# Jeff Yurek

Jeffrey Thomas Yurek (born 1971) is a former Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of Elgin—Middlesex—London. He was an MPP between 2011-2022.

## Background

Yurek was born and raised in St. Thomas, Ontario. He worked as a pharmacist in a family business with his brother. He lives with his wife Jenn and their daughter.

## Politics

Yurek ran in the 2011 provincial election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Elgin—Middlesex—London. He defeated Liberal candidate Laurie Baldwin-Sands by 8,696 votes. He was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election defeating NDP candidate Kathy Cornish by 8,820 votes.
He was previously the party's health critic and later served in cabinet.
He put forward a private member's bill, that was passed unanimously, allowing students to carry lifesaving medicines on their person. The bill was named 'Ryan's Law', after a student died from having his medical inhaler locked in the principal's office
On June 20, 2019, he was named Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
On January 7, 2022, Yuruk announced that he wouldn't be seeking a 4th term and he would resign his seat at the end of February. He was succeeded by Rob Flack in the 2022 Ontario general election.

### Election results

2018 Ontario general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jeff Yurek | 29,264 | 55.46 | +8.32 |
| | New Democratic | Amanda Stratton | 16,923 | 32.07 | +5.84 |
| | Liberal | Carlie Forsythe | 3,857 | 7.31 | -12.66 |
| | Green | Bronagh Morgan | 2,029 | 3.85 | -1.08 |
| | Libertarian | Richard Styve | 300 | 0.57 | |
| | Freedom | Dave Plumb | 278 | 0.53 | -1.20 |
| | Objective Truth | Henri Barrette | 116 | 0.22 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 52,767 | 99.02 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 524 | 0.98 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,291 | 59.45 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 89,636 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +1.24 |
| Source: Elections Ontario |||||||
2014 Ontario general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jeff Yurek | 20,946 | 46.36 | -1.50 |
| | New Democratic | Kathy Cornish | 12,034 | 26.63 | +4.36 |
| | Liberal | Serge Lavoie | 9,183 | 20.32 | -6.49 |
| | Green | John Fisher | 2,236 | 4.95 | +2.58 |
| | Freedom | Clare Maloney | 784 | 1.74 | +1.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 45,183 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 682 | 1.51 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 45,865 | 54.00 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 84,970 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -2.93 |
| Source: Elections Ontario |||||||
2011 Ontario general election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Jeff Yurek | 19,771 | 47.86 | +17.40 |
| | Liberal | Lori Baldwin-Sands | 11,075 | 26.81 | -22.26 |
| | New Democratic | Kathy Cornish | 9,201 | 22.27 | +10.89 |
| | Green | Eric Loewen | 981 | 2.37 | -5.85 |
| | Freedom | Paul McKeever | 283 | 0.69 | -0.17 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 41,311 | 100.00 |
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 154 | 0.37 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 41,465 | 51.28 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 80,858 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +19.83 |
| Source: Elections Ontario |||||||

### Cabinet positions

Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford :
| Cabinet posts (3) |||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Rod Phillips | Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021 | David Piccini |
| John Yakabuski | Minister of Transportation November 5, 2018 – June 20, 2019 | Caroline Mulroney |
| Nathalie Des Rosiers | Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018 | John Yakabuski |