Candidate Profiles

With the election in full swing here's a list of the 4 major candidates and their profiles as found on either their party's website or campaign website....

PC, Jim Wilson



About Jim...

Jim Wilson is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Simcoe-Grey, a Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature and First Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Whole House while also serving as Progressive Conservative Critic for Colleges and Universities and Research and Innovation.  He is a also a member of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies.
Jim was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in September 1990 as the member for Simcoe West. Between 1990 and 1995, while in Opposition, Jim became well-known for his work as the P.C. Health Critic where he fought to expand dialysis treatment across the province and end fraud in Ontario's health card system.
Upon election of the Progressive Conservative government in 1995, Jim was appointed Minister of Health, where he was responsible for a $20-billion budget and one of the largest health insurance plans in North America. He also oversaw the restructuring of
Ontario's hospitals and established vastly expanded community-based health services.
In 1997, Jim was appointed as the first Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, where he was responsible for keeping the province on the leading edge of technological and scientific advancement, with record investments in research and innovation.

In 2002, Jim was named Minister of Northern Development and Mines, a portfolioconcerned with Ontario's rich natural resource economy, while also serving as Chairman of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Later that year, Jim was given additional responsibilities when he was sworn-in as Ontario's Minister of Environment.
Jim was re-elected in October 2007 for his fifth term as the member for Simcoe-Grey. He was raised in Alliston and resides in Wasaga Beach.

Mike Schreiner - Leader of the Green Party of Ontario



Mike Schreiner was elected leader of the Green Party of Ontario on November 14, 2009. A leading advocate for independent businesses and sustainable communities, Mike Schreiner is well known for his leadership in co-founding the award-winning Local Food Plus organization and brings a proven track record in business and leadership roles to the GPO.
A respected, successful entrepreneur, Mike started his career in Toronto operating his own food distribution business for over 10 years that specialized in delivering local and natural foods to homes in Toronto.
Building on that success, he helped establish Local Food Plus, which worked to bring farmers and consumers together to promote financially, socially and environmentally sustainable local food systems.
Actively involved in the Green Party of Ontario (GPO) for the past six years, Mike Schreiner was most recently the GPO candidate for the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock by-election. Mike co-chaired the 2007 election platform committee for the party and served as Policy Coordinator from 2008-2009.
In his second year as Leader, Mike Schreiner will be running in Simcoe-Grey for the 2011 general election and has extensive experience advocating for local food and farming in Ontario.  Mike is the GPO's first full-time leader.
Family and community are important to Mike. He lives with his wife Sandy and their two daughters in Toronto and in Dunedin, a beautiful hamlet, just outside Creemore, in Simcoe-Grey.  He spends his free time gardening, hiking, fishing, cycling and volunteering in community activities.
Mike recently served on the steering committee for Green Enterprise Toronto, an association of over 350 small businesses, and on the Board of Directors of FarmStart, a non-profit that assists new farmers in Ontario, and he is a governor for the Canadian International Peace Project

Donna Kenwell - Liberal Party

Donna Kenwell was born in Penetanguishene and moved to Parry Sound , then Listowel, where she graduated high school. Donna was part of the final graduating class from Waterloo Lutheran University (now Wilfrid Laurier), receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. The following year she attended Althouse College of Education at the University of Western Ontario. She later completed her Master of Library Science degree from U.W.O. She worked 34 years as a teacher-librarian for both the Middlesex County and Brant County Boards of Education as well as the Simcoe County District School Board. She retired in 2007.
Donna was very involved with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation. She was the second female in OSSTF history to chair the provincial finance committee. Donna also served as Provincial Councillor in both Brant and Simcoe, and was a member of the professional standards and practices committee. Donna was the chief negotiator during the unrest caused by the Harris government’s denigration of teachers and decimation of school funding.
Gryphon Theatre Foundation in Barrie was a particular focus for Donna. She spent twelve years on the Board, half of that time as its chairperson. Donna was also involved in the fundraising efforts for Barrie Festival of Trees. She was appointed to the Southern Ontario Library Services board, subsequently becoming at trustee for the Springwater Public Library, where she is currently serving her second term. Donna was also involved in the campaign to save Elmvale D. H. S., and is a supporter of the town’s Fall Fair & Maple Syrup Festival.
Donna has enjoyed restoring her century home and editing her father’s historical novels.

David Matthews - NDP




David Matthews was born in Toronto and lived in the city for 45 years. He has lived in Wasaga Beach since 1996.
David served as President of the William Punnett Housing Co-op for 5 years, working to whose provide affordable housing for lower income families. He was also a founding member of the Organization for Quality Education – a lobby group fighting for improvements in education.
As an active community volunteer, David was on the Board of Directors of the Etobicoke Hockey Association and the Queensway Canadians Hockey Association, helping to give as many children from low-income families as possible the opportunity to play organized hockey.
David has also been been involved in the labour movement for 45 years as a shop steward, organizer, and contract negotiator.
At present, David volunteers with Jeeps Unlimited-Off Road Division – a Wasaga Beach Jeep club that has raised funds for the Special Olympics, My Friend’s House, and the Wasaga Beach Youth Centre.
He has been married to his wife, Ilona, for 25 years. David has a son, Aaron, and daughter, Dolena. They are both attending university.