Rick Johnson (Canadian politician)

Rick Johnson
MPP
In office
2009–2011
Preceded by Laurie Scott
Succeeded by Laurie Scott
Constituency Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Personal details
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Terri Crawford
Children 2
Residence Pontypool, Ontario
Occupation Musician

Rick Johnson is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in a by-election on March 5, 2009, defeating Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader John Tory in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock.[1] He is a member of the Liberal Party.

Background

Before entering politics, Johnson was a musician, working alongside his wife Terri Crawford both in the Terry Crawford Band of the 1970s and 1980s and later as a children's music duo billed as Terri & Rick.[2]

Politics

Johnson previously served as a public school trustee for, and chair of, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board[3] and as president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association. In his term on the OPSBA, Johnson introduced breakfast, co-operative education and literacy programs for his district. He has also served on the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson was the Liberal candidate in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock in the 2007 provincial election, losing to Laurie Scott.[4] On January 9, 2009 Scott resigned her seat, in order to provide Conservative Leader John Tory a seat in the legislature. Johnson capitalized on public anger from Scott's move to narrowly defeat Tory in the subsequent by-election.[5]

Johnson served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, Bob Chiarelli. He previously served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. In the 2011 election, Johnson lost again to P.C. candidate Laurie Scott by 6,000 votes in the 2011 provincial election.[6] He tried again in 2014 but lost again to Scott, this time by more than 3,000 votes.[7]

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeLaurie Scott 22,357 45.4 +4.3
LiberalRick Johnson 16,522 33.6 -10.13
New DemocraticDon Abel 8,517 17.3 +11.32
GreenAnita Payne 1,652 3.2 -3.44
FreedomCharles Olito 254 0.5 +0.1
Total valid votes 48,942 100.00
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock by-election, March 5, 2009
resignation of Laurie Scott
Party Candidate Votes % ±
LiberalRick Johnson 15,482 43.73 +14.22
Progressive ConservativeJohn Tory 14,576 41.17 -8.73
GreenMike Schreiner 2,352 6.64 -0.56
New DemocraticLyn Edwards 2,117 5.98 -5.92
IndependentJason Taylor 320 0.90
Family CoalitionJake Pothaar 258 0.73 -0.07
FreedomBill Denby 140 0.40 -0.4
IndependentJohn Turmel 92 0.26
LibertarianPaolo Fabrizio 71 0.20
Ontario general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeLaurie Scott 24,272 49.9
LiberalRick Johnson 14,324 29.5
New DemocraticJoan Corrigan 5,773 11.9
GreenDouglas Smith 3,475 7.2
FreedomBill Denby 391 0.8
Family CoalitionJake Pothaar 364 0.8

References

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