Jerry Ouellette
Encyclopedia
Jerry J. Ouellette is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
since 1995, representing the riding of Oshawa
for the Progressive Conservative Party
. Ouellette was Minister of Natural Resources in the government of Ernie Eves
.
Ouellette graduated from Durham College
in Business Administration. Before entering public life, he managed a lumber operation and a national consulting firm. Ouellette is a former member of the Governing Board of Durham College, and a member of the Oshawa Naval Veterans Association.
Ouellette was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995
, defeating incumbent New Democrat Allan Pilkey
in Oshawa by about 8,000 votes.
Ouellette's victory was seen as indicative of a broader provincial shift, with a number of working-class ridings shifting from the NDP to the Tories. Ouellette was re-elected by about 7,000 votes over Liberal
Chris Topple in the 1999 provincial election
, with the NDP falling to third place.
Ouellette supported Ernie Eves
in the Progressive Conservative Party's 2002 leadership convention, and on April 15, 2002 was appointed Ontario Minister of Natural Resources. In this capacity, he was generally regarded as an ally of the province's fishing and hunting community.
In the 2003 provincial election
, Ouellette faced a strong challenge from provincial union radical and NDP candidate Sid Ryan
. This was Ryan's third unsuccessful bid for a provincial seat (1999, Scarborough-Centre; 2003 and 2007, Oshawa) and his fifth electoral loss having been twice defeated by Colin Carrie, Oshawa's Conservative candidate and MP, in 2004 and 2006. Ouellette struggled to retained his seat, winning the 2003 race by 1019 votes. But the Progressive Conservatives lost the election and Ouellette moved to the opposition benches. Four years later, during the 2007 provincial election
, Ouellette defeated Ryan a second time.
Since 2007, Ouellette has served as the Official Opposition Critic for both the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines, and Natural Resources.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
since 1995, representing the riding of Oshawa
Oshawa (electoral district)
Oshawa is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968....
for the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
. Ouellette was Minister of Natural Resources in the government of Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
.
Ouellette graduated from Durham College
Durham College
Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology is located in the Durham Region with campuses in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada and Whitby and additional locations in Uxbridge, Port Hope, Port Perry and Beaverton...
in Business Administration. Before entering public life, he managed a lumber operation and a national consulting firm. Ouellette is a former member of the Governing Board of Durham College, and a member of the Oshawa Naval Veterans Association.
Ouellette was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, defeating incumbent New Democrat Allan Pilkey
Allan Pilkey
Allan Pilkey is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as mayor of Oshawa, and was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.-Background:...
in Oshawa by about 8,000 votes.
Ouellette's victory was seen as indicative of a broader provincial shift, with a number of working-class ridings shifting from the NDP to the Tories. Ouellette was re-elected by about 7,000 votes over Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Chris Topple in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, with the NDP falling to third place.
Ouellette supported Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
in the Progressive Conservative Party's 2002 leadership convention, and on April 15, 2002 was appointed Ontario Minister of Natural Resources. In this capacity, he was generally regarded as an ally of the province's fishing and hunting community.
In the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, Ouellette faced a strong challenge from provincial union radical and NDP candidate Sid Ryan
Sid Ryan
Patrick Cyril "Sid" Ryan is president of the Ontario Federation of Labour and a longtime Canadian labour union leader and politician.-Biography:...
. This was Ryan's third unsuccessful bid for a provincial seat (1999, Scarborough-Centre; 2003 and 2007, Oshawa) and his fifth electoral loss having been twice defeated by Colin Carrie, Oshawa's Conservative candidate and MP, in 2004 and 2006. Ouellette struggled to retained his seat, winning the 2003 race by 1019 votes. But the Progressive Conservatives lost the election and Ouellette moved to the opposition benches. Four years later, during the 2007 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
, Ouellette defeated Ryan a second time.
Since 2007, Ouellette has served as the Official Opposition Critic for both the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines, and Natural Resources.