View source for John Gerretsen

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1942)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|honorific-suffix =[[Executive Council of Ontario|ECO]]
| name                = John Gerretsen
| image               = John Gerretsen 2011.png
| caption             = Gerretsen in 2011
| office1             = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start1         = 1995
| term_end1           = 2014
| predecessor1        = [[Gary Wilson (politician)|Gary Wilson]]
| successor1          = [[Sophie Kiwala]]
| constituency1       = [[Kingston and the Islands (provincial electoral district)|Kingston and the Islands]]
| office2             = 90th [[Mayor of Kingston, Ontario]]
| term_start2         = 1980
| term_end2           = 1988
| predecessor2        = [[Ken Keyes (politician)|Ken Keyes]]
| successor2          = [[Helen Cooper (Canadian politician)|Helen Cooper]]
| party               = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]]
| birth_name          = John Philip Gerretsen
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1942|6|9}}
| birth_place         = [[Hilversum]], [[Netherlands]]
| relations           = [[Mark Gerretsen]], son
| spouse              = Assunta
| profession          = Lawyer
}}
'''John Philip Gerretsen''' (born June 9, 1942) is a former politician in [[Ontario]], Canada.  He was a [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 1995 to 2014 who represented the eastern Ontario riding of [[Kingston and the Islands (provincial electoral district)|Kingston and the Islands]]. He served as a [[Political minister|Minister]] in the [[Executive Council of Ontario|Cabinet]]s of [[Premier of Ontario|Premiers]] [[Dalton McGuinty]] and [[Kathleen Wynne]].

==Early life==
Gerretsen was born in [[Hilversum]], Netherlands during World War II, and moved to Canada with his parents in 1954.  He was educated at [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] in [[Kingston, Ontario]], receiving a [[Bachelor of Arts|BA]] degree in 1964 and an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]] in 1967.  He subsequently worked as a solicitor, serving with [[Manulife Financial|Manulife Insurance Company]] in Toronto from 1969 to 1970. His son [[Mark Gerretsen]] served as a [[Kingston, Ontario]] city councillor and was elected mayor in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kingstonthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2821177 |title=New mayor, new faces on council |newspaper=Kingston Whig-Standard |date=October 28, 2010 |access-date=October 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101140129/http://kingstonthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2821177 |archive-date=November 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Municipal politics==
Gerretsen's political career began in the early 1970s at the municipal level.  He was elected as a Kingston [[Alderman]] in 1972, and remained on the City Council until 1980 (serving as Deputy Mayor from 1976 to 1980).  Gerretsen was elected [[Mayor]] of the city in 1980, and was re-elected twice before stepping down in 1988.  He was also President of the [[Association of Municipalities of Ontario]] from 1986 to 1987, and a trustee of Queen's University from 1981 to 1992.

After retiring from municipal politics, Gerretsen served as the Chair of the Ontario Housing Corporation (1989–1992) and was a Deputy Judge in the province's [[Small Claims Court]] (1993–1995).  He also became active in politics at the provincial and federal levels.  Gerretsen was an Executive Member of the [[Ontario Liberal Party]]'s [[Kingston and the Islands (provincial electoral district)|Kingston and the Islands]] riding association from 1989 to 1993, and was President of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]'s federal riding association from 1993 to 1995.

==Provincial politics==
Gerretsen was elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[1995 Ontario general election|provincial election of 1995]], defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] candidate Sally Barnes and incumbent [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democrat]] [[Gary Wilson (politician)|Gary Wilson]] in Kingston and the Islands. This was a close three-way race—Gerretsen received 10,314 votes, Barnes 8,571, and Wilson 8,052.<ref name="1995 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141109083428/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2014 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 |access-date=2014-03-02 }}</ref>

The general election was won by the Progressive Conservatives and Gerretsen entered parliament as a member of the opposition, serving as Opposition Critic on Municipal Affairs and Housing and Chief Opposition Whip.

