James A. McDonell[1] (born c. 1954) is a Canadian politician. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. He has been an MPP from 2011 until his retirement in 2022. He was mayor of the township of South Glengarry, Ontario from 2003 to 2011.

Jim McDonell
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Municipal Affairs)
In office
June 29, 2018 – May 3, 2022
MinisterSteve Clark
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
In office
October 6, 2011 – May 3, 2022
Preceded byJim Brownell
Succeeded byNolan Quinn
Mayor of South Glengarry
In office
2003–2011
Preceded byCharles Sangster
Succeeded byIan McLeod
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)
South Glengarry, Ontario
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseMargie McDonell
Children3
ResidenceWilliamstown, Ontario
OccupationEngineer

Background

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McDonell was born and raised on a dairy farm in South Glengarry, Ontario.[2] He attended Queen's University where he earned a degree in engineering. He worked for Bell Canada for over 30 years in a number of roles. He and his wife Margie live in Williamstown, Ontario, where they raised their three children.

Politics

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In 2000, McDonell was elected as a councillor for the township of South Glengarry.[3] In 2003 he was elected as mayor of the township.[4]

In the 2011 provincial election he ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. He defeated Liberal candidate Mark MacDonald by 13,050 votes.[5][6] He was easily re-elected in the 2014 election.[7]

He served as the party's critic for Government and Consumer Services during his first term and on his second term served as a Member on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts as well as a Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Municipal Affairs).

He stood down at the 2022 Ontario general election. He was replaced in the provincial parliament by fellow PC nominee Nolan Quinn.[8]

Electoral record

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2018 Ontario general election: Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jim McDonell 26,780 61.51 9.79
New Democratic Marc Benoit 9,416 21.63 0.72
Liberal Heather Megill 5,386 12.37 -10.82
Green Elaine Kennedy 1,596 3.67 0.99
Libertarian Sabile Trimm 360 0.83 -0.68
Total valid votes 43,538 98.93
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 471 1.07 -0.08
Turnout 44,009 54.10 2.08
Eligible voters 81,342
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 4.53
Source: Elections Ontario[9]
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jim McDonell 19,457 50.18 -5.07
Liberal John Earle 9,287 23.95 2.29
New Democratic Elaine MacDonald 8,374 21.60 0.95
Green Sharron Norman 1,047 2.70 1.28
Libertarian Shawn McRae 608 1.57 0.55
Total valid votes 38,773 100.00
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -3.68
Source: Elections Ontario[10]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Jim McDonell 21,463 55.25 16.47
Liberal Mark A. Macdonald 8,413 21.66 -27.17
New Democratic Elaine MacDonald 8,021 20.65 13.32
Green Justin Reist 551 1.42 -2.98
Libertarian Darcy Neal Donnelly 396 1.02  
Total valid votes 38,844 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 205 0.52
Turnout 39,049 51.40
Eligible voters 75,975
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 21.82
Source: Elections Ontario[11]

References

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  1. ^ @ONPARLeducation (13 July 2022). "Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867. The names for the 42nd Parliament were recently added. For the first time a Member's name was inscribed in Oji-Cree syllabics" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Pearson, Matthew; Turcotte, Jeremy (October 7, 2011). "McDonell makes breakthrough; Conservative ends Liberal hold on constituency". The Ottawa Citizen. p. B7.
  3. ^ "Results from Eastern Ontario rural municipalities". The Ottawa Citizen. November 15, 2000. p. C3.
  4. ^ Harvey, Bob (November 11, 2003). "Nine-year veteran tossed in Carleton Place". The Ottawa Citizen. p. B10.
  5. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  6. ^ "McDonell ready for Queen's Park". Cornwall Standard Freeholder. October 7, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "General Election by District: Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  8. ^ "A big win for Nolan Quinn, elected MPP for SDSG with solid majority". napaneeguide. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  9. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 10. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  10. ^ Elections Ontario (2014). "General Election Results by District, 087 Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry". Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  11. ^ Elections Ontario (2011). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry" (PDF). Retrieved 2 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
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