The Honourable
Graydon Smith
MPP
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Parry Sound—Muskoka
Assumed office
June 2, 2022
Preceded byNorm Miller
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
Assumed office
June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byGreg Rickford
Mayor of Bracebridge
In office
circa. 2010 – June 2, 2022
Succeeded byRick Maloney
Personal details
Political partyProgressive Conservative

Graydon Smith is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2022 provincial election. He represents the riding of Parry Sound—Muskoka as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.[1]

Smith was formerly the mayor of Bracebridge, Ontario.

On June 24, Smith was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Background

Smith grew up in Port Sydney, Ontario, where his family owned and operated a local business. He along with his father and brother were members of the Kinsmen Club of Bracebridge for many years. Smith was inspired to enter politics through his time with the Kinsmen Club and a Bracebridge councillor who encouraged him to run in 2006.

Smith is married with two children and lives in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Political Career (2006 - present)

Smith began his political career in Bracebridge, Ontario as a District of Muskoka councillor in 2006. After one term as councillor, the Bracebridge mayor at the time and Smith’s mentor, Don Coates decided to retire and encouraged Smith to run for the mayorship in 2010. He won the seat and served as mayor for 12 years.

During his time as mayor, he became a board of director with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in 2014 and was president 2021. Smith was also a board of director with the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities.

In 2022, former Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller announced he was retiring and would not be seeking re-election paving the way for Smith to run as the Progressive Conservative candidate. On June 2, 2022 Smith won the provincial election with about 45%[2] of the votes. On June 24, Smith was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

In June 2022, Smith was criminally charged under Ontario's Endangered Species Act. Specifically, he was accused of ordering road construction which destroyed endangered Blanding's Turtle habitats during his tenure as mayor of Bracebridge.[3][4] On October 25, 2022, the charges against Smith were dropped.[5]

Election Results

Source:[6]

2022 Ontario general election: Parry Sound—Muskoka
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGraydon Smith20,21645.41-2.66
GreenMatt Richter18,10240.66+20.64
New DemocraticErin Horvath3,4277.62-14.41
Ontario PartyAndrew John Cocks1,6493.70
New BlueDoug Maynard8831.98
IndependentDaniel Predie Jr.1550.35
PopulistBrad Waddell1260.28
Total valid votes 44,55899.58
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1870.42
Turnout 44,74553.28-5.94
Eligible voters 83,570
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -11.65

References

  1. ↑ "PC Graydon Smith wins in Parry Sound—Muskoka". Toronto Star. June 2, 2022. ISSN 0319-0781.
  2. ↑ "EFRS". results.elections.on.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  3. ↑ Mehrabi, Kimia (2022-06-29). "Ontario's new minister of natural resources accused of harming threatened turtles". blogTo. Toronto. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  4. ↑ McKenzie-Sutter, Holly (2022-06-28). "New Ontario natural resources minister faces hearing on charges he harmed endangered turtles". National Post. Toronto. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  5. ↑ Hartill, Mary (2022-10-25). "Turtle troubles over for Bracebridge, its former mayor, now Minister of Natural Resources, as charges withdrawn". MuskokaRegion.com. Bracebridge. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  6. ↑ "VOTE TOTALS FROM OFFICIAL TABULATION" (PDF). Elections Ontario.


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