John Yakabuski

John A. Yakabuski[1] (born June 14, 1957) is a Canadian politician who served as Ontario Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry from 2018 to 2021 in the Doug Ford cabinet. He is a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in the eastern Ontario riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke in 2003. His father, Paul Yakabuski, was also a Tory Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the area from 1963 to 1987.

John Yakabuski
MPP
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
In office
November 5, 2018 – June 18, 2021
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byJeff Yurek
Succeeded byGreg Rickford
Minister of Transportation
In office
June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byKathryn McGarry
Succeeded byJeff Yurek
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Assumed office
October 2, 2003
Preceded bySean Conway
Personal details
Born (1957-06-14) June 14, 1957
Barry's Bay, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseVicky
RelationsPaul Yakabuski (Father)
Children4
Residence(s)Barry's Bay, Ontario
ProfessionBusinessman, Real Estate Agent

Background

Yakabuski is a former real estate sales representative, and was for twenty years the owner and operator of Yakabuski's Home Hardware in Barry's Bay, Ontario. At the time of his election, he was a member of the steering committee of St. Francis Memorial Hospital's Capital Equipment Campaign. He is also active in the local Lutheran church. His late brother, Kim Yakabuski, was the life partner of former Liberal Attorney-General Ian Scott. His brother, Konrad Yakabuski, is a columnist for The Globe and Mail. He and his wife Vicky have four children.[2]

Politics

Yakabuski was elected to the Barry's Bay municipal council in 1997, and was responsible for overseeing various issues concerning the region's amalgamation. He did not seek re-election in 2000.

Yakabuski was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 2003 provincial election, defeating Liberal Derek Nighbor by 595 votes.[3] This result was regarded by some as an upset, as it was the only formerly Liberal seat to be won by the Tories in an election that saw the Liberals elected to a strong majority government. Moreover, the seat had been held for many years by Liberal Sean Conway (Yakabuski's second cousin). Yakabuski won the election despite publicizing of his earlier convictions by the opposition press.[4]

In the 2007 provincial election, he was easily re-elected, defeating Liberal candidate Sean Kelly by over 15,000 votes.[5] He was re-elected in both the 2011 provincial election[6] and the 2014 provincial election.[7]

Yakabuski was the Labour and Training Critic in the Official Opposition and the Whip of the Official Opposition.[8] He ran for the position of interim leader of the party following the resignation of Tim Hudak but was passed over in favour of Jim Wilson.[9]

Yakabuski was appointed the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in the Cabinet of Doug Ford.[10] He was dropped from cabinet in the 2021 reshuffle by Premier Doug Ford, and was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Ontario.

Yakabuski was re-elected in the 2022 Ontario general election.[11][12] On June 29, 2002, Yakabuski was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Parks and Conservation.

Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Yakabuski33,35069.19+8.13
New DemocraticEthel Lavalley8,06616.73+2.27
LiberalJackie Agnew4,7019.75-9.35
GreenAnna Dolan1,4362.98-0.25
Confederation of RegionsMurray Reid3730.77-0.42
LibertarianJesse Wood2730.57
Total valid votes 48,199100.00
Turnout 61.99
Eligible voters 77,758
Progressive Conservative hold Swing
Source: Elections Ontario[13]
2014 Ontario general election: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Yakabuski25,24161.06-9.72
LiberalRod Boileau7,89719.10+3.12
New DemocraticBrian Dougherty5,97814.46+3.49
GreenBenjamin Wright1,3373.23+1.76
Confederation of RegionsMurray Reid4891.19+0.40
IndependentChad Beckwith-Smith3920.95
Total valid votes 41,334100.00
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.42
Source: Elections Ontario[14]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Yakabuski27,59470.78+8.43
LiberalJohn O'Leary6,23115.98-8.73
New DemocraticBrian Dougherty4,27710.97+3.38
GreenKyle Jones5741.47-2.96
Confederation of RegionsMurray Reid3090.79+0.59
Total valid votes 38,985100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1070.27
Turnout 39,09252.69
Eligible voters 74,191
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +8.58
Source: Elections Ontario[15]
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Yakabuski24,98162.35+18.21
LiberalSean Kelly9,90224.71-17.95
New DemocraticFelicite Stairs3,0397.59-4.07
GreenMark MacKenzie1,7734.43+2.89
Family CoalitionBruce Dean2900.72 
Confederation of RegionsTilton Beaumont800.20 
Total valid votes 40,065 100.0
2003 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJohn Yakabuski19,27444.14+3.76
LiberalDerek Nighbor18,62942.66-10.69
New DemocraticFelicite Stairs5,09211.66+6.44
GreenChris Walker6711.54+0.89
Total valid votes 43,666 100.0

References
  1. @ONPARLeducation (13 July 2022). "Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867. The names for the 42nd Parliament were recently added. For the first time a Member's name was inscribed in Oji-Cree syllabics" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. Uhler, Stephen (9 May 2010). "MPP Yakabuski's son lost, found for Mother's Day". The Daily Observer. Pembroke, Ont.
  3. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  4. Singer, Zev; Beaty, Scott (3 October 2003). "Tense battle goes to Yakabuski". The Ottawa Citizen. p. F6.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 10 October 2007. p. 12 (xxi). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  6. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 6 October 2011. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  7. "General Election by District: Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke". Elections Ontario. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014.
  8. "PC Party of Ontario – for the People".
  9. "Progressive Conservatives pick Jim Wilson as interim leader". Toronto Star. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  10. "John Yakabuski | Legislative Assembly of Ontario".
  11. "PC John Yakabuski is re-elected in Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke". The Toronto Star. 2 June 2022. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-election-2022-renfrew-nipissing-pembroke-results-1.6473591
  13. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  14. Elections Ontario (2014). "General Election Results by District, 074 Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke". Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  15. Elections Ontario (2011). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2014.
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