Jeff Yurek

Jeffrey Thomas Yurek (born 1971) is a former Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of Elgin—Middlesex—London. He was an MPP between 2011-2022.

The Honourable Jeff Yurek ECO
Yurek in 2020
Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
In office June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Rod Phillips
Succeeded by	David Piccini
Minister of Transportation
In office November 5, 2018 – June 20, 2019
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	John Yakabuski
Succeeded by	Caroline Mulroney
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
In office June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Nathalie Des Rosiers
Succeeded by	John Yakabuski
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Elgin—Middlesex—London
In office October 6, 2011 – February 28, 2022
Preceded by	Steve Peters
Succeeded by	Rob Flack
Personal details
Born	Jeffrey Thomas Yurek (1971-09-27) September 27, 1971 (age 53) St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Jenn Yurek
Children	1
Residence(s)	St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
Occupation	Pharmacist

Background

Yurek was born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario. He worked as a pharmacist in a family business with his brother. He lives with his wife Jenn and their daughter.^[1]

Politics

Yurek ran in the 2011 provincial election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Elgin—Middlesex—London. He defeated Liberal candidate Laurie Baldwin-Sands by 8,696 votes.^[2] He was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election defeating NDP candidate Kathy Cornish by 8,820 votes.^[3]

He was previously the party's health critic and later served in cabinet.

He put forward a private member's bill, that was passed unanimously, allowing students to carry lifesaving medicines on their person. The bill was named 'Ryan's Law', after a student died from having his medical inhaler locked in the principal's office ^[4]

On June 20, 2019, he was named Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.^[5]

On January 7, 2022, Yuruk announced that he wouldn't be seeking a 4th term and he would resign his seat at the end of February.^[6] He was succeeded by Rob Flack in the 2022 Ontario general election.^[7]

Election results

2018 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Jeff Yurek	29,264	55.46	+8.32
	New Democratic	Amanda Stratton	16,923	32.07	+5.84
	Liberal	Carlie Forsythe	3,857	7.31	-12.66
	Green	Bronagh Morgan	2,029	3.85	-1.08
	Libertarian	Richard Styve	300	0.57
	Freedom	Dave Plumb	278	0.53	-1.20
	Objective Truth	Henri Barrette	116	0.22
Total valid votes			52,767	99.02
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			524	0.98
Turnout			53,291	59.45
Eligible voters			89,636
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		+1.24
Source: Elections Ontario[8]

2014 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Jeff Yurek	20,946	46.36	-1.50
	New Democratic	Kathy Cornish	12,034	26.63	+4.36
	Liberal	Serge Lavoie	9,183	20.32	-6.49
	Green	John Fisher	2,236	4.95	+2.58
	Freedom	Clare Maloney	784	1.74	+1.05
Total valid votes			45,183	100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			682	1.51
Turnout			45,865	54.00
Eligible voters			84,970
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		-2.93
Source: Elections Ontario[9][10]

2011 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Jeff Yurek	19,771	47.86	+17.40
	Liberal	Lori Baldwin-Sands	11,075	26.81	-22.26
	New Democratic	Kathy Cornish	9,201	22.27	+10.89
	Green	Eric Loewen	981	2.37	-5.85
	Freedom	Paul McKeever	283	0.69	-0.17
Total valid votes			41,311	100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			154	0.37
Turnout			41,465	51.28
Eligible voters			80,858
	Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		+19.83
Source: Elections Ontario[11][12]

Cabinet positions

Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford