Kingston and The Islands
John Gerretsen,
Minister of the Environment
John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment for Ontario, was first elected in 1995 to represent Kingston and The Islands. He was re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
As former Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, he brought forward the award-winning Greenbelt Plan which permanently protects 1.8 million acres of agricultural and environmentally sensitive land around the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area.
His work and that of the Ministry has been recognized with a national planning award for planning excellence in the category of Environmental Planning from the Canadian Institute of Planners.
While Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, John Gerretsen was responsible for new stronger planning legislation and bringing the Ontario Building Code to the most energy efficient standards in Canada.
His tireless support and personal commitment to brownfield redevelopment earned him a Special Recognition Canadian Urban Institute Brownie Award.
The Canadian Urban Institute’s Brownie Award’s are sponsored by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and are given annually to projects and programs that reflect leadership and innovation in brownfield redevelopment.
He also introduced the New City of Toronto Act, providing Ontario’s capital city with new tools to help it thrive in a global marketplace.
As former Minister Responsible for Seniors, John Gerretsen was involved in improving services and programs for Ontario’s seniors. This included launching the first Elder Abuse Awareness Day, increasing the Comfort Allowance for our long term care residents and increasing tax credits for low and moderate income seniors for the first time in more than 10 years.
Mr. Gerretsen has been a leader in his Kingston community, first as a city councillor, and then as the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history.
He has also been president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and chair of the Ontario Housing Corporation.
His volunteer and charitable activities include work with Kingcole Homes, Big Brothers, Rotary Club of Kingston and Almost Home. He has been chair of South Eastern Ontario Emergency Health Services Committee and a trustee of Queen’s University.
A graduate of Queen’s, Mr. Gerretsen has practised law in Kingston since 1971. He lives in Kingston with his wife Assunta.
