Todd Smith (politician)

Todd Smith (born October 7, 1970) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and currently serves as the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. His first post in the Doug Ford administration was Minister of Government and Consumer Services and Government House Leader. He then served as the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade from November 2, 2018, to June 20, 2019. He represents the riding of Bay of Quinte, and previously represented Prince Edward—Hastings. He has been an MPP since 2011.

The Honourable

Todd Smith

MPP
Todd Smith, MPP
Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
Assumed office
June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byLisa MacLeod
Ontario Government House Leader
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byYasir Naqvi
Succeeded byPaul Calandra
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
In office
June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byTracy MacCharles
Succeeded byBill Walker
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
In office
November 2, 2018 – June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byJim Wilson
Succeeded byVic Fedeli
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Bay of Quinte
Prince Edward—Hastings (2011-2018)
Assumed office
October 6, 2011
Preceded byLeona Dombrowsky
Personal details
Born (1970-10-07) October 7, 1970
Riverview, New Brunswick
Political partyProgressive Conservative
ResidenceStirling, Ontario
OccupationPolitician

Background

Smith was born and raised in Riverview, New Brunswick. A graduate of Loyalist College, he worked for more than 16 years on the radio with Quinte Broadcasting's CJBQ, Mix 97 and Rock 107, eventually becoming the news director for Quinte Broadcasting.[1]

Politics

Smith ran in the 2011 provincial election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Prince Edward—Hastings. He defeated Liberal incumbent Leona Dombrowsky by 3,130 votes.[2][3] He was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election defeating Liberal candidate Georgina Thompson by 4,107 votes.[4] He was again re-elected in the 2018 provincial election with 48 per cent of the vote, some 8,161 votes ahead of runner up Joanne Belanger of the NDP. [5]

During his first term of office, Smith introduced several private member's bills. In November 2011, he proposed the Local Municipality Democracy Act which would have restored municipal zoning authority over green energy projects in Ontario. The bill was defeated after first reading.[6] In May 2012 he introduced the Electronic Commerce Amendment Act with Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi. It would have allowed for the use of electronic signatures on real estate transactions. When the legislature was prorogued on October 15, the bill was removed from the order paper along with all other business. It was reintroduced on March 6, 2013, and it passed second reading on March 21 before being adopted by the government as a part of the 2013 budget.[7]

While serving as an Opposition MPP in the Ontario Legislature, Smith spent time as his party's critic for the small businesses and red tape reduction, the Pan-Am and Parapan-Am Games, citizenship and immigration, the Hydro One Sale, natural resources and forestry, and energy.[8]

In 2018, Smith briefly considered running to succeed Patrick Brown as leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party.[9] Citing family and financial reasons, he decided not to seek the position.[10]

As the PCs formed the government during the 42nd Parliament of Ontario in 2018, Smith was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Government and Consumer Services while serving concurrently as Government House Leader. On Nov. 2, 2018, Smith was assigned the role of Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, while maintaining his role as Government House Leader.[11] On June 20, Smith was moved to the portfolio of Children, Community, and Social Services as part of an extensive cabinet shuffle. [12]


Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Lisa MacLeod Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
June 20, 2019 – present		 Incumbent
Jim Wilson Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
November 2, 2018 – June 20, 2019
Was officially sworn in as the Minister on November 5, 2018		 Vic Fedeli
Tracy MacCharles Minister of Government and Consumer Services
June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018		 Bill Walker
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Yasir Naqvi Government House Leader
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019		 Paul Calandra

References
  1. "MPP Todd Smith - About".
  2. "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.
  3. "Two rural incumbents fall as PC support grows". CTV Ottawa. October 7, 2011.
  4. "General Election by District: Prince Edward-Hastings". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014.
  5. "Elections Ontario - Bay of Quinte results".
  6. Moore, Amanda (December 6, 2011). "Wind group applauds PC efforts". Niagara This Week. p. 1.
  7. "OREA endorses Bill to enhance electronic real estate transactions". Canada NewsWire. March 6, 2013.
  8. "Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Hon. Todd Smith (Bay of Quinte)". August 5, 2020.
  9. "Smith considering Ontario PC leadership run". The Picton Gazette.
  10. "Smith rules out Ontario PC leadership run, selects candidate to support". The Picton Gazette. February 7, 2018.
  11. "Todd Smith becomes new trade minister". County Live.
  12. "Full list of changes after Premier Ford shuffles cabinet". CTV News Toronto.
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