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Donna Skelly
MPP
Skelly in 2019
Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General
In office
October 21, 2021 – June 1, 2022
MinisterDoug Downey
Preceded byLindsey Park
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
In office
June 29, 2018 – October 21, 2021
MinisterVic Fedeli
Succeeded byJeff Yurek
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Flamborough—Glanbrook
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 28, 2018
Preceded byRiding established
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 23, 2022
Hamilton City Councillor
In office
March 22, 2016 – June 27, 2018
Preceded byScott Duvall
Succeeded byTerry Anderson (Appointed)
Personal details
Born (1961-10-23) October 23, 1961 (age 63)
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Children2
Residence(s)Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
  • Politician
  • journalist

Donna Skelly MPP is a Canadian politician and journalist. Skelly is presently the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and was first elected in 2018 to the electoral district of Flamborough—Glanbrook with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. In 2023, Skelly was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Its mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding democratic governance, youth engagement in democracy, gender equality and equal representation.[1]

Prior to entering politics, Skelly worked as a journalist with CHCH-TV in Hamilton, anchoring and producing local and regional television newscasts. Skelly took a leave of absence from CHCH in 2011 to launch the first of two bids for provincial parliament with the Progressive Conservatives in the electoral district of Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale.[2][3] In 2016, Skelly won a by-election to Hamilton City Council. Skelly resigned from council after being elected to the legislature in 2018.

Early life and media career

[edit]

Skelly was born in Northern Ontario and graduated from the journalism program at Seneca College.[4]

Skelly began her broadcast journalism career at CHIP-FM in Fort Coulonge, Quebec. She then moved on to CHRO-TV in Pembroke, Ontario, CKWS Radio/TV in Kingston before joining CHCH in 1988.[4]

In 1992, Skelly began co-hosting the "Golden Horseshoe Report" on CHCH as part of a "revamp" of the station's evening news broadcast.[5] The station, which had been purchased by British Columbia-based Western International Communications in 1990, further adapted CHCH's evening news broadcast in 1993, assigning Skelly to a national newscast, Canada Tonight, co-produced with the channel's then-sister station CHAN in Vancouver and co-anchored with Tony Parsons.[6][7]

In 2000, Skelly resigned from CHCH, at the time rebranded as "ONtv", to start a local news and information website called "news4hamilton.com". Working from office space in the studios of local cable access channel Cable14, news4hamilton.com entered the growing online news market, with Skelly telling a local reporter that she wanted the site to grow into a "legitimate organization to compete in the marketplace."[8] The internet venture later stopped publishing and, after holding a contract teaching position at Mohawk College, Skelly returned to CHCH in 2002 following the station's purchase by Global TV parent company Canwest.[9]

Following her return to the station, Skelly became the chair of the CHCH employees union, the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Local 1100.[10] After Canwest announced plans to sell or close CHCH in 2009, Skelly launched a campaign to create a community-led corporation that would take over the station. The plan, backed by the station's employees, would have sought an independent licence to operate and secure support from local businesses, media workers, and advertisers to stay on the air.[11] This plan was unable to proceed when Canwest announced the sale of CHCH to Toronto-based media group Channel Zero.[12]

In 2010, Skelly was awarded local YWCA's Women of Distinction Award for her role in Hamilton's politics and public affairs. Skelly was one of 12 local women honoured during that year's Women of Distinction Awards, including Skelly's future fellow MPP, Sandy Shaw.[13]

After CHCH filed for bankruptcy in 2015, Skelly was let go by the company during their restructuring.[14]

Politics

[edit]

Early political career

[edit]

After the death of Hamilton East MPP Dominic Agostino in 2004, Skelly was one of two local journalists rumoured to have been approached by the provincial Liberals to run in the electoral district's by-election. After her former CHCH colleague Jennifer Mossop was elected in the electoral district of Stoney Creek in 2003, both Skelly and then-radio broadcaster Bob Bratina were both rumoured to be possible candidates in Hamilton East. Despite the speculation, Skelly ruled out a run at the time.[15]

In early 2011, Skelly was approached by the Ontario Progressive Conservatives to seek their nomination in the electoral district of Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale. Speaking with a reporter in February 2011, Skelly indicated she had not made a decision, but would consult with local political figures and consider her options. At the time, retired army officer Chris Corrigan, who had been the party's candidate in the electoral district in 2007, was the only registered candidate for the party's nomination.[16] On March 28, at a media event in downtown Dundas, Skelly was announced as the party's candidate by PC leader Tim Hudak. The Hamilton Spectator reported that Corrigan was informed by the party to abandon his campaign in favour of Skelly.[17] Despite the resignation of members of the local PC riding association over the party's handling of the nomination, Skelly was acclaimed as the PC candidate and faced veteran MPP Ted McMeekin in the October election.[18][19] Skelly was defeated by McMeekin.

Shortly after the 2011 election, Skelly indicated her interest in running in the electoral district again. Opting for an open nomination race, the local Progressive Conservatives held an election between Skelly and local resident Nick Lauwers. Lauwers was backed by Corrigan while Skelly earned the endorsement of former MPP Toni Skarica. Skelly was nominated as the PC candidate in September 2012, beating Lauwers 194 to 166 votes in the nomination race. Skelly was nominated as the PC candidate in September 2012.[20] In the lead-up to the campaign, Skelly hosted a fundraiser with prominent NHL players Darcy Tucker, Wendel Clark, and Dennis Hull.[21] In the June election, Skelly was once again defeated by McMeekin.

Municipal politics

[edit]

While still a candidate for provincial parliament, Skelly was rumoured to be considering a bid for Mayor of Hamilton in the city's 2014 municipal election. In March, Skelly confirmed she was not seeking the mayor's office, opting instead to campaign full-time for MPP.[22]

After long-time Ward 7 Hamilton city councillor Scott Duvall was elected to parliament in 2015, a by-election was held to fill the vacant seat.[23] Skelly joined the race shortly after and won over 22 other candidates. Speaking to local reporters after she won, Skelly indicated she wanted to bring artists to Concession Street, cut red tape at city hall, and champion taxpayers. After her victory, she told reporters she had no intentions of seeking higher office after her by-election win and that she was "not afraid to be politically incorrect and I will say what I believe."[24]

During her first year on council, Skelly opposed Mayor Fred Eisenberger's proposed $50 million investment in social housing and poverty reduction due to a lack of detail in the proposed plan. Skelly also opposed the city's LRT project, and adjusting the city's ward boundaries in response to population increases.[25][26][27] Skelly supported a motion by then-councillor Matthew Green to study a move to ranked ballots for Hamilton's municipal elections.[28]

In 2017, Skelly generated controversy when she suggested cutting funding from the Hamilton Public Library as a way to cut taxes. Skelly's suggestion earned a strong online backlash, including from author Margaret Atwood.[29] Following Skelly's remarks about the Hamilton Public Library, she made comments about the new Kitchener-Waterloo LRT line, calling the municipality's rapid transit project "not attractive", further generating controversy and leading Waterloo Region Record columnist Luisa D'Amato to write that Hamilton was "an industrial wasteland" filled with "angry and sketchy" people.[30]

Provincial politics

[edit]
Skelly (right) with Neil Lumsden (centre) and Andrea Horwath (left) at a Building Faster Fund announcement in Hamilton, March 2024

In August 2017, rumours circulated that Skelly was the Progressive Conservative Party's preferred candidate in the newly created electoral district of Flamborough-Glanbrook. Three contestants for the seat - Dan Sadler, 2014 Hamilton Mountain PC candidate Albert Marshall, and Skelly's previous nomination opponent Nick Lauwers - were all informed by the party that their candidacies would not be approved by then-leader Patrick Brown. Both Lauwers and Marshall informed the Hamilton Mountain News that the party intended to acclaim a candidate, with the latter noting that the candidate sought would be a woman.[31] At the time, Skelly did not confirm her interest in seeking the party's nomination.

The following month, Skelly announced her intention to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in Flamborough-Glanbrook. Despite telling the Hamilton Mountain News at the time of her council by-election win that she was no longer a member of the party and that she did not see the seat as "a stepping stone", Skelly indicated that her reasons for running provincially were that she believed she could "do more for the entire city at the provincial level."[32] Skelly was acclaimed as the party's candidate on October 5, 2017.[33]

Following Brown's surprise resignation in 2018, Skelly endorsed Christine Elliott's unsuccessful bid to lead the Progressive Conservatives.[34]

Skelly was the centre of controversy during the 2018 election campaign when PressProgress, the media wing of the Broadbent Institute, reported that Skelly had attended a Christmas event in 2017 organized by McMaster University and Mohawk College campus conservative groups and spoke about "Free Bird Media", an alt-right website that featured videos and interviews with far-right Canadian political figures such as Paul Fromm, James Sears, and Kevin J. Johnson. Free Bird Media's founder, Alex Van Hamme, indicated that Skelly told the crowd Canada needed more media like the site, though Skelly later said she did not know anything about Free Bird Media and was just "handed a hat" with the group's branding.[35][36]

