Helena Jaczek
Helena Jaczek | |
---|---|
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Markham—Stouffville | |
Assumed office October 21, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jane Philpott |
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Oak Ridges—Markham | |
In office October 10, 2007 – June 7, 2018 | |
Preceded by | Riding established |
Succeeded by | Riding dissolved |
Personal details | |
Born | Krystina Helena Jaczek November 5, 1950 London, England |
Political party | Ontario Liberal Party 2007-2018 Liberal Party of Canada (2019-) |
Children | 2 |
Occupation | Physician |
Helena Jaczek MP (born November 5, 1950) is a Canadian politician from Ontario, Canada. She was elected in the 2019 federal election to represent Markham—Stouffville in the House of Commons of Canada as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2007 to 2018 who represented the riding of Oak Ridges—Markham. She served as Minister of Community and Social Services from 2014 until 2018 and as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in 2018 in the cabinet of Kathleen Wynne.
Contents
Background[edit]
Jaczek was born and raised in England and immigrated to Canada in 1963 at age 12. She received her medical degree and Masters of Health Science from the University of Toronto and later went on to pursue a Masters of Business Administration from York University. After many years in general practice on staff at Women's College Hospital in Toronto, she then served as chief medical officer of health in York Region for 18 years. Jaczek has two adult children and she lives in York Region with her partner.[1]
She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies by receiving an award "In Celebration of Women". In 2005, Jaczek received an Award for Environmental Planning from the Canadian Institute of Planners. In 2016, Jaczek received the Ontario Psychological Association Public Service Award, as well as, the Ontario Medical Association, Life Membership Award. In April 2017, Jaczek was awarded the Helen Keller Award by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre for the contributions she has made to hearing and visually impaired Ontarians.[2]
Politics[edit]
Ontario Provincial Politics[edit]
In 2003, Jaczek ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Oak Ridges. Issues included tax rates and health care.[3] She lost to incumbent Frank Klees by 2,521 votes.[4] In 2007, Jaczek won the newly formed riding of Oak Ridges—Markham by 7,013 votes beating Conservative candidate Phil Bannon and New Democrat Janice Hagan. Population growth was the main issue in the campaign as the riding of Oak Ridges-Markham was the most populous in the province as of the 2006 census.[5][6] She was re-elected in the 2011, and 2014 elections.[7][8]
Jaczek was appointed as a Parliamentary assistant (PA) to the Minister of Health Promotion on October 30, 2007. On September 11, 2009 she was made PA to the Minister of Environment. In February 2013, Jaczek was appointed as PA to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.[9] Jaczek also served as Caucus Chair and was a sitting member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Social Policy. She has also served on several other Standing Committees including Government Agencies, Finance and Economic Affairs, and Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on General Government. She also previously served as Liberal Caucus Chair.
Jaczek was also a member of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions. This special Committee held public hearings around the province, visiting mental health and addictions facilities and several First Nations communities to better understand the Mental Health and Addictions program challenges facing Ontario. The Committee's work and recommendations were presented in the report, Navigating the Journey to Wellness.
In 2009, Jaczek proposed a private member's bill, Bill 117 would have prohibited riders under the age of 15 from riding motorcycles. Data presented to the house showed that 46 under-15 aged riders were hospitalized between 2005–06. She said, "The research is alarming." Motorcycle enthusiasts disputed the numbers saying that most of the injuries were from off-road activities such as dirt bikes and motocross. As of 2010, the bill had passed first reading. However, when the legislature was prorogued on March 4, 2010, the bill died on the order paper. According to the clerk of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy the bill was not carried forward.[10][11]
In September 2010, Jaczek co-sponsored a private member's bill to amend the Arthur Wishart Act (Franchise Disclosure)2000. The amendment would require a franchisor to provide a prospective franchisee with an educational document prior to entering into a franchise agreement that would include a self-evaluation criteria to ensure the perspective franchisee was fully aware of the work involved in operating the business and the required capital investment.