In 1996, he ran to succeed [[Lyn McLeod]] as [[1996 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election|leader of the Ontario Liberal Party]].  Gerretsen was generally regarded as being on the right-wing of the party, and achieved some support in his home base of eastern Ontario.  He placed fifth out of seven candidates on the first ballot, and dropped out after the second ballot.  After withdrawing, he gave his support to Dalton McGuinty, the eventual winner.<ref name="carppa1996">{{cite book |title=Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs (1996) |editor=David Mutimer |publisher=University of Toronto Press |location=Toronto |year=2002 |pages=120–1}}</ref>

Gerretsen was easily re-elected in the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 provincial election]], although the Progressive Conservatives were again victorious across the province.<ref name="1999 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141109083441/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 9, 2014 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 3, 1999 |access-date=2014-03-02 }}</ref>  Gerretsen continued as Opposition Whip, and remained a vocal Liberal MPP for the next four years.

===McGuinty government===
The Liberal Party won the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 election]] with 72 seats out of 103, and Gerretsen was re-elected with over 60% support.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402103534/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Kingston+and+the+Islands&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>  On October 23, 2003, he was named [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs]], with responsibility for seniors.<ref name="2003McGuintyCab">{{cite news |title=Premier Dalton McGuinty and his 22-member cabinet were sworn in Thursday |publisher=Canadian Press NewsWire |date=October 23, 2003 |page=1}}</ref>  In March 2004, his portfolio was renamed the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Gerretsen was the primary spokesperson for the McGuinty government in its controversial decision to permit further housing expansion on the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]], despite an election promise not to do so.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/had-no-choice-but-to-allow-development-minister-says/article18438052/ |website=Globe and Mail |access-date=3 November 2021|title=Had no choice but to allow development, minister says |date=November 22, 2003 |last1=Abbate |first1=Gay }}</ref>  The Liberals claimed that they lacked the legal authority to prevent further development in the area. His main legislative success has been in leading in the enactment of a 1.8 million acre (7,300&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) green belt surrounding the City of Toronto in 2005.

After a cabinet shuffle on June 29, 2005, the responsibility for seniors issues was transferred to another government minister. Gerretsen was retained as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.<ref name="2005McGuintyCab">{{cite news |title=Cabinet shuffle focuses on health care, education; McGuinty to head new Research and Innovation ministry |newspaper=The Record |location=Kitchener, Ont |date=June 30, 2005 |page=A5}}</ref>

In the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 election]] of October 10, 2007, Gerretsen won re-election with just under 50% support.<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web|title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |page=6 (xv) }}</ref> On October 29, 2007, Gerretsen was appointed as [[Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change|Minister of the Environment]].<ref name="McGuinty2007Cab">{{cite news |title=Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area |last1=Ferguson |first1=Rob |last2=Benzie |first2=Robert |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 31, 2007 |page=A13}}</ref>

On August 18, 2010, Gerretsen was moved to the post of [[Ministry of Consumer Services (Ontario)|Minister of the Consumer Services]].<ref name="McGuinty2010Cab2">{{cite news |title=McGuinty moves 6, brings in 2 new faces in Ontario cabinet shuffle |last=Aveling |first=Nick |publisher=Postmedia News |date=August 18, 2010}}</ref>

He won re-election in the October 6, 2011 election. He was appointed [[Attorney General of Ontario]] and was re-appointed when [[Kathleen Wynne]] became premier in early 2013.<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=7 }}</ref>

On October 25, 2013, Gerretsen announced that he would not run in the [[41st Ontario general election|next election.]]<ref name=retire>{{cite news |title=Attorney General John Gerretsen set to retire from politics |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/10/25/attorney_general_john_gerretsen_set_to_retire_from_politics.html |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 25, 2013}}</ref> Just before his retirement at the June 2014 election, Gerretsen was moved from the Attorney-General portfolio to that of [[Chair of Cabinet (Ontario)|Chair of Cabinet]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kathleen Wynne shuffles Liberal cabinet |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/03/25/kathleen_wynne_set_to_shuffle_liberal_cabinet_this_afternoon.html |access-date=March 25, 2014 |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=March 25, 2014}}</ref>

