Jeff Leal

Jeff Leal (born December 13, 1954) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2018 who represented the riding of Peterborough. He served in the cabinet of Kathleen Wynne.

Jeff Leal
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Peterborough
In office
October 2, 2003 – June 7, 2018
Preceded byGary Stewart
Succeeded byDave Smith
Member of the
Peterborough City Council
for Otonabee Ward
In office
1985–2003
Serving with
Glenn Pagett (1985–1997)
Nancy Branscombe (1997–2000)
Succeeded byPaul Rexe and Garry Herring
Personal details
Born (1954-12-13) December 13, 1954
Peterborough, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Karan
Children2
ResidencePeterborough, Ontario
OccupationHealth and Safety officer
PortfolioChief Government Whip (2011-2013)

Background

John Jeffrey Leal was born and raised in Peterborough. He attended Kenner Collegiate and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Trent University (1978) and a degree in Business Administration from the University of Windsor (1981). Leal worked as executive assistant to Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) John Eakins and Larry South in the 1980s.[1] He was a health and safety representative for Coyle Corrugated Containers.[2] He is married to Karan, an educator and school principal, with two children, Braden and Shanae

Politics

Municipal

He served on the Peterborough, Ontario City Council from 1985 to 2003, representing the Otonabee Ward. At City Hall he was appointed as Deputy Mayor (1993-2003) and chaired the social services committee after the 2000 municipal election.

2000 Peterborough municipal election, Council, Otonabee Ward (two members elected)
Candidate Total votes % of total votes
(x)Jeff Leal 3,461 41.15
Glenn Pagett 3,182 37.83
Allan Deck 1,768 21.02
Total valid votes 8,411 100.00

Provincial

Leal ran for provincial office in the 1999 provincial election as the Liberal candidate. He was narrowly defeated by Progressive Conservative incumbent Gary Stewart.[3] He defeated Stewart by over six thousand votes in a 2003 rematch, amid a provincial shift to the Liberal Party.[4] Leal was re-elected in 2007, 2011 and 2014.[5][6][7]

During his time in government he has served as Parliamentary Assistant to several ministers including Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (2004), Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (2005), Ministry of Energy (2005), Ministry of the Environment (2006), and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (2007–09). In February 2010, he was named the Chief Government Whip.[8]

In February 2013, Premier Kathleen Wynne named Leal to Ontario's Cabinet, serving in the role as Minister of Rural Affairs.[9]

Leal has helped secure over $400 million in funding for Peterborough, creating and preserving over 3,700 jobs with investments in infrastructure, transportation, businesses and health care. This included the creation of a new hospital, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and funding following a damaging flood in 2004.[10][11]

Leal has championed a number of issues through private member's bills, including retirement and income security measures. He introduced a private member's bill in 2008 to provide creditor protection for Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs).[12] Two years later, he introduced a separate bill that would require companies with twenty or more employees to offer a savings or pension plan that all employees would automatically join (with the ability to opt out). The stated purpose of this bill, which was supported by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, was to reduce the costs of such insurance plans compared with retail mutual funds.[13]

In June 2014, Leal was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture and Food and Rural Affairs.[14]

Cabinet positions
Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ted McMeekin Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
2013–2018
Was Minister of Rural Affairs in 2013–2014		 Ernie Hardeman

Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeDave Smith22,90437.68+7.82
New DemocraticSean Conway20,51833.75+15.50
LiberalJeff Leal14,94624.59−21.67
GreenGianne Broughton2,0243.33−0.96
LibertarianJacob William Currier2450.40
Stop Climate ChangeKen Ranney1530.25
Total valid votes 60,790100.0  
Progressive Conservative gain Swing
Source: Elections Ontario[15]
2014 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJeff Leal24,64946.26+6.33
Progressive ConservativeScott Stewart15,90929.86−1.63
New DemocraticSheila Wood9,72618.25−7.36
GreenGary Beamish2,2854.29+1.75
IndependentBrian Martindale3950.74
SocialistAndrea Quiano1310.25+0.08
FreedomWayne Matheson1210.23−0.03
PauperGerard Faux630.19
Total valid votes 53,279100.00
Liberal hold Swing +3.98
Source: Elections Ontario[16]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJeff Leal19,31939.79-8.01
Progressive ConservativeAlan Wilson15,30931.53+5.93
New DemocraticDave Nickle12,45825.66+9.06
GreenGary Beamish1,2352.54-6.16
FreedomAlex Long1270.26
SocialistKen Ranney1040.21
Total valid votes 100.0
2007 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJeff Leal24,46647.72+3.61$95,432
Progressive ConservativeBruce Fitzpatrick13,17625.70−7.32$89,425
New DemocraticDave Nickle8,52316.62−1.78$33,229
GreenMiriam Stucky4,4738.72–$10,163
Family CoalitionPaul Morgan6341.24–$0
Total valid votes 51,272 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 241
Turnout 51,513 57.47
Electors on the lists 89,627

Note: Percentage changes are factored for redistribution. Sources: Official 2007 Poll by Poll Results and 2007 Annual Returns, Candidate and Constituency Associations, Elections Ontario.

2003 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJeff Leal24,62644.74+4.54$59,358
Progressive ConservativeGary Stewart18,41833.46−11.53$83,317
New DemocraticDave Nickle9,79617.80+4.80$22,783
GreenTim Holland1,6052.92+1.82$6,817
Family CoalitionMax Murray4140.75–$212
IndependentBob Bowers1780.32+0.05not listed
Total valid votes 55,037 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 245
Turnout 55,282 62.76 −0.01
Electors on the lists 88,080
1999 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeGary Stewart24,42244.99$66,248
LiberalJeff Leal21,82040.20–$45,608
New DemocraticDave Nickle7,05813.00$26,105
GreenLarry Tyldsley5981.10–$1,651
IndependentBob Bowers1510.28$862
IndependentKenneth T. Burgess1250.23not listed
Natural LawRobert Mayer1060.20$0
Total valid votes 54,280 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 297
Turnout 54,577 62.77
Electors on the lists 86,951

References
  1. Hodgins, Bill (September 27, 2003). "'Lefty' after city seat for Grits". Peterborough Examiner. p. A1The article title is a reference to Leal's golf swing, not to his political leanings.
  2. Lacey, Mike (September 17, 2003). "Jeff Leal's been down this road before...and loves it". Peterborough This Week. p. 1.
  3. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 12 (xxi). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  6. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. "General Election by District: Peterborough". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014.
  8. "Jeff Leal replaces Mike Colle as Ontario chief government whip on Tuesday". Canadian Press. February 13, 2010.
  9. "Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal sworn in as rural affairs minister". Peterborough Examiner. February 11, 2013.
  10. Benzie, Robert (July 22, 2004). "$5 million in aid for Peterborough; 'Just a down payment,' says McGuinty". Toronto Star. p. A2.
  11. "City gets more flood aid; Province to give extra $3.5 million 3,200 relief requests in Peterborough". Toronto Star. Canadian Press. September 7, 2004. p. A2.
  12. "Now's time to shield RRSPs from creditors". Toronto Star. May 23, 2009. p. B1.
  13. Daw, James (May 6, 2010). "Bill would make retirement savings plans mandatory". Toronto Star. p. B2.
  14. Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  15. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  16. Elections Ontario. "General Election Results by District, 071 Peterborough". Retrieved 13 June 2014.
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