Jeremy Roberts (politician)

Jeremy Roberts (born November 10, 1991) is a former MPP Ottawa West—Nepean. He was first elected in the 2018 provincial election. In the 2022 Ontario general election, he was defeated by 908 votes to NDP candidate Chandra Pasma and was the only incumbent MPP from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario to be defeated.[2]

Jeremy Roberts
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services (Community and Social Services)
In office
June 26, 2019  May 3, 2022
MinisterTodd Smith
Merrilee Fullerton
Preceded byBelinda Karahalios
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Ottawa West—Nepean
In office
June 7, 2018  May 3, 2022
Preceded byBob Chiarelli
Succeeded byChandra Pasma
Personal details
Born (1991-11-10) November 10, 1991
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative (provincial)
Conservative (federal)
Domestic partnerJohn
Residence(s)Kanata, Ontario, Canada (as of 2010)[1]
Alma materCarleton University, University of Oxford
OccupationPolitical aide

Roberts credits his decision to enter politics to his brother who has autism. Prior and during his time in office, Roberts was a strong advocate for supporting individuals with autism and raising funds for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.[3]

Prior to being elected, Roberts served as a political assistant to former federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and MP Dan Albas.[4]

Political activism & career

Roberts has been involved in politics since the 2007 Ontario general election, in which he volunteered for the Progressive Conservatives led by John Tory. He volunteered in the 2011 and 2014 Ontario general election for the party led by Tim Hudak. His last election in which he volunteered prior to becoming a candidate was the 2015 Canadian federal election for the Conservatives, led by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

During the nomination process for the Progressive Conservatives during the 2018 Ontario general election in Ottawa West-Nepean, Roberts had initially lost the nomination but interim leader Vic Fedeli overturned the nomination of MacGregor. Roberts re-entered the race[5] and was acclaimed the nominee in March.[6]

Roberts won the election in Ottawa West-Nepean by 176 votes over the NDP candidate Chandra Pasma.[7] As there was no recount challenge made by Pasma,[8] Roberts was formally declared to be elected in the riding.

On June 26, 2019, Roberts was appointed by Premier Doug Ford to serve as the Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Todd Smith for Community and Social Services.[9]

On October 6, 2020, Roberts introduced Bill 214 to the Ontario Legislature.[10][11] If enacted, the bill would enact that, synchronously with New York and Quebec should they pass similar laws, Ontario stay on Daylight Time (DT) year-round.[12] On November 25, 2020, the bill was passed with unanimous support in the Legislature.[13]

Personal life

Roberts lives in Ottawa. His mother is a nurse and his father is the manager of the Almonte General Hospital Foundation. He has a younger brother with autism. After completing high school at Canterbury High School, he attended Carleton University for political science and the University of Oxford, where he attained his Master of Public Policy from the Blavatnik School of Government.

Roberts is openly gay, coming out in a column post for the Ottawa Citizen on March 15, 2022.[14]

Electoral record

2022 Ontario general election: Ottawa West—Nepean
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticChandra Pasma15,69637.54+5.06
Progressive ConservativeJeremy Roberts14,61034.94+2.12
LiberalSam Bhalesar9,38422.44-6.86
GreenSteven Warren1,4753.52-0.31
Ontario PartyVilteau Delvas6491.55
Total valid votes 41,81498.56
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 6011.44+0.36
Turnout 42,41546.97-10.07
Eligible voters 90,305
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +1.26
Source: Elections Ontario[15]
2018 Ontario general election: Ottawa West—Nepean
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJeremy Roberts16,59032.82−1.06
New DemocraticChandra Pasma16,41532.48+18.06
LiberalBob Chiarelli14,81029.30−15.54
GreenPat Freel1,9373.83−2.35
None of the AboveColin A. Pritchard5421.07
LibertarianNicholas Paliga2510.50-0.18
Total valid votes 50,54598.92
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 5521.08-0.43
Turnout 51,09757.04+1.10
Eligible voters 89,575
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +7.24
Source: Elections Ontario[16]

References

  1. "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  2. CBC News. "Chandra Pasma takes Ottawa West-Nepean for NDP".
  3. "Meeting My Brother Helped Doug Ford Understand Autism: Ontario MPP". HuffPost. 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  4. "About Jeremy – Jeremy Roberts, MPP".
  5. "Party overturns Ottawa West-Nepean PC nomination". CBC News Ottawa. February 10, 2018.
  6. "PCs look to move past tumult in Ottawa West–Nepean". CBC News Ottawa. March 9, 2018.
  7. "PC Jeremy Roberts wins tight contest in Ottawa West–Nepean". CBC News Ottawa. June 8, 2018.
  8. "NDP's Chandra Pasma could challenge PC win in Ottawa West–Nepean". CBC News Ottawa. June 8, 2018.
  9. "Premier Ford Announces Parliamentary Assistant Assignments". Government of Ontario. June 26, 2019.
  10. "October 6, 2020 - Time Amendment Act, 2020 / Loi de 2020 modifiant la Loi sur l'heure légale". October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  11. "Bill 214, Time Amendment Act, 2020". October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  12. "Jeremy Roberts, Ontario MPP, Wants To End 'Outdated' Seasonal Time Changes". October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  13. "The Ontario legislature has just passed a bill that would do away with the twice yearly time change, putting Ontario permanently on daylight saving time". November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  14. Roberts, Jeremy (March 15, 2022). "Roberts: Coming out while in politics has been both positive and liberating". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  15. "Candidates in: Ottawa West—Nepean (081)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  16. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 8. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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