Gerard Kennedy

Gerard Kennedy
Kennedy at the 2006 leadership convention, speaking to the media.
Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park
In office October 14, 2008 – March 26, 2011
Preceded by	Peggy Nash
Succeeded by	Peggy Nash
Member of Provincial Parliament for Parkdale—High Park
In office June 3, 1999 – May 23, 2006
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Cheri DiNovo
Member of Provincial Parliament for York South
In office May 23, 1996 – May 5, 1999
Preceded by	Bob Rae
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Gerard Michael Kennedy (1960-07-24) July 24, 1960 (age 56) The Pas, Manitoba
Political party	Liberal Party of Canada
Other political affiliations	Ontario Liberal Party (1996–2006)
Spouse(s)	Jeanette Arsenault-Kennedy
Children	2
Residence	Toronto
Occupation	Food bank executive
Religion	Roman Catholic

Gerard Michael Kennedy (born July 24, 1960) is a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Ontario's Minister of Education from 2003 to 2006, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. Kennedy previously ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, losing to future premier Dalton McGuinty on the final ballot. He lost the 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership race.

While attending the University of Alberta in Edmonton, he became involved in the local food bank, eventually becoming its first executive director in 1983. In 1986, he moved to Toronto to run the Daily Bread Food Bank and did so until he entered politics, in 1996.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as an Ontario Liberal Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in a 1996 by-election to replace former premier Bob Rae in the York South constituency. In the 1999 and 2003 general elections, he was elected to represent the new Parkdale—High Park constituency. He became the province's Minister of Education in 2003, serving in McGuinty's first government.