Skelly won the 2018 election with 43.5% of the popular vote. Shortly after being sworn in, Doug Ford announced Skelly would become the Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Economic Development Jim Wilson.[37]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Skelly launched a website called Relief Within Reach to connect local small businesses with available provincial and federal support programs. The initiative was praised by members of Hamilton City Council.[38]

Skelly was re-elected in the 2022 Ontario general election.[39]

In March 2023, Skelly announced that Carmeuse Lime Limited would not proceed with its controversial application to burn alternative low-carbon fuels at its Dundas operations. The plan, which was opposed by community group Dundas and Greensville Environmental Concern, Ward 13 councillor Alex Wilson, and Skelly's former political opponent who was elected to Hamilton city council representing Flamborough's Ward 15, Ted McMeekin, generated substantial community opposition relating to environmental concerns.[40]

Election results

[edit]
2022 Ontario general election: Flamborough—Glanbrook
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Donna Skelly 20,306 46.20 +2.68 $95,819
New Democratic Allison Cillis 9,995 22.74 −11.43 $44,216
Liberal Melisse Willems 8,970 20.41 +4.97 $22,601
Green Mario Portak 2,392 5.44 +0.97 $0
New Blue Paul Simoes 1,492 3.39   $0
Ontario Party Walt Juchniewicz 710 1.62   $0
Populist Nikita Mahood 86 0.20   $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 43,951 99.45 +0.47 $131,884
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 242 0.55 –0.47
Turnout 44,193 46.91 –13.67
Eligible voters 93,210
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +7.05
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Donna Skelly 22,454 43.53 +8.06
New Democratic Melissa McGlashan 17,630 34.17 +11.51
Liberal Judi Partridge 7,967 15.44 -20.14
Green Janet Errygers 2,307 4.47 -0.07
Libertarian Glenn Langton 541 1.05
None of the Above Rudy Miller 451 0.87
Trillium Roman Sarachman 238 0.46
Total valid votes 51,588 98.98
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 531 1.02
Turnout 52,119
Eligible voters
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[41]
Candidates for the March 21, 2016 Hamilton, Ontario Ward Seven Councillor By-Election
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
Donna Skelly 1,967 19.59% - $30,524.46
John-Paul Danko 1,875 18.67% - $21,530.03
Uzma Qureshi 1,521 15.14% - $28,621.86
Shaun Burt 881 8.77% - n/a1
Doug Farraway 785 7.82% - $12,657
Geraldine McMullen 720 7.17% - $27,112.84
Tom Gordon 468 4.66% - $2,681.09
Howard Rabb 376 3.74% - $17,696.61
Bob Charters 354 3.52% - n/a1
Glenn Murphy 255 2.54% - $5,840.09
Chelsey Heroux 172 1.71% - n/a1
Hans Zuriel 133 1.32% - $8,531.42
Philip Bradshaw 110 1.10% - $1,450.12
Robert Bolton 95 0.95% - n/a1
Jeanne Pacey 95 0.95% - n/a1
Louis Vecchioni 64 0.64% - $0
Anthony Nicholl 62 0.62% - n/a1
Mohammad Shahrouri 48 0.48% - $160
Robert Young 22 0.22% - $930.87
Paul Nagy 17 0.17% - $0
Damin Starr 17 0.17% - $7,886.76
Luc Hetu 6 0.06% - n/a1
Total votes 10,063 24.35% =7.4% $40,005.55
Registered voters 41,332
1 These candidates did not submit official Financial Statements and are, therefore, ineligible to run in the
2018 Municipal election
Note: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: City of Hamilton, "Nominated Candidates" Archived 2010-08-20 at the Wayback Machine City of Hamilton, "2016 Candidate Financial Statements Archived September 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ted McMeekin 24,042 44.56 +0.86
Progressive Conservative Donna Skelly 18,252 33.83 -0.75
New Democratic Alex Johnstone 8,415 15.60 -1.60
Green Raymond Dartsch 2,639 4.89 +1.91
Libertarian Glenn Langton 423 0.78 +0.26
Freedom Barry Spruce 188 0.35 +0.15
Total valid votes 53,959 100.0   +8.57
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 835 1.52
Turnout 54,794 59.02
Eligible voters 92,833
Liberal hold Swing +0.80
Source(s)
"Official return from the records – 003, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2015.[permanent dead link]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Ted McMeekin 21,648 43.70 +2.19
