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George Smitherman MPP (born 1964) is a Canadian politician who represents the provincial riding of Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is notable for being the first openly gay MPP elected in Ontario, and the first openly gay cabinet minister. On November 8, 2009, Smitherman resigned as Ontario's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Deputy Premier of Ontario in order to run for Mayor of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election.[1][2]
[edit] BackgroundSmitherman has been active in politics since high school. He worked as an organizer for the Ontario Liberal Party and Premier David Peterson. He was chief of staff to Ontario cabinet minister Hugh O'Neil and senior advisor to Ontario political ministers Herb Gray and David Collenette. He was chief of staff and campaign manager to one-time Mayor of Toronto Barbara Hall. He also ran a private consulting business and co-owned a photofinishing shop in downtown Toronto. He defeated a five year addiction to cocaine and other 'party drugs' before running for political office.[3] On August 5, 2007, Smitherman married his partner, Christopher Peloso, a manager with Lindt & Sprüngli, near Elliot Lake, Ontario.[4] On September 26, 2009, the Toronto Star reported that Smitherman and his husband had been approved as adoptive parents by the Toronto Children's Aid Society. A close source said that the couple were on a waiting list to adopt a child.[5] [edit] Provincial politicsIn the 1999 provincial election Smitherman was nominated as the Liberal Party candidate for Toronto Centre-Rosedale. The Toronto municipal amalgamation of 1997 proved to be a major issue in the campaign; the riding's previous MPP, Progressive Conservative (PC) Al Leach, had chosen not to run again, and former Toronto mayor John Sewell was running as an independent candidate in protest against the amalgamation legislation. Sewell's entry into the race was controversial, with many activists accusing him of splitting the left wing vote with the New Democratic Party (NDP). The provincial campaign dynamic was complex, with many union leaders and other traditional NDP supporters openly advocating strategic voting for the Liberals to defeat the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris. While the Progressive Conservatives were re-elected, Smitherman won the seat. In the legislature, he was nicknamed "Furious George" for his aggressive and abrasive manner.[6] In the 2003 election the Liberals won the election, and McGuinty was sworn in as the 24th Premier of Ontario on October 23. Smitherman was named to cabinet as Minister of Health. He was also named Deputy Premier and Toronto Regional Minister. He served as co-chair of Barbara Hall's mayoral campaign but resigned after his party formed the provincial government. Smitherman's initiatives have included efforts to reduce wait times and enhancing access to nurses and doctors. In the 2007 election, Smitherman was re-elected as the MPP for Toronto Centre. As Minister of Health, Smitherman was criticized for ignoring calls for an independent investigation into C. difficile deaths in hospitals.[6] On June 20, 2008, Smitherman was shuffled to the new Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, a merger of two formerly separate government departments. McGuinty dismissed suggestions that he combined the energy and infrastructure portfolios to satisfy Smitherman, saying "I think it's a great fit, it's a natural fit, and it's an essential part of our plan to grow this economy." Some speculated that McGuinty also gave him the roles to discourage him from seeking the Toronto mayoralty, but Smitherman maintained that he had no interest in the job.[6] He was succeeded as Minister of Health by David Caplan. Smitherman was the first Liberal in the history of Toronto's NOW magazine to be voted best MPP. [edit] Toronto mayoral electionOn September 9, 2009, Smitherman strongly suggested that he would be running for mayor of Toronto in the upcoming 2010 mayoral election. He emphasized that any official announcements would not come before "the unofficial campaign season municipally begins in the new year."[7] On November 8, 2009, Smitherman announced his resignation from the provincial cabinet in order to run for mayor.[8] [edit] Electoral record
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