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Rick Johnson (Canadian politician) facts for kids

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Rick Johnson
Ontario MPP
In office
2009–2011
Preceded by Laurie Scott
Succeeded by Laurie Scott
Constituency Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Personal details
Political party Liberal
Spouse Terri Crawford
Children 2
Residences Pontypool, Ontario, Canada
Occupation Musician

Rick Johnson is a former Canadian politician and musician. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2009 to 2011 who represented the riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock. He was elected in a by-election on March 5, 2009, defeating Progressive Conservative leader John Tory. He lost to Laurie Scott in the 2011 election who had previously held the riding.

Background

Before entering politics, Johnson was a musician, working alongside his wife Terri Crawford both in the Terry Crawford Band of the 1970s and 1980s and later as a children's music duo billed as Terri & Rick.

Politics

Johnson previously served as a public school trustee for, and chair of, the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and as president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association. In his term on the OPSBA, Johnson introduced breakfast, co-operative education and literacy programs for his district. He has also served on the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson was the Liberal candidate in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock in the 2007 provincial election, losing to Laurie Scott. On January 9, 2009, Scott announced she was resigning her seat in order to provide Conservative Leader John Tory a seat in the legislature. Johnson capitalized on public anger from Scott's move and narrowly defeated Tory in the subsequent by-election.

Johnson served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure, Bob Chiarelli. He previously served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. In the 2011 election, Johnson lost again to P.C. candidate Laurie Scott by 6,000 votes in the 2011 provincial election. He ran again in 2014 but lost again to Scott, this time by more than 3,000 votes.

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Laurie Scott 22,357 45.4 +4.3
Liberal Rick Johnson 16,522 33.6 -10.13
New Democratic Don Abel 8,517 17.3 +11.32
Green Anita Payne 1,652 3.2 -3.44
Freedom Charles Olito 254 0.5 +0.1
Total valid votes 48,942 100.00
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock by-election, March 5, 2009
resignation of Laurie Scott
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rick Johnson 15,482 43.73 +14.22
Progressive Conservative John Tory 14,576 41.17 -8.73
Green Mike Schreiner 2,352 6.64 -0.56
New Democratic Lyn Edwards 2,117 5.98 -5.92
Independent Jason Taylor 320 0.90
Family Coalition Jake Pothaar 258 0.73 -0.07
Freedom Bill Denby 140 0.40 -0.4
Independent John Turmel 92 0.26
Libertarian Paolo Fabrizio 71 0.20
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Laurie Scott 24,272 49.9
Liberal Rick Johnson 14,324 29.5
New Democratic Joan Corrigan 5,773 11.9
Green Douglas Smith 3,475 7.2
Freedom Bill Denby 391 0.8
Family Coalition Jake Pothaar 364 0.8
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