Gerard Kennedy
Gerard Michael Kennedy (born July 24, 1960) is a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Ontario's minister of Education from 2003 to 2006, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Kennedy previously ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, losing to future premier Dalton McGuinty on the final ballot. He lost the 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership race.
Gerard Kennedy | |
|---|---|
Kennedy at the 2006 leadership convention, speaking to the media | |
| Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park | |
| In office October 14, 2008 – May 2, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Peggy Nash |
| Succeeded by | Peggy Nash |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Parkdale—High Park (York South; 1996–1999) | |
| In office May 23, 1996 – May 23, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Rae |
| Succeeded by | Cheri DiNovo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gerard Michael Kennedy July 24, 1960 The Pas, Manitoba, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations | Ontario Liberal (1996–2006) |
| Spouse | Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Food bank executive |
While attending the University of Alberta in Edmonton, he became involved in the local food bank, eventually becoming its first executive director in 1983. In 1986, he moved to Toronto to run the Daily Bread Food Bank and did so until he entered politics, in 1996.
He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as an Ontario Liberal Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in a 1996 by-election to replace former premier Bob Rae in the York South constituency. In the 1999 and 2003 general elections, he was elected to represent the new Parkdale—High Park constituency. He became the province's Minister of Education in 2003, serving in McGuinty's first government.
In 2006, he resigned his cabinet post and then his legislative seat to seek the federal Liberal Party's leadership. He finished third in delegate selection meetings, but at the leadership convention, he placed fourth on both the first and second ballot before withdrawing to support the eventual winner, Stéphane Dion.
In the 2008 federal election he ran for the Liberal Party of Canada in the Parkdale—High Park electoral district and was elected as its Member of Parliament (MP). He ran for re-election in the 2011 federal election, but lost to former MP, Peggy Nash.