Graydon Smith

Graydon Smith
Minister of Natural Resources[a]
Assumed office
June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byGreg Rickford
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Parry Sound—Muskoka
Assumed office
June 2, 2022
Preceded byNorm Miller
Mayor of Bracebridge
In office
circa. 2010 – June 2, 2022
Succeeded byRick Maloney
Personal details
Political partyProgressive Conservative

Graydon Smith MPP is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2022 provincial election. He represents the riding of Parry Sound—Muskoka as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.[1]

Smith was formerly the mayor of Bracebridge, Ontario.

On June 24, 2022, Smith was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.[2]

On June 6, 2024, it was announced that Smith remained the Minister of Natural Resources but no longer had responsibility for forestry.[3]

Background

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Smith grew up in Port Sydney, Ontario, where his family owned and operated a local business. He along with his father and brother were members of the Kinsmen Club of Bracebridge for many years. Smith was inspired to enter politics through his time with the Kinsmen Club and a Bracebridge councillor who encouraged him to run in 2006.

Smith is married with two children and lives in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Political Career (2006 - present)

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Smith began his political career in Bracebridge, Ontario as a District of Muskoka councillor in 2006. After one term as councillor, the Bracebridge mayor at the time and Smith’s mentor, Don Coates decided to retire and encouraged Smith to run for the mayorship in 2010. He won the seat and served as mayor for 12 years.

During his time as mayor, he became a board of director with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in 2014 and was president 2021. Smith was also a board of director with the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities.

In 2022, former Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller announced he was retiring and would not be seeking re-election paving the way for Smith to run as the Progressive Conservative candidate. On June 2, 2022 Smith won the provincial election with about 45%[4] of the votes. On June 24, Smith was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Election results

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2022 Ontario general election: Parry Sound—Muskoka
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Graydon Smith 20,216 45.37 −2.70 $85,536
Green Matt Richter 18,102 40.63 +20.61 $95,858
New Democratic Erin Horvath 3,427 7.69 −14.34 $14,568
Ontario Party Andrew John Cocks 1,649 3.70   $8,029
New Blue Doug Maynard 883 1.98   $2,616
Independent Daniel Predie Jr. 155 0.35   $0
Populist Brad Waddell 126 0.28   $3,142
Total valid votes/Expense limit 44,558 99.58 +0.29 $117,992
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 187 0.42 -0.29
Turnout 44,745 53.09 -6.13
Eligible voters 82,580
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −11.65
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.

Notes

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  1. ^ Known as Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry until 2024, succeeded by Nolan Quinn as Associate Minister Forestry

References

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  1. ^ "PC Graydon Smith wins in Parry Sound—Muskoka". Toronto Star. June 2, 2022. ISSN 0319-0781.
  2. ^ "Doug Ford appoints Sylvia Jones new health minister, gives nephew spot in new PC cabinet". CBC.ca. June 24, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Stone, Laura; Gray, Jeff (June 6, 2024). "Premier Doug Ford unveils cabinet shuffle as Ontario legislature breaks until October". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "EFRS". results.elections.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-21.