Cliff Graydon
Cliff Graydon (born 1946 or 1947) is a farmer and former politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 2007 to 2019, representing the electoral division of Emerson.
Cliff Graydon | |
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Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Emerson | |
In office May 22, 2007 – August 12, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jack Penner |
Succeeded by | District abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | 1946 or 1947 (age 73–74)[1] Arnaud, Manitoba, Canada |
Political party |
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Occupation | Farmer |
Graydon was born in Arnaud, Manitoba and has farmed for 30 years, growing grain and raising cattle. Before entering politics, Graydon was a founding member of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and served on its board of directors. He has also served as a member of the Stuartburn Piney Agricultural Development Association and the Prairies East Sustainable Agricultural Initiative.[2]
Political Career
After being elected in 2007, Graydon held various critic portfolios during his time in caucus, including: MPI; Liquor Control; Lotteries; Gaming; Agriculture; Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade; and Healthy Living and Seniors.[3] Graydon was Progressive Conservative caucus whip from 2016 to 2017.[4]
Graydon underwent sensitivity training in early 2018 after posting on Twitter that asylum seekers in Canada are a "drain on society."[5] He had previously retweeted a post about Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau which asked "How can any woman vote for that SICK/RETARDED/TRAITOR?"[6]
On October 22, 2018, Graydon was expelled from caucus following allegations of sexual harassment by two legislative staffers.[7] Before his expulsion, Graydon had indicated he would take a medical leave of absence from the legislature, not seek reelection in the next provincial election, and undergo further sensitivity training.[8]
Graydon held a news conference on November 8, 2018 in which he denied all allegations, stating: "I admit I’m guilty of having a bad sense of humour and sincerely apologize to those who have been offended by my inconsiderate jokes. I have grown up in a different era and realize some people today are much more sensitive to inappropriate humour."[9] Graydon was subsequently accused of having groped and propositioned a party staffer for sex in September, 2017.[10]
In July 2019 Graydon declared he would contest the upcoming provincial election as an Independent in the new constituency of Borderland.[11] The riding was created by the 2018 provincial redistribution out of parts of Emerson and Morden-Winkler. He finished in third place behind PC candidate Josh Guenter.
Electoral results
2019 Manitoba general election: Borderland (electoral district) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Loren Braul | |||||||
New Democratic | Liz Cronk | |||||||
Independent | Cliff Graydon | |||||||
Progressive Conservative | Josh Guenter | |||||||
Green | Ken Henry | |||||||
Total valid votes | 100.0 | |||||||
Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
Turnout | ||||||||
Eligible voters |
2016 Manitoba general election: Emerson | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
Progressive Conservative | Cliff Graydon | 4,943 | 72.71 | +0.73 | ||||
Liberal | Loren Braul | 1,423 | 20.93 | +13.43 | ||||
New Democratic | Alanna Jones | 432 | 6.35 | -13.25 | ||||
Total valid votes | 6,798 | 100.0 | ||||||
Eligible voters | – | |||||||
Source: Elections Manitoba[12][13] |
2011 Manitoba general election: Emerson | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Progressive Conservative | Cliff Graydon | 3,982 | 71.98 | +12.42 | $19,821.87 | |||
New Democratic | Lorie Fiddler | 1,084 | 19.60 | −2.33 | $0.00 | |||
Liberal | Michelene Belliveau | 415 | 7.50 | −10.80 | $0.00 | |||
Total valid votes | 5,481 | |||||||
Rejected and declined ballots | 51 | |||||||
Turnout | 5,532 | 44.42 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 12,453 | |||||||
Source: Elections Manitoba[14] |
2007 Manitoba general election: Emerson | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Progressive Conservative | Cliff Graydon | 3,635 | 59.56 | +0.74 | $22,391.66 | |||
New Democratic | Chris Murash | 1,296 | 21.93 | +2.87 | $939.37 | |||
Liberal | Monica Guetre | 1,117 | 18.30 | −2.82 | $6,183.77 | |||
Total valid votes | 6,049 | 99.08 | ||||||
Rejected and declined ballots | 56 | |||||||
Turnout | 6,105 | 49.51 | ||||||
Electors on the lists | 12,330 | |||||||
Source: Elections Manitoba[15] |
References
- "Cliff Graydon". Archived from the original on 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
- "About Cliff". cliffgraydon.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-02-12.
- "Manitoba Progressive Conservatives name caucus chair, whip".
- "Sensitivity training 'a nice first symbolic gesture,' but attitudes need to change, not just language: trainer".
- "Manitoba MLA to take sensitivity training after offensive 'turdeau' tweets".
- "Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon expelled from PC caucus following harassment allegations".
- "MLA accused of harassment taking medical leave, not seeking re-election".
- "Inappropriate comments stem from outdated sense of humour, Manitoba politician says".
- "'He's got a hold of me:' Woman says she was groped by Cliff Graydon".
- "'Graydon Enters Borderland Election Race".
- "Candidates: 41st General Election". Elections Manitoba. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- "41ST GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 19, 2016 - OFFICIAL RESULTS". Elections Manitoba. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- "Election Returns: 40th General Election". Elections Manitoba. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-11-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - 2007 results
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-11-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - 2007 results