Progressive Conservative Donna Skelly 17,132 34.58 -0.25
New Democratic Trevor Westerhoff 8,521 17.20 +3.97
Green Erik Coverdale 1,477 2.98 -5.60
Family Coalition Robert Maton 321 0.65 -0.36
Libertarian Glenn Langton 258 0.52 +0.39
Freedom Peter Melanson 99 0.20
Communist Rick Gunderman Smith 87 0.18
Total valid votes 49,543 100.0   +0.20
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 180 0.36
Turnout 49,723 56.45
Eligible voters 88,080
Liberal hold Swing +1.22
Source(s)
"Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2014.[permanent dead link]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "About Us - Commonwealth Parliamentary Association". Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Skelly named as PC candidate for ADFW". Flamborough Review. March 28, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  3. ^ Kohanik, Eric (September 9, 1994). "CHCH still trumpeting virtues of Canada Tonight". The Hamilton Spectator. p. C1.
  4. ^ a b "User friendly / Trivia, tips and tidbits". The Hamilton Spectator. November 6, 2000. p. C12.
  5. ^ Kohanik, Eric (October 7, 1992). "CHCH set to lift curtain on revamped news;". The Hamilton Spectator. p. D2.
  6. ^ Kohanik, Eric (September 8, 1993). "Canada Tonight snubs Hamilton: 'Generic' news quells CHCH spirit". The Hamilton Spectator. p. D1.
  7. ^ Kohanik, Eric (September 9, 1994). "CHCH still trumpeting virtues of Canada Tonight". The Hamilton Spectator. p. C1.
  8. ^ McNeil, Mark (December 20, 2000). "Donna brings news to Net; Former ONtv anchor's firm built local Net news site". The Hamilton Spectator. p. D07.
  9. ^ Hogue, Tom (December 7, 2002). "Former anchor Donna Skelly returns to CH". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A02.
  10. ^ Nolan, Dan (October 5, 2007). "CanWest to cut 25 jobs at CHCH-TV". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A16.
  11. ^ Reilly, Emma (February 26, 2009). "Skelly's CH plan gaining support". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  12. ^ Wright, Lisa (July 1, 2009). "Channel Zero buys CanWest stations; Hamilton's CHCH TV, Montreal's CJNT to get 'advertiser friendly' radical TV redesigns". Toronto Star. p. B02.
  13. ^ Dunning, Jenni (May 5, 2010). "Women who blaze distinctive trails feted at awards ceremony". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A03.
  14. ^ Fragomeni, Carmela (December 14, 2015). "'It's just a great loss': What CHCH will look like after job cuts". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  15. ^ Dreschel, Andrew (April 12, 2004). "Will Bob Morrow run in byelection?". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A01.
  16. ^ Nolan, Dan (February 23, 2011). "Skelly ponders pitch to oppose McMeekin". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A2.
  17. ^ Nolan, Dan (March 29, 2011). "Skelly dons PC colours Dedicated party person' Corrigan sidelined". The Hamilton Spectator. p. A2.
  18. ^ Werner, Kevin (April 13, 2011). "Tories back Skelly despite resignations over nomination of star candidate". Dundas Star. p. 1.
  19. ^ Babbage, Maria (May 18, 2011). "Hudak at a loss to explain why Tories are being pushed aside for star candidates". Canadian Press.
  20. ^ Werner, Kevin (September 20, 2012). "Tories select Skelly to take on McMeekin". Hamilton Mountain News.
  21. ^ Pearson, Mike (December 11, 2012). "Former Leaf greats appear in Ancaster during fundraiser for ADFW PC candidate". Flamborough Review.
  22. ^ Van Dongen, Matthew (March 14, 2014). "MAYORAL RACE: Bratina's out, are YOU running?". The Hamilton Spectator.
  23. ^ Dreschel, Andrew (January 15, 2016). "Former TV reporter Donna Skelly eyes Ward 7 race". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  24. ^ Newman, Mark (March 21, 2016). "Donna Skelly wins Hamilton Mountain Ward 7 squeaker". Hamilton Mountain News. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  25. ^ Van Dongen, Matthew (April 20, 2016). "Mayor lays out $50M plan to curb poverty in Hamilton". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  26. ^