Tracy MacCharles

Tracy MacCharles (born c. 1963) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2011 to 2018 who represented the riding of Pickering—Scarborough East. She was a member of cabinet in the government of Kathleen Wynne.

Tracy MacCharles
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Pickering—Scarborough East
In office
October 6, 2011 – June 7, 2018[1]
Preceded byWayne Arthurs
Succeeded byPeter Bethlenfalvy
Personal details
Born1963 (age 59–60)
Scarborough, Ontario
Political partyLiberal
SpouseStephen Little
Children2
ResidencePickering, Ontario
ProfessionHuman resources

Background

MacCharles was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario.[2] She went to Brock University where she obtained a degree in Business and Public Administration. She worked in human resources management in various roles including Vice President of Human Resources at Manulife Financial. She was chair of the Ontario Accessibility Standards Advisory Council and was a member of the Durham Board of Education’s Special Education Advisory Committee.[3]

She lives in Pickering with her husband Stephen Little and their two children.[4]

Politics

MacCharles ran in the 2011 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Pickering—Scarborough East. She defeated Progressive Conservative candidate Kevin Gaudet by 5,168 votes.[5][6] She was easily re-elected in the 2014 election defeating Gaudet again, this time by 10,505 votes.[7]

On November 10, 2011, MacCharles was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children and Youth Services. On February 11, 2013 she was sworn in as Minister of Consumer Services under new Premier Kathleen Wynne.[8] On June 24, 2014 she was appointed Minister of Children and Youth Services as well as Minister responsible for Women's Issues.[9]

On April 5, 2016, MacCharles announced changes in the autism services program, which included opening up 16,000 new spaces with an investment of $333 million additional dollars to the program. However, the announced changes also included removing children with autism over the age of five from the IBI waitlist to the ABA waitlist, and giving the families an $8000 stipend for these children to receive treatment.[10] The move was resisted by some parents and expert groups.[11][12][13] The government revised the changes two months later and MacCharles was demoted to the role of Minister without portfolio, responsible for accessibility and women's issues in Ontario.[14][15]

On January 12, 2017, she was promoted to the position of Minister of Government and Consumer Services, a move precipitated by the resignation of David Orazietti in December 2016.[16]

MacCharles announced her retirement from provincial politics in April 2018, a few months before the next Ontario election.[1]

Election results
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalTracy MacCharles23,20652.05.3
Progressive ConservativeKevin Gaudet12,63828.3-5.1
New DemocraticEileen Higdon6,60014.8-1.7
GreenAnthony Navarro1,5643.50.7
LibertarianScott Hoefig4631.10.5
FreedomMatt Oliver1930.4
Total valid votes 44,664 100.0
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalTracy MacCharles18,20146.7
Progressive ConservativeKevin Gaudet13,03333.4
New DemocraticNerissa Carino6,42416.5
GreenKevin Smith1,0962.8
LibertarianHeath Thomas2520.6
Total valid votes 39,006 100.0 14.5

References

Notes
  1. Harris appointed as Minister responsible for women's issues.

Citations
  1. Benzie, Robert (5 April 2018). "Liberal cabinet ministers Michael Chan and Tracy MacCharles, MPP Grant Crack say they are retiring". Toronto Star.
  2. O’Connell, Carleigh (29 October 2011). "Liberal rookie MacCharles wins Pickering-Scarborough East Riding". Centennial Journalism.
  3. "Biography: Tracy MacCharles". Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  4. Milley, Danielle (17 October 2011). "New Pickering-Scarborough East MPP has roots in West Hill community". Scarborough Mirror. p. 1.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  6. Peat, Don (6 October 2011). "Tories fail to break through in GTA". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  7. "General Election by District: Pickering—Scarborough East". Elections Ontario. 12 June 2014.
  8. "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. 12 February 2013. p. A3.
  9. Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (24 June 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  10. Jones, Allison (5 April 2016). "Ontario kids with autism aged 5 and older cut off from government-paid therapy". CBC News.
  11. Nazareth, Errol (12 April 2016). "Ontario parents of autistic children blast government over cuts to intensive therapy". CBC News.
  12. Murthy, Roshni (4 April 2016). "Changes in autism treatment program puts children at risk, critics say". CityNews.
  13. Jones, Allison (5 May 2016). "Autism treatment funding changes protested at Queen's Park". CTV News.
  14. Gordon, Andrea (28 June 2016). "Ontario backs off controversial autism changes, boosts services after parents protest". Toronto Star.
  15. Merriam, Jim (20 June 2016). "Only in Wynne's Ontario is a bigger cabinet better". London Free Press.
  16. "Kathleen Wynne appoints new corrections minister in small cabinet shuffle". CBC News. 12 January 2017.
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