In March 2012, Jaczek introduced a private member's bill, Bill 40 that proclaims March 26 as Epilepsy Awareness Day. She also introduced a private member's resolution that would investigate ways to encourage organ donations in the province.[12]
In February 2013, Jaczek introduced Bill 16, "An Act to amend the Municipal Act, 2001 to provide that the head of council of The Regional Municipality of York must be elected." The bill received the support of all three parties during debate in the legislature on June 6, 2013 where it was referred to the Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly. The bill died on the order paper because of the 2014 Ontario General Election. However, in November 2016, the government introduced legislation that included a provision to ensure the direct election of Chair of the Regional Municipality of York Council and the other remaining Region (Niagara and Peel) who do not democratically elect their Chair and CEO.
On June 24, 2014, she was appointed by Premier Kathleen Wynne as the Minister of Community and Social Services and is currently the Vice Chair of Health, Education and Social Policy Cabinet Committee.[13]
As a Cabinet Minister, Jaczek led the government's plan to reform social assistance, which includes overseeing Ontario's Basic Income Pilot as well as the establishment of the Income Security Reform Working Group who was tasked with developing ideas for a more holistic, client-centred approach to a broader income security. Jaczek has also overseen considerable reform in the developmental services sector, which includes the closing of all sheltered workshops in Ontario and has led the implementation of Ontario's Strategy to End Human Trafficking.
Jaczek was appointed Chair of Cabinet in addition to her role as Minister of Community and Social Services on January 17, 2018.
On February 26, 2018, she was appointed Minister of Health and Long-Term Care after the resignation of the preceding Health Minister, Eric Hoskins.
She lost re-election in the 2018 Ontario general election.
Federal Politics[edit]
In June 2019, there was speculation that Jaczek might enter federal politics and run as a Liberal Party of Canada candidate in Markham—Stouffville in the 2019 Canadian federal election, against the incumbent Independent MP Jane Philpott. Philpott had previously been elected as the Liberal member but had been removed as a candidate following her expulsion from the Liberal caucus in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin affair. However, Jaczek stated to the Toronto Star that she had "known Philpott for at least a decade" and "had a great deal of respect for her as a person.” She expressed concerns that running a strong Liberal candidate against Philpott would risk splitting the vote, opening the door to a Conservative win.[14] Nevertheless, five weeks later, it was announced that she would be seeking the Liberal Party nomination in the riding.[15]
Electoral record[edit]
2018 Ontario general election: Markham—Stouffville | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Paul Calandra | 25,912 | 48.12 | |||||
Liberal | Helena Jaczek | 14,007 | 26.01 | |||||
New Democratic | Kingsley Kwok | 10,997 | 20.42 | |||||
Green | Jose Etcheverry | 2,153 | 4.00 | |||||
Libertarian | Paul Balfour | 660 | 1.23 | |||||
Ontario Moderate Party | Yuri Duboisky | 117 | 0.22 | |||||
Total valid votes | 53,846 | 100.0 | ||||||
Source: Elections Ontario[16] |
2014 Ontario general election: Oak Ridges—Markham | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Helena Jaczek | 36,858 | 45.52 | +0.74 | $92,420.12 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Farid Wassef | 30,259 | 37.37 | +0.23 | $173,298.00 | |||
New Democratic | Miles Krauter | 9,483 | 11.71 | −1.55 | $4,568.86 | |||
Green | Emilia Melara | 2,762 | 3.41 | +0.98 | $0.00 | |||
Libertarian | Karl Boelling | 1,384 | 1.71 | +0.07 | $0.00 | |||
Trillium | Gennady Vilensky | 233 | 0.29 | N/A | $0.00 | |||
Total valid votes | 80,979 | 100.0 | ||||||
Liberal hold | Swing | +0.26 | ||||||
Source(s) |
2011 Ontario general election: Oak Ridges—Markham | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Helena Jaczek | 28,878 | 44.78 | −3.43 | $83,066.00 | |||
Progressive Conservative | Farid Wassef | 23,950 | 37.14 | +1.07 | $146,606.59 | |||
New Democratic | Joe Whitfeld | 8,548 | 13.26 | +5.33 | $11,142.60 | |||
Green | Trifon Haitas | 1,569 | 2.43 | −4.01 | $350.00 | |||
Libertarian | Karl Boelling | 1,057 | 1.64 | $213.07 | ||||
