Chris Ballard (politician)

Chris Ballard
MPP
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Newmarket—Aurora
Assumed office
June 12, 2014
Preceded by Frank Klees
Personal details
Born King City, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Audrey
Children 3
Residence Aurora, Ontario
Occupation Businessman; journalist

Chris Ballard is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in 2014. He represents the riding of Newmarket—Aurora.

Background

Ballard was a journalist with the Newmarket Era, the Aurora Banner, the Orillia Packet and Times, Canadian Press and the Toronto Star. He has run his own business consultancy firm CSB Communications with clients in the business, education, association sectors in Ontario. He was also the Executive Director for a consumers advocacy group.[1] He lives in Aurora with his wife Audrey where they raised three children.

Ballard was presented with an honorary lifetime member award by Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, Michael A. Brown, on behalf of the Public Affairs Association of Canada. Ballard is a former president of the association and was recognized for his years of dedication to the association.

Politics

Ballard was elected as a town councillor in Aurora in 2010.[2]

He ran in the 2014 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Newmarket-Aurora, a long-time PC held riding north of Toronto. In a surprising upset, he defeated Progressive Conservative candidate Jane Twinney by 3,432 votes.[3][4] Ballard's win was part of a strong showing by the Ontario Liberals in the York Region, where the party had a historically strong showing in many traditionally PC and swing ridings.

He is a Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.

Election results

Ontario general election, 2014: Newmarket—Aurora
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalChris Ballard 22,942 43.8 +8.2
Progressive ConservativeJane Twinney 19,510 37.25 -10.0
New DemocraticAngus Duff 6,092 11.63 -2.7
GreenAndrew Roblin 2,167 4.14 +1.4
Canadians' ChoiceDorian Baxter 925 1.77
LibertarianJason Jenkins 579 1.11
Trillium Party of OntarioBob Yaciuk 164 0.31
Total valid votes 52,379 100.00
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +9.1
Source: Elections Ontario[5]

References

  1. "Meet the candidates: Newmarket-Aurora". Newmarket Era - Banner. May 15, 2014. p. 1.
  2. Pearce, Sean (October 25, 2010). "Dawe humbled by victory". Newmarket Era - Banner. p. 1.
  3. "General Election by District: Newmarket-Aurora". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.
  4. "Liberals win Newmarket-Aurora, PCs win York-Simcoe". Toronto Star. June 13, 2014.
  5. Elections Ontario (2014). "Candidates for Newmarket—Aurora". Retrieved 23 May 2014.

External links

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