Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
John Gerretsen was first elected in 1995 in the Riding of Kingston and the Islands, and was re-elected in 1999 and in 2003.
As Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, he has been responsible for the Greenbelt Plan to permanently protect 1.8 million acres around the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Strong Communities (Planning Amendment) Act, 2004 and the Planning and Conservation Land Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 to reform land-use planning in the province and the Ontario Municipal Board.
He was also been responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 that provides more balanced protection for tenants and landlords and he oversees Ontario’s new $600 million affordable housing program.
Mr. Gerretsen also introduced the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2006 that will, once it is proclaimed, provide Ontario’s capital city with new tools to help it thrive in a global marketplace and the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, 2006 giving municipal employees and their employers control over their pension plan. He is also overseeing the proposed reform of the Municipal Act, 2001.
Mr. Gerretsen is currently co-leading the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal and Service Delivery Review that aims to improve the delivery and funding of services for Ontarians.
As former Minister Responsible for Seniors, he was responsible for numerous improvements to programs and services for seniors in Ontario, including establishing higher levels of care for long-term care home residents, launching the first annual Elder Abuse Awareness Day, increasing the Comfort Allowance, and increasing tax credits for seniors with low and moderate incomes for the first time in more than a decade.
While in opposition he served as Chief Opposition Whip and critic for municipal affairs, tourism and long-term care. He has also served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr. Gerretsen has been a leader in the Kingston community, first as a city councillor, then as the longest-serving mayor in Kingston's history. He also served as the president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and as chair of Ontario Housing Corportation.
He has volunteered as a member of Kingcole Homes, Big Brothers, Rotary Club of Kingston and Almost Home, and chair of the South Eastern Ontario Emergency Health Services Committee. He has also been a trustee of Queen's University. Among his many activities for charitable non-profit groups, he has chaired the BEDS Campaign for the Hotel Dieu Hospital and the Salvation Army Red Shield Campaign.
A graduate of Queen's University, Mr. Gerretsen has practised law in Kingston since 1971. He and his wife, Assunta, have three grown children, Michelle, Mark and Paul.