Independent | Ruida Lu | 484 | 0.75 | $2,766.14 | ||||
Total valid votes / Expense limit | 64,486 | 100.00 | +8.85 | $180,834,78 | ||||
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 395 | 0.61 | −0.13 | |||||
Turnout | 64,881 | 42.70 | −5.07 | |||||
Eligible voters | 151,959 | +21.63 | ||||||
Liberal hold | Swing | −2.25 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Summary of valid votes cast for each candidate – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. November 18, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2014. "Statistical Summary" ( Excel Spreadsheet). Elections Ontario. October 1, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2014. "2011 Candidate Campaign Returns - CR-1". Elections Ontario. |
2007 Ontario general election: Oak Ridges—Markham | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
Liberal | Helena Jaczek | 28,564 | 48.22 | |||||
Progressive Conservative | Phil Bannon | 21,367 | 36.07 | |||||
New Democratic | Janice Hagan | 4,698 | 7.93 | |||||
Green | Attila Nagy | 3,815 | 6.44 | |||||
Family Coalition | Patrick Redmond | 455 | 0.77 | |||||
Independent | Doug Ransom | 342 | 0.58 | |||||
Total valid votes | 59,241 | 100.0 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 444 | 0.74 | ||||||
Turnout | 59,685 | 47.77 | ||||||
Eligible voters | 124,939 | |||||||
Sources:"Summary of valid votes cast for each candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. August 14, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2014. "Statistical Summary" (PDF). Elections Ontario. May 8, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2014. |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Progressive Conservative | Frank Klees | 32,647 | 47.27 | -12.72 | |
Liberal | Helena Jaczek | 30,126 | 43.62 | +9.27 | |
New Democratic | Pamela Courtot | 4,464 | 6.46 | +2.60 | |
Green | Steven Haylestrom | 1,821 | 2.64 | +0.84 |
References[edit]
- ^ Ransberry, Joan (May 20, 2007). "Jaczek to run for Grits in Oak Ridges-Markham". The Liberal. p. 1.
- ^ "Dr. Helena Jaczek: Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment Oak Ridges-Markham". Liberal Party of Ontario. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011.
- ^ Johnson, Linda (September 28, 2003). "All-candidates meeting gets rowdy". The Liberal. p. 1.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.
- ^ Whyte, Murray (October 11, 2007). "Oak Ridges-Markham: Former MOH topples three terms of Tory rule". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 10 (xix). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "General Election by District: Oak Ridges". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.
- ^ "New Ontario ministry posts". Daily Commercial News and Construction Record. November 17, 2011.
- ^ Laturnus, Ted (January 19, 2009). "No kids on bikes?". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "Bill 117 – Dead?". Motorcycle News. March 2010. p. 1.
- ^ Bolan, Sandra (March 16, 2012). "MPP wants more organ donations". Stouffville Sun-Tribune. p. 1.
- ^ Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
- ^ "Former cabinet minister Helena Jaczek cool to election run against Jane Philpott". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ "Helena Jaczek, former Ontario health minister, to seek Liberal nomination in Markham-Stouffville". Global News. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 5. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
External links[edit]
Ontario Provincial Government of Kathleen Wynne | ||
Cabinet posts (2) | ||
---|---|---|
Predecessor | Office | Successor |
Eric Hoskins | Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 2018 (January–June) |
Christine Elliott |
Ted McMeekin | Minister of Community and Social Services 2014–2018 |
Michael Coteau |
- 1950 births
- 20th-century Canadian physicians
- 21st-century Canadian physicians
- 21st-century Canadian politicians
- 21st-century Canadian women politicians
- Canadian women physicians
- English emigrants to Canada
- Health ministers of Ontario
- Living people
- Liberal Party of Canada MPs
- Members of the Executive Council of Ontario
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
- Ontario Liberal Party MPPs
- University of Toronto alumni
- Women government ministers of Canada
- Women members of the House of Commons of Canada
- Women MPPs in Ontario
- York University alumni
- 20th-century women physicians
- 21st-century women physicians