Kathryn McGarry's Run for Cambridge, 2011
Kathryn McGarry was the Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the riding of Cambridge, which includes North Dumfries, in the provincial election of October 6, 2011. Cambridge Now reported her selection as the local Liberal nominee under the headline "Kathryn McGarry Gets Provincial Liberal Nod For Cambridge North Dumfries". Below are her background, the riding's result and what followed.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Kathryn McGarry |
| Party | Ontario Liberal Party |
| Riding | Cambridge (Cambridge and North Dumfries) |
| Election contested | October 6, 2011 |
| Result in 2011 | Lost to Progressive Conservative Rob Leone by 1,954 votes |
| Earlier run | 2007, lost by 3,238 votes to Gerry Martiniuk |
| Later | MPP for Cambridge 2014–2018; mayor of Cambridge 2018–2022 |
Background
McGarry began her career in 1978 as a critical care nurse, working at the Hospital for Sick Children, Grand River Hospital and Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was a founding member of Hospice Waterloo Region and served as president of the Heritage Cambridge board and as chair of the Heritage Master Plan Implementation Committee. She also sat on the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council and received the YWCA Woman of Distinction award for voluntary and community service.
Three campaigns in the same riding
| Election | Opponent | Result for McGarry |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Gerry Martiniuk (PC) | Lost by 3,238 votes |
| 2011 | Rob Leone (PC) | Lost by 1,954 votes |
| 2014 | Rob Leone (PC) | Won |
In 2007 she was the Liberal candidate against the Progressive Conservative incumbent Gerry Martiniuk. When Martiniuk announced on October 14, 2010 that he would not run again, the 2011 race became an open contest, and McGarry became the Liberal nominee for it. She narrowed the gap from 2007 but lost to Rob Leone of the Progressive Conservatives.
The 2011 provincial context
The election of October 6, 2011 produced a Liberal minority government, one seat short of a majority. The Progressive Conservatives under Tim Hudak formed the Official Opposition. Turnout was 48.2 percent, a record low at the time. The writ was issued on September 7, 2011 by Lieutenant Governor David Onley. Ontario holds elections on fixed dates, on the first Thursday of October every four years.
After 2011
McGarry ran a third time in 2014 and defeated Leone. On June 24, 2014 she became Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, with responsibility for driverless vehicle regulation, intercity bus reform, and cycling and road safety. She was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry on June 13, 2016. She was elected mayor of Cambridge in 2018 and served until 2022, and in 2023 she was elected president of the Ontario Liberal Party.
Frequently asked questions
Which riding did Kathryn McGarry contest in 2011? Cambridge, which covers the city of Cambridge and the township of North Dumfries.
Did she win in 2011? No. Rob Leone of the Progressive Conservatives won by 1,954 votes.
How many times did she run in Cambridge provincially? Three times: 2007, 2011 and 2014. She won only in 2014.
What did she do before politics? She worked as a critical care nurse from 1978.
What office did she hold after the legislature? She was the sixth mayor of Cambridge, from 2018 to 2022.
Sources
Wikipedia articles on Kathryn McGarry, Rob Leone, the Cambridge provincial electoral district and the 2011 Ontario general election.