Helen Johns

Helen Johns (born April 24, 1953) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003 and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.

This article is about the Ontario politician. For the Olympic swimmer, see Helen Johns (swimmer). For the photojournalist, see Helen Johns Kirtland.

Helen Johns
Ontario MPP
In office
1995–2003
Preceded byPaul Klopp
Succeeded byCarol Mitchell
ConstituencyHuron (1995–99) & Huron—Bruce (1999–2003)
Personal details
Born (1953-04-24) April 24, 1953
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Alma materYork University
University of Windsor
Simon Fraser University

Background

Johns was born in Toronto, Ontario. She attended York University, the University of Windsor and Simon Fraser University where she majored in business and commerce. She worked as a controller of small and medium-sized businesses for fifteen years before entering public life, and was also the Director and Treasurer of the Huron United Way.

Politics

Johns was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal John Jewitt and incumbent New Democrat Paul Klopp in the riding of Huron.[1] For the next four years, she served as a backbench government member.

Prior to the 1999 election, the number of seats was reduced from 130 to 103. Johns and fellow MPP Barb Fisher (riding of Bruce) competed for the Tory nomination in the redistributed riding of Huron—Bruce. Johns won the nomination battle. In the ensuing election campaign, she narrowly defeated Liberal candidate Ross Lamont.[2] On June 17, 1999, she was named Citizenship, Culture and Recreation.[3] Following a cabinet shuffle on February 8, 2001, she was named Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, under Tony Clement.[4]

When Ernie Eves replaced Harris as Premier on April 15, 2002, he named Johns as his Minister of Agriculture and Food.[5] and also served as interim Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in early 2003.[6]

In the 2003 provincial election she was defeated by Liberal Carol Mitchell by about 3,000 votes.[7]

Electoral record
2003 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalCarol Mitchell19,87945.79+3.96$ 43,587.07
Progressive ConservativeHelen Johns16,59438.23−7.5368,667.03
New DemocraticGrant I. Robertson4,97311.46+2.3318,246.88
GreenShelley Hannah9342.15 3,146.98
Family CoalitionDave Joslin9022.08−1.217,273.45
FreedomRobert Sabharwal1270.29 0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,409 100.0   −4.39 $ 63,013.44
Total rejected ballots 212 0.49 −0.80
Turnout 43,621 66.46 −0.32
Eligible voters 65,639   −4.70
Source(s)
"General Election of October 2, 2003 — Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario.
"General Election of October 2, 2003 — Statistical Summary". Retrieved June 13, 2014.
"2003 Election and Annual Returns - Candidate and Constituency Association Returns".
1999 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeHelen Johns20,77245.75$ 60,434.00
LiberalRoss Lamont18,99341.8336,010.47
New DemocraticTony McQuail4,1429.1219,753.75
Family CoalitionLinda Freiburger1,4943.296,769.68
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,401 100.0   $ 66,118.08
Total rejected ballots 591 1.29
Turnout 45,992 66.78
Eligible voters 68,873
Source(s)
"General Election of June 3 1999 — Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario.
"General Election of June 3 1999 — Statistical Summary". Retrieved June 13, 2014.
"1999 Election and Annual Returns - Candidate and Constituency Association Returns".

References
  1. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  2. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  3. "Ontario Cabinet". The Spectator. Hamilton, Ont. June 18, 1999. p. C8.
  4. "Flaherty to be new Ontario finance chief". Sudbury Star. February 8, 2001. p. A5.
  5. "Ont-Cabinet". Toronto, Ont: Canadian Press NewsWire. April 15, 2002.
  6. "A list of Ontario's cabinet following Tuesday's shuffle". Canadian Press NewsWire. February 25, 2003. p. 1.
  7. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
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