===Cabinet positions===
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Kathleen_Wynne}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Linda Jeffrey]]
| post1         = [[Chair of Cabinet (Ontario)|Chair of Cabinet]]
| post1years    = 2014
| post1note     = 
| post1followed  = [[Jim Bradley (politician)|Jim Bradley]]
}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dalton_McGuinty}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post5preceded = [[Chris Bentley (politician)|Chris Bentley]]
| post5         = [[Attorney General of Ontario]]
| post5years    = 2011–2014
| post5note     = 
| post5followed = [[Madeleine Meilleur]]

| post4preceded = [[Sophia Aggelonitis]]
| post4         = [[Ministry of Consumer Services (Ontario)|Minister of Consumer Services]]
| post4years    = 2010–2011
| post4note     =
| post4followed = [[Margarett Best]]

| post3preceded = [[Jim Watson (Canadian politician)|Jim Watson]]
| post3         = [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]
| post3years    = 2010 (January 12–18)
| post3note     = 
| post3followed = [[Jim Bradley (politician)|Jim Bradley]]

| post2preceded = [[Laurel Broten]]
| post2         = [[Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)|Minister of the Environment]]
| post2years    = 2007–2010
| post2note     =
| post2followed = [[John Wilkinson (Canadian politician)|John Wilkinson]]

| post1preceded = [[David Young (Ontario politician)|David Young]]
| post1         = [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]]
| post1years    = 2003–2007
| post1note     = Also responsible for Seniors
| post1followed = [[Jim Watson (Canadian politician)|Jim Watson]]
}}
{{s-end}}

==Electoral record==
{{2011 Ontario general election/Kingston and the Islands}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2007 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|John Gerretsen|23,273|47.2| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|John Rapin|10,994|22.3| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Rick Downes|10,126|20.6| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Bridget Doherty |4,321 |8.8}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Chris K. Beneteau|418|0.9| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Mark Fournier|137|0.3| }}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2003 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|John Gerretsen|28,877|60.28|+5.58}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Hans Westenberg|9,640|20.12|-9.95}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Janet C. Collins|5,514|11.51|+0.23}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Eric B. Walton |3,137 |6.55 |+4.11}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Chris K. Beneteau|735|1.53|+0.40}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1999|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|John Gerretsen|26,355|54.70}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Bob Pickering|14,487|30.07}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Beth Pater|5,436|11.28}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Chris Walker  |1,174 |2.44}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Chris K. Beneteau|546|1.13}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Gerard Morris|182|0.38}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1995|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|John Gerretsen|10,314|36.95}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Sally Barnes| 8,571|30.71}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|[[Gary Wilson (politician)|Gary Wilson]]|8,052|28.85}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|John Pacheco| 858|3.07}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Ronald Dunphy|115|0.41}}
{{end}}

==Personal life==
On March 19, 2020, amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|coronavirus pandemic]], Gerretsen tested positive for [[COVID-19]], with his wife Assunta testing positive earlier that week, after they were both [[repatriate]]d to Canada from the ''[[Grand Princess]]'' cruise ship; they were quarantined at [[CFB Trenton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6702003/ontario-john-gerretsen-covid-19-cfb-trenton/|title=Former Ontario Attorney General John Gerretsen diagnosed with COVID-19 at CFB Trenton|publisher=globalnews.ca|date=March 19, 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Ontario MPP biography2|John-Gerretsen}}

{{McGuinty Ministry}}
{{Wynne Ministry}}
{{Ontario Attorneys General}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerretsen, John}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Attorneys general of Ontario]]
[[Category:Dutch emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Ontario]]
[[Category:Mayors of Kingston, Ontario]]
[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Queen's University at Kingston alumni]]
[[Category:People from Hilversum]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Ontario]]