John O'Toole

For the English footballer, see John-Joe O'Toole.
John O'Toole
Ontario MPP
In office
1999–2014
Preceded by New riding
Succeeded by Granville Anderson
Constituency Durham
In office
1995–1999
Preceded by Gord Mills
Succeeded by Riding dissolved
Constituency Durham East
Personal details
Born 1944 (age 7071)
Peterborough, Ontario
Political party Progressive Conservative
Residence Bowmanville, Ontario
Occupation Business manager

John O'Toole (born c.1944) is a retired politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2014, representing the riding of Durham for the Progressive Conservative Party.

Background

O'Toole's ancestors arrived in Canada in 1845, fleeing the Irish potato famine. He was born in Peterborough, Ontario, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. After graduation he worked in a variety of positions for General Motors in Ontario and Quebec. His son Erin O'Toole was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on November 26, 2012, also to represent Durham.[1]

Politics

He was elected as a school trustee in the Peterborough-Victoria-Northumberland district in 1982, and in the Newcastle district in 1988. In 1991, O'Toole was elected as a municipal councillor in Bowmanville, Ontario and in 1994, he was elected as councillor for Durham Region.

O'Toole scored a significant victory over incumbent New Democrat Gord Mills in the provincial election of 1995, scoring 62% of the popular vote.[2] He was re-elected in the 1999 election, again without difficulty.[3] He was appointed as parliamentary assistant to a several ministers including Consumer and Commercial Relations, Finance, and Health and Long-Term Care.

The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the 2003 provincial election, although O'Toole managed to retain his own riding.[4] In 2004, O'Toole endorsed John Tory's successful bid to lead the Progressive Conservative party (even though his riding is adjacent to that of Tory's main rival, Jim Flaherty).

In January 2014, he announced that he wouldn't be running for re-election. He said, "This has not been an easy decision... Nevertheless, I feel this is the right time to open a new chapter in my life."[5]

In September 2014, O'Toole announced his intentions to run for mayor of Clarington in the 2014 municipal election. He officially filed his papers just before the deadline on September 2, 2014.[6] On October 27, he was defeated by incumbent mayor Adrian Foster by 1,362 votes.[7]

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2011: Durham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeJohn O'Toole 22,393 49.07 +2.14
LiberalBetty Somerville 13,394 29.35 -2.83
New DemocraticJames Terry 8,027 17.59 +5.53
GreenEdward Yaghledjian 1,221 2.68 -6.15
LibertarianBlaize Barnicoat 424 0.93  
FreedomDavid Strutt 172 0.38  
Total valid votes 45,631 100.0   -0.41
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 173 0.38 -0.14
Turnout 45,804 49.74 -4.60
Eligible Voters 92,906   +9.62
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +2.49
Ontario general election, 2007: Durham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive Conservative John O'Toole 21,515 46.96 -0.14
Liberal Betty Somerville 14,730 32.15 -4.61
New Democratic Catherine Robinson 5,521 12.05 -0.36
Green June Davies 4,053 8.85 +6.51
Total valid votes 45,819 100.0   -9.39
Total Rejected Ballots 240 0.52 -0.22
Voter Turnout 46,059 54.34 -4.06
Eligible Voters 84,755   -2.85
Sources: "Summary of valid votes cast for each candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Aug 14, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2014.

"Statistical Summary — General Elections 2007" (PDF). Elections Ontario. May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2014.

Ontario general election, 2003: Durham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive Conservative John O'Toole 23,814 47.09 -9.98
Liberal Garry Minnie 18,590 36.76 +4.64
New Democratic Teresa Williams 6,274 12.41 +3.15
Green Gordon H. Macdonald 1,183 2.34 +1.32
Freedom Cathy McKeever 707 1.40  
Total valid votes 50,568 100.0   +10.55
Total Rejected Ballots 378 0.74 +0.19
Voter Turnout 50,946 58.40 -0.11
Eligible Voters 87,237   +10.98
Sources: "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate – General Election of October 2, 2003". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

"Statistical Summary — General Elections of October 2, 2003". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

Ontario general election, 1999: Durham
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeJohn O'Toole 26,103 57.07
LiberalGarry Minnie 14,694 32.12
New DemocraticJim Morrison 4,235 9.26
GreenGail Thompson 467 1.02
Natural LawJacinthe Millaire 242 0.53
Total valid votes 45,741 100.0  
Total Rejected Ballots 253 0.55
Voter Turnout 45,994 58.51
Eligible Voters 78,608
Sources: "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate – General Election June 3 1999". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

"Statistical Summary — General Election of June 3 1999". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 22, 2014.

References

  1. "Conservatives reclaim Durham but in tough, three-way fight in Calgary Centre". Winnipeg Free Press. November 26, 2012.
  2. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  3. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  5. "Two veteran Ontario politicians say they won't run in next election". CTV news. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  6. Andrews, Brad (September 12, 2014). "John O’Toole running for Clarington mayor". DurhamRegion.com (Metroland Media).
  7. Andrews, Brad (October 12, 2014). "Clarington election results: Adrian Foster beats John O'Toole for mayor's seat". DurhamRegion.com (Metroland Media).

External links