Helena Jaczek

The Honourable
Dr. Helena Jaczek
MPP

Official portrait
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Oak Ridges—Markham
Assumed office
October 10, 2007
Preceded by Riding Established
Personal details
Born (1950-11-05) November 5, 1950
London, England
Political party Liberal
Children 2
Occupation Physician

Helena Jaczek (born November 5, 1950) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in the 2007 provincial election. She represents the riding of Oak Ridges—Markham. She is a cabinet minister in the government of Kathleen Wynne.

Background

Jaczek was born and raised in England and immigrated to Canada in 1963. She received her medical degree and Masters of Health Science from the University of Toronto and later went on to pursue a Masters of Business Administration from York University. She worked as a family physician in Toronto for 11 years and then served as chief medical officer of health in York Region for 18 years. Dr. Jaczek has 2 adult children and she lives in York Region with her partner.[1]

She received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies by receiving an award “In Celebration of Women”. In 2005 Jaczek received an Award for Environmental Planning from the Canadian Institute of Planners. In October 2016, Dr. Jaczek received the Ontario Psychological Association Public Service Award. Earlier in 2016, she received the Ontario Medical Association, Life Membership Award. [2]

Politics

In 2003, Jaczek ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Oak Ridges. Issues included tax rates and health care.[3] She lost to incumbent Frank Klees by 2,521 votes.[4] In 2007, Jaczek won the newly formed riding of Oak Ridges—Markham by 7,013 votes beating Conservative candidate Phil Bannon and New Democrat Janice Hagan. Population growth was the main issue in the campaign as the riding of Oak Ridges-Markham was the most populous in the province as of the 2006 census.[5][6] She was re-elected in the 2011, and 2014 elections.[7][8]

Jaczek was appointed as a Parliamentary assistant (PA) to the Minister of Health Promotion on October 30, 2007. On September 11, 2009 she was made PA to the Minister of Environment. In February 2013, Jaczek was appointed as PA to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.[9] Jaczek has also served on many Standing and Select Committees, including the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions. As well as previously serving as Caucus Chair.

In 2009, Jaczek proposed a private member's bill, Bill 117 would have prohibited riders under the age of 15 from riding motorcycles. Data presented to the house showed that 46 under-15 aged riders were hospitalized between 2005–06. She said, "The research is alarming." Motorcycle enthusiasts disputed the numbers saying that most of the injuries were from off-road activities such as dirt bikes and motocross. As of 2010, the bill had passed first reading. However, when the legislature was prorogued on March 4, 2010, the bill died on the order paper. According to the clerk of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy the bill was not carried forward.[10][11]

In March 2012, Jaczek introduced a private member's bill, Bill 40 that proclaims March 26 as Epilepsy Awareness Day. She also introduced a private member's resolution that would investigate ways to encourage organ donations in the province.[12]

On June 24, 2014, she was appointed by Premier Kathleen Wynne as the Minister of Community and Social Services and is currently the Vice Chair of Health, Education and Social Policy Cabinet Committee. [13]

Cabinet posts

Provincial Government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ted McMeekin Minister of Community and Social Services
2014–present
Incumbent

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2014: Oak Ridges—Markham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalHelena Jaczek 36,858 45.52 +0.74
Progressive ConservativeFarid Wassef 30,259 37.37 +0.23
New DemocraticMiles Krauter 9,483 11.71 −1.55
GreenEmilia Melara 2,762 3.41 +0.98
LibertarianKarl Boelling 1,384 1.71 +0.07
Trillium Party of OntarioGennady Vilensky 233 0.29
Total valid votes 80,979 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +0.26
Ontario general election, 2011: Oak Ridges—Markham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalHelena Jaczek 28,878 44.78 −3.43 $  83,066.00
Progressive ConservativeFarid Wassef 23,950 37.14 +1.07 146,606.59
New DemocraticJoe Whitfeld 8,548 13.26 +5.33 11,142.60
GreenTrifon Haitas 1,569 2.43 −4.01 350.00
LibertarianKarl Boelling 1,057 1.64   213.07
IndependentRuida Lu 484 0.75   2,766.14
Total valid votes / Expense limit 64,486 100.00 +8.85 $180,834,78
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 395 0.61 −0.13
Turnout 64,881 42.70 −5.07
Eligible voters 151,959   +21.63
Liberal hold Swing −2.25
Ontario general election, 2007: Oak Ridges—Markham
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalHelena Jaczek 28,564 48.22
Progressive ConservativePhil Bannon 21,367 36.07
New DemocraticJanice Hagan 4,698 7.93
GreenAttila Nagy 3,815 6.44
Family CoalitionPatrick Redmond 455 0.77
IndependentDoug Ransom 342 0.58
Total valid votes 59,241 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 444 0.74
Turnout 59,685 47.77
Eligible voters 124,939  
Sources:"Summary of valid votes cast for each candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2014-05-23. 
"Statistical Summary" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2014-05-23. 
Ontario general election, 2003, Oak Ridges
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Progressive ConservativeFrank Klees 32,647 47.27 -12.72
LiberalHelena Jaczek 30,126 43.62 +9.27
New DemocraticPamela Courtot 4,464 6.46 +2.60
GreenSteven Haylestrom 1,821 2.64 +0.84

References

  1. Ransberry, Joan (May 20, 2007). "Jaczek to run for Grits in Oak Ridges-Markham". The Liberal. p. 1.
  2. "Dr. Helena Jaczek: Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment Oak Ridges-Markham". Liberal Party of Ontario. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011.
  3. Johnson, Linda (September 28, 2003). "All-candidates meeting gets rowdy". The Liberal. p. 1.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003.
  5. Whyte, Murray (October 11, 2007). "Oak Ridges-Markham: Former MOH topples three terms of Tory rule". Toronto Star.
  6. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 10 (xix). Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 12. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  8. "General Election by District: Oak Ridges". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.
  9. "New Ontario ministry posts". Daily Commercial News and Construction Record. November 17, 2011.
  10. Laturnus, Ted (January 19, 2009). "No kids on bikes?". The Globe and Mail.
  11. "Bill 117 – Dead?". Motorcycle News. March 2010. p. 1.
  12. Bolan, Sandra (March 16, 2012). "MPP wants more organ donations". Stouffville Sun-Tribune. p. 1.
  13. Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
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