Gary Stewart (politician)

Richard Gary Stewart (born March 23, 1938) is a Canadian former politician in Ontario. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and briefly served as a cabinet minister under Mike Harris.

Gary Stewart
Ontario MPP
In office
June 8, 1995 – October 2, 2003
Preceded byJenny Carter
Succeeded byJeff Leal
ConstituencyPeterborough
Personal details
Born (1938-03-23) March 23, 1938
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
OccupationBusiness Owner

Background

Stewart was educated at Banting Institute, receiving a Mortician Certificate, and worked for a time at Comstock Funeral Home in Peterborough. In 1974, he became president of G. Stewart Travel Services in Peterborough, which he continued to operate throughout his political career. He also served as a director of the Peterborough Civic Hospital.

Politics

Stewart became deputy reeve of the Township of Otonabee in 1985, and was a warden of Peterborough County from 1992 to 1994.

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal candidate Sylvia Sutherland and incumbent New Democrat Jenny Carter by a significant margin.[1] He was a backbench supporter of Mike Harris for the next four years.

In the provincial election of 1999, Stewart was elected over Liberal Jeff Leal by about 2,500 votes.[2] He served as chief government whip and minister without portfolio from July 31, 2001 to April 14, 2002.[3] When Ernie Eves became premier in 2002 he was dropped from cabinet. In 2003, Stewart recommended that provincial governments stop enforcing the federal gun registry.

In the 2003 provincial election, Stewart lost to Leal by over 6,000 votes in a rematch from 1999.[4]

Gary’s son Scott Stewart lost to Leal in the general election of 2014.

Parliamentary positions
Ontario Provincial Government of Mike Harris
Sub-Cabinet Post
Predecessor Title Successor
Minister Without Portfolio
(2001-2002)
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Frank Klees Chief Government Whip
2001-2002		 John Baird

Electoral record
2003 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJeff Leal24,62644.74+4.54$59,358
     Progressive Conservative Gary Stewart 18,418 33.46 −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
     Independent Bob Bowers 178 0.32 +0.05 not 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 Conservative Gary Stewart 24,422 44.99 $66,248
LiberalJeff Leal21,82040.20–$45,608
New DemocraticDave Nickle7,05813.00$26,105
GreenLarry Tyldsley5981.10–$1,651
     Independent Bob Bowers 151 0.28 $862
     Independent Kenneth T. Burgess 125 0.23 not 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
1995 Ontario general election: Peterborough
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
     Progressive Conservative Gary Stewart 22,735 52.66 $45,102
LiberalSylvia Sutherland10,32623.92–$42,101
New DemocraticJenny Carter7,58117.56$26,275
Family CoalitionPaul Morgan2,0644.78–$12,225
LibertarianVic Watts2510.58$1,047
Natural LawPeter Leggat2130.49$0
Total valid votes 43,170 100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 329
Turnout 43,499 66.23
Electors on the lists 65,678
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References
  1. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  2. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  3. "Ontario: Harris adds to Cabinet by naming new chief whip". National Post. August 8, 2001. p. A11.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
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