Chris Ballard (politician)

Chris Ballard is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2014 to 2018 who represented the riding of Newmarket—Aurora. He was a member of cabinet in the government of Kathleen Wynne.

Chris Ballard
Ballard in 2014
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Newmarket—Aurora
In office
June 12, 2014 – June 7, 2018
Preceded byFrank Klees
Succeeded byChristine Elliott
Personal details
BornKing City, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Audrey
Children3
ResidenceAurora, Ontario
OccupationBusinessman; journalist

Background

Attended King City Secondary School where upon graduation had aspirations of becoming a Marine Biologist.[1]

Ballard was a journalist with the Newmarket Era, the Aurora Banner, the Orillia Packet and Times, Canadian Press and the Toronto Star. He has run his own business consultancy firm CSB Communications with clients in the business, education, association sectors in Ontario. He was also the Executive Director for a consumers advocacy group.[2] He lives in Aurora with his wife Audrey where they raised three children.

Ballard was presented with an honorary lifetime member award by Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, Michael A. Brown, on behalf of the Public Affairs Association of Canada. Ballard is a former president of the association and was recognized for his years of dedication to the association.

Politics

Ballard was elected as a town councillor in Aurora in 2010[3] and vacated his council seat before finishing a full term.[4]

He ran in the 2014 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora, a long-time PC held riding north of Toronto. In a surprising upset, he defeated Progressive Conservative candidate Jane Twinney by 3,432 votes.[5][6] Ballard's win was part of a strong showing by the Ontario Liberals in the York Region, where the party had a historically strong showing in many traditionally PC and swing ridings.

He previously served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services. In June 2016, he was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Housing and Minister Responsible for the Poverty-Reduction Strategy.

After the resignation of Glen Murray as Minister of Environment and Climate Change on July 31, 2017, Ballard was appointed his successor by Premier Kathleen Wynne.[7]

While MPP Ballard moved bill 42 to directly elect the chair of the Region of York. This was never realized as it was reversed in July of 2018.[8]

He ran for re-election in the 2018 provincial election and was defeated soundly, coming in 3rd in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora with less than 23% of the vote. Ballard's loss was part of a weak showing by the Ontario Liberals who retained only 7 seats and lost official party status.

He ran in the 2018 municipal election for Mayor of the Town of Aurora and was soundly defeated, coming in 3rd with less than 20% of the vote.[9]

Ballard exited politics in 2019 to be the CEO of Passive House Canada.[10]

Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Glen Murray Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
2017-2018		 Rod Phillips
Ted McMeekin Minister of Housing
2016-2017
Also responsible for Poverty Reduction Strategy		 Peter Milczyn

Election results
2018 Ontario general election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeChristine Elliott24,81347.71+10.29
New DemocraticMelissa Williams12,40523.85+12.34
LiberalChris Ballard11,84022.76-21.18
GreenMichelle Bourdeau1,8593.57-0.53
IndependentDorian Baxter4470.86-0.9
TrilliumBob Yaciuk2120.41+0.25
LibertarianLori Robbins1920.37-0.74
None of the AboveDenis Van Decker1850.36
Ontario Moderate PartyDenis Gorlynskiy600.12
Total valid votes 52,013100.0  
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 5181.00
Turnout 52,53158.97
Eligible voters 89,076
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -1.95
Source: Elections Ontario[11]
2014 Ontario general election: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalChris Ballard22,94243.8+8.2
Progressive ConservativeJane Twinney19,51037.25-10.0
New DemocraticAngus Duff6,09211.63-2.7
GreenAndrew Roblin2,1674.14+1.4
Canadians' ChoiceDorian Baxter9251.77
LibertarianJason Jenkins5791.11
TrilliumBob Yaciuk1640.31
Total valid votes 52,379 100.00
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +9.1
Source: Elections Ontario[12]

References
  1. "King City Secondary School Archon".
  2. "Meet the candidates: Newmarket-Aurora". Newmarket Era - Banner. May 15, 2014. p. 1.
  3. Pearce, Sean (October 25, 2010). "Dawe humbled by victory". Newmarket Era - Banner. p. 1.
  4. "TheAuroran".
  5. "General Election by District: Newmarket-Aurora". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-14.
  6. "Liberals win Newmarket-Aurora, PCs win York-Simcoe". Toronto Star. June 13, 2014.
  7. "Chris Ballard Ontario's New Minister of the Environment and Climate Change" (Press release). Government of Ontario. July 31, 2017.
  8. "Ontario.ca".
  9. "wiki".
  10. "passivehouse".
  11. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  12. Elections Ontario (2014). "Candidates for Newmarket—Aurora". Archived from the original on 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
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