interim leader of the party following the resignation of Tim Hudak but was passed over in favour of Jim Wilson.[8]
Yakabuski now serves as the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.[9]
Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Yakabuski | 33,350 | 69.19 | +8.13 | ||||
New Democratic | Ethel Lavalley | 8,066 | 16.73 | +2.27 | ||||
Liberal | Jackie Agnew | 4,701 | 9.75 | -9.35 | ||||
Green | Anna Dolan | 1,436 | 2.98 | -0.25 | ||||
Confederation of Regions | Murray Reid | 373 | 0.77 | -0.42 | ||||
Libertarian | Jesse Wood | 273 | 0.57 | |||||
Total valid votes | 48,199 | 100.00 | ||||||
Turnout | 61.99 | |||||||
Eligible voters | 77,758 | |||||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | |||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[10] |
2014 Ontario general election: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Yakabuski | 25,241 | 61.06 | -9.72 | ||||
Liberal | Rod Boileau | 7,897 | 19.10 | +3.12 | ||||
New Democratic | Brian Dougherty | 5,978 | 14.46 | +3.49 | ||||
Green | Benjamin Wright | 1,337 | 3.23 | +1.76 | ||||
Confederation of Regions | Murray Reid | 489 | 1.19 | +0.40 | ||||
Independent | Chad Beckwith-Smith | 392 | 0.95 | |||||
Total valid votes | 41,334 | 100.00 | ||||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | -6.42 | ||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[11] |
2011 Ontario general election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Yakabuski | 27,594 | 70.78 | +8.43 | ||||
Liberal | John O'Leary | 6,231 | 15.98 | -8.73 | ||||
New Democratic | Brian Dougherty | 4,277 | 10.97 | +3.38 | ||||
Green | Kyle Jones | 574 | 1.47 | -2.96 | ||||
Confederation of Regions | Murray Reid | 309 | 0.79 | +0.59 | ||||
Total valid votes | 38,985 | 100.0 | ||||||
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 107 | 0.27 | ||||||
Turnout | 39,092 | 52.69 | ||||||
Eligible voters | 74,191 | |||||||
Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | +8.58 | ||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[12] |
2007 Ontario general election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Yakabuski | 24,981 | 62.35 | +18.21 | ||||
Liberal | Sean Kelly | 9,902 | 24.71 | -17.95 | ||||
New Democratic | Felicite Stairs | 3,039 | 7.59 | -4.07 | ||||
Green | Mark MacKenzie | 1,773 | 4.43 | +2.89 | ||||
Family Coalition | Bruce Dean | 290 | 0.72 | |||||
Confederation of Regions | Tilton Beaumont | 80 | 0.20 | |||||
Total valid votes | 40,065 | 100.0 |
2003 Ontario general election | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | John Yakabuski | 19,274 | 44.14 | +3.76 | ||||
Liberal | Derek Nighbor | 18,629 | 42.66 | -10.69 | ||||
New Democratic | Felicite Stairs | 5,092 | 11.66 | +6.44 | ||||
Green | Chris Walker | 671 | 1.54 | +0.89 | ||||
Total valid votes | 43,666 | 100.0 |
Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford | ||
Cabinet posts (2) | ||
---|---|---|
Predecessor | Office | Successor |
Jeff Yurek | Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry November 5, 2018 – present |
Incumbent |
Kathryn McGarry | Minister of Transportation June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018 |
Jeff Yurek |
References
- Uhler, Stephen (May 9, 2010). "MPP Yakabuski's son lost, found for Mother's Day". The Daily Observer. Pembroke, Ont.
- "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
- Singer, Zev; Beaty, Scott (October 3, 2003). "Tense battle goes to Yakabuski". The Ottawa Citizen. p. F6.
- "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 12 (xxi). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
- "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
- "General Election by District: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014.
- http://www.ontariopc.com/News/Details/Ontario-PC-Leader-Patrick-Brown-Announces-Critic-Shuffle
- "Progressive Conservatives pick Jim Wilson as interim leader". Toronto Star. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
- https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/john-yakabuski
- "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- Elections Ontario (2014). "General Election Results by District, 074 Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke". Retrieved 13 June 2014.
- Elections Ontario (2011). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2014.