George Smitherman
| George Smitherman | |
|---|---|
Speaking at nomination meeting, 2007
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| Ontario MPP | |
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In office 1999–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Al Leach |
| Succeeded by | Glen Murray |
| Constituency | Toronto Centre |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 12, 1964 Weston, Toronto |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | Christopher Peloso (m. 2007; d. 2013) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Toronto |
| Occupation | Consultant |
George Smitherman (born February 12, 1964) is a Canadian politician and broadcaster. He represented the provincial riding of Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2010, when he resigned to contest the mayoralty of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election. Smitherman is the first openly gay Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) elected in Ontario, and the province's first openly gay cabinet minister. In January 2011, he joined talk radio station CFRB as a contributor and fill-in host on the Live Drive with John Tory show.
Smitherman was born at Humber Memorial Hospital (now Humber River Regional Hospital Church site) in Weston, Ontario and spent much of his early years in Etobicoke (he briefly lived in East York, Ontario). He is the son of Irene Margaret (Wood) and Arthur Smitherman, and one of four children. Smitherman spent much time working with his father's business, Smitty's Haulage (later Sure-Way Transport).
Smitherman admitted a five-year addiction to an illegal drug before running for political office. Smitherman has not indicated the specific drugs he was addicted to during this time, except to say that they were part of the "Toronto party scene", and that "the drugs were not injected". He is estranged from his older brother, saying they didn't fall out but just drifted apart. Arthur, who ran for city council from Ward 8, endorsed Rob Ford for mayor.
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