George Smitherman

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George Smitherman speaking to supporters at his nomination as the Liberal candidate in the provincial riding of Toronto Centre.

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 Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) elected in Ontario, and the first openly gay cabinet minister. Smitherman is currently Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

Smitherman has been active in politics since high school. Smitherman worked as an organizer for the Ontario Liberal Party and Premier David Peterson. Smitherman was chief of staff to Ontario cabinet minister Hugh O'Neill 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.

n the 1999 provincial election, Smitherman was nominated as the Liberal Party candidate in 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). As well, 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 PC government of Mike Harris. Smitherman won the seat.

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.

In the 2007 election, Smitherman was re-elected as the MPP for Toronto Centre.

Smitherman has served as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Deputy Premier and Toronto Regional Minister since 2003. As the longest-serving Ontario Minister of Health in the last quarter century, Smitherman has strongly led McGuinty government initiatives, including the effort to reduce wait times and enhance access to nurses and doctors.

In the community, Smitherman is well known for his advocacy in areas such as housing, heritage preservation, community economic development, protection of pension rights, efforts to combat guns and drugs, and human rights issues.

Smitherman was the first Liberal in the history of Toronto's NOW magazine to be voted best MPP.

Smitherman married his partner, Christopher Peloso, a manager with Lindt & Sprüngli, on August 5, 2007, near Elliot Lake, Ontario.

[edit] External links

• Official Constituency Website
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography
• Ontario Ministry of Health biography
• Ontario Liberal Party biography