John Yakabuski

John Yakabuski
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 (age 66)
Barry's Bay, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseVicky
RelationsPaul Yakabuski (Father)
Children4
Residence(s)Barry's Bay, Ontario
ProfessionBusinessman, Real Estate Agent

John A. Yakabuski (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.

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.

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. 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.

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

Yakabuski was the Labour and Training Critic in the Official Opposition and the Whip of the Official Opposition. 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.

Yakabuski was appointed the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in the Cabinet of Doug Ford. 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. 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 Conservative John Yakabuski 33,350 69.19 +8.13
New Democratic Ethel Lavalley 8,066 16.73 +2.27
Liberal Jackie Agnew 4,701 9.75 -9.35
Green Anna Dolan 1,436 2.98 -0.25
Confederation of Regions Murray Reid 373 0.77 -0.42
Libertarian Jesse Wood 273 0.57
Total valid votes 48,199 100.00
Turnout 61.99
Eligible voters 77,758
Progressive Conservative hold Swing
Source: Elections Ontario
2014 Ontario general election: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Yakabuski 25,241 61.06 -9.72
Liberal Rod Boileau 7,897 19.10 +3.12
New Democratic Brian Dougherty 5,978 14.46 +3.49
Green Benjamin Wright 1,337 3.23 +1.76
Confederation of Regions Murray Reid 489 1.19 +0.40
Independent Chad Beckwith-Smith 392 0.95
Total valid votes 41,334 100.00
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.42
Source: Elections Ontario
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Yakabuski 27,594 70.78 +8.43
Liberal John O'Leary 6,231 15.98 -8.73
New Democratic Brian Dougherty 4,277 10.97 +3.38
Green Kyle Jones 574 1.47 -2.96
Confederation of Regions Murray Reid 309 0.79 +0.59
Total valid votes 38,985 100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 107 0.27
Turnout 39,092 52.69
Eligible voters 74,191
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +8.58
Source: Elections Ontario
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Yakabuski 24,981 62.35 +18.21
Liberal Sean Kelly 9,902 24.71 -17.95
New Democratic Felicite Stairs 3,039 7.59 -4.07
Green Mark MacKenzie 1,773 4.43 +2.89
Family Coalition Bruce Dean 290 0.72  
Confederation of Regions Tilton Beaumont 80 0.20  
Total valid votes 40,065 100.0
2003 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative John Yakabuski 19,274 44.14 +3.76
Liberal Derek Nighbor 18,629 42.66 -10.69
New Democratic Felicite Stairs 5,092 11.66 +6.44
Green Chris Walker 671 1.54 +0.89
Total valid votes 43,666 100.0

Cabinet positions

Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Jeff Yurek Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
November 5, 2018 – June 18, 2021
Greg Rickford
Kathryn McGarry Minister of Transportation
June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
Jeff Yurek

This page was last updated at 2024-01-30 23:59 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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