Gary Stewart (politician)

Richard Gary Stewart (born March 23, 1938) is a former Canadian politician in Ontario. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003 and briefly served as a cabinet minister under Mike Harris.

Gary Stewart
Ontario MPP
In office
June 8, 1995 – October 2, 2003
Preceded byJenny Carter
Succeeded byJeff Leal
ConstituencyPeterborough
Personal details
Born (1938-03-23) March 23, 1938 (age 86)
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationBusiness Owner

Background

edit

Stewart was educated at Banting Institute, receiving a Mortician Certificate, and worked for a time at Comstock Funeral Home in Peterborough. In 1974, he became president of G. Stewart Travel Services in Peterborough, which he continued to operate throughout his political career. He also served as a director of the Peterborough Civic Hospital.

Politics

edit

Stewart became deputy reeve of the Township of Otonabee in 1985 and was a warden of Peterborough County from 1992 to 1994.

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal candidate Sylvia Sutherland and incumbent New Democrat Jenny Carter by a significant margin.[1] He was a backbench supporter of Mike Harris for the next four years.

In the provincial election of 1999, Stewart was elected over Liberal Jeff Leal by about 2,500 votes.[2] He served as chief government whip and minister without portfolio from July 31, 2001 to April 14, 2002.[3] When Ernie Eves became premier in 2002, he was dropped from cabinet.[4] In 2003, Stewart recommended that provincial governments stop enforcing the federal gun registry.

In the 2003 provincial election, Stewart lost to Leal by over 6,000 votes in a rematch from 1999.[5]

Gary’s son Scott Stewart lost to Leal in the general election of 2014.

Parliamentary positions

edit
Ontario provincial government of Mike Harris
Sub-Cabinet Post
Predecessor Title Successor
Minister Without Portfolio
(2001-2002)
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Frank Klees Chief Government Whip
2001-2002
John Baird

Electoral record

edit
2003 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Jeff Leal 24,626 44.74 +4.54 $59,358
Progressive Conservative Gary Stewart 18,418 33.46 −11.53 $83,317
New Democratic Dave Nickle 9,796 17.80 +4.80 $22,783
Green Tim Holland 1,605 2.92 +1.82 $6,817
Family Coalition Max Murray 414 0.75 $212
Independent Bob Bowers 178 0.32 +0.05 not listed
Total valid votes 55,037 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 245
Turnout 55,282 62.76 −0.01
Electors on the lists 88,080


1999 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Gary Stewart 24,422 44.99 $66,248
Liberal Jeff Leal 21,820 40.20 $45,608
New Democratic Dave Nickle 7,058 13.00 $26,105
Green Larry Tyldsley 598 1.10 $1,651
Independent Bob Bowers 151 0.28 $862
Independent Kenneth T. Burgess 125 0.23 not listed
Natural Law Robert Mayer 106 0.20 $0
Total valid votes 54,280 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 297
Turnout 54,577 62.77
Electors on the lists 86,951


1995 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Gary Stewart 22,735 52.66 $45,102
Liberal Sylvia Sutherland 10,326 23.92 $42,101
New Democratic Jenny Carter 7,581 17.56 $26,275
Family Coalition Paul Morgan 2,064 4.78 $12,225
Libertarian Vic Watts 251 0.58 $1,047
Natural Law Peter Leggat 213 0.49 $0
Total valid votes 43,170 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 329
Turnout 43,499 66.23
Electors on the lists 65,678

References

edit
  1. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "Ontario: Harris adds to Cabinet by naming new chief whip". National Post. August 8, 2001. p. A11. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Urquhart, Ian (December 21, 2002). "Eves' year of startling change". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
edit