Carol Mitchell

Carol Mitchell
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
In office
January 18, 2010 – October 6, 2011
PremierDalton McGuinty
Preceded byLeona Dombrowsky
Succeeded byTed McMeekin
Ontario MPP
In office
October 23, 2003 – October 6, 2011
Preceded byHelen Johns
Succeeded byLisa Thompson
ConstituencyHuron—Bruce
Personal details
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Clinton, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
SpouseLarry
Children2
ResidenceClinton, Ontario
OccupationBusinesswomen

Carol Mitchell (born c. 1957) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2011 representing the riding of Huron—Bruce. She was a cabinet minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty.

Background

Mitchell was born in Clinton, Ontario in Huron County and was educated at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. She is a past member of Girl Guides of Canada. She worked in retailing after her graduation, and ran stores selling children's clothes in Clinton and Bayfield.

Politics

She was elected to Clinton's town council in 1993, and became its reeve later in the decade. She also served on the Huron County council, and was elected as the first reeve of the amalgamated municipality of Central Huron. She was elected as warden of Huron County in 1999 and 2000.[1]

In the 2003 provincial election she ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Huron—Bruce and defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Helen Johns, a cabinet minister, by about 3,000 votes.[2] On October 23, 2003, she was named parliamentary assistant to Steve Peters, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food.[3] In March 2006, Mitchell was named parliamentary assistant to David Caplan, the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.[4] Upon re-election in the fall of 2007,[5] Mitchell was named Government Caucus Chair and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, with a concentration on Municipal Affairs.[6]

On January 18, 2010, Mitchell was named Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as part of a cabinet shuffle by Premier Dalton McGuinty.[7]

She was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Lisa Thompson in the 2011 election.[8]

Cabinet positions

Ontario provincial government of Dalton McGuinty
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Helen Johns Minister of Agriculture and Food
2010–2011 		Ted McMeekin

Electoral record

2011 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa Thompson 19,138 42.76 +12.22 $ 81,890.60
Liberal Carol Mitchell 14,659 32.75 −13.20 79,935.51
New Democratic Grant Robertson 9,329 20.85 +7.53 32,102.53
Green Patrick Main 772 1.72 −4.81 881.40
Family Coalition Christine Schnurr 656 1.47 −0.85 14,592.60
Independent Dennis Valenta 200 0.45 −0.44 0.00
Total valid votes / expense limit 44,754 100.0   +0.46 $ 90,268.64
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 172 0.38 −0.09
Turnout 44,926 59.23 −0.57
Eligible voters 75,853   +1.35
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +12.71
Source(s)
"Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Huron—Bruce – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF).
"2011 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
2007 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carol Mitchell 20,469 45.95 +0.16 $ 49,205.00
Progressive Conservative Rob Morley 13,606 30.54 −7.69 72,311.76
New Democratic Paul Klopp 5,932 13.32 +1.86 20,183.39
Green Victoria Serda 2,911 6.53 +4.38 7,787.36
Family Coalition Dave Joslin 1,035 2.32 +0.24 8,064.77
Independent Dennis Valenta 393 0.88   9,887.73
Independent Ronald John Stephens 202 0.45   0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,548 100.0   +2.62 $ 80,832.60
Total rejected ballots 209 0.47 −0.02
Turnout 44,757 59.80 −6.66
Eligible voters 74,845   +14.03
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF).
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2007" (PDF). Elections Ontario.
"2007 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Retrieved June 13, 2014.
2003 Ontario general election: Huron—Bruce
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carol Mitchell 19,879 45.79 +3.96 $ 43,587.07
Progressive Conservative Helen Johns 16,594 38.23 −7.53 68,667.03
New Democratic Grant I. Robertson 4,973 11.46 +2.33 18,246.88
Green Shelley Hannah 934 2.15   3,146.98
Family Coalition Dave Joslin 902 2.08 −1.21 7,273.45
Freedom Robert Sabharwal 127 0.29   0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,409 100.0   −4.39 $ 63,013.44
Total rejected ballots 212 0.49 −0.80
Turnout 43,621 66.46 −0.32
Eligible voters 65,639   −4.70
Source(s)
"General Election of October 2, 2003 — Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario.
"General Election of October 2, 2003 — Statistical Summary". Retrieved June 13, 2014.
"2003 Election and Annual Returns - Candidate and Constituency Association Returns".

References

  1. ^ Ash, Stacey (September 19, 2003). "Huron-Bruce riding; Area has had its share of controversy with E. coli, George shooting and struggling beef industry". The Record. Kitchener, Ont. p. B2.
  2. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Retrieved 2014-03-02.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ Ash, Stacey (October 24, 2003). "Cabinet devoid of local faces". The Record. Kitchener, Ont. p. A1.
  4. ^ "Premier McGuinty appoints new parliamentary assistants". Ottawa: Canada NewsWire. March 6, 2006. p. 1.
  5. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 6 (xv). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  6. ^ "Carol Mitchell, MPP". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  7. ^ Kenyon, Wallace (January 19, 2010). "Sweeping changes hit Queen's Park; Liberal Cabinet". National Post. p. A8.
  8. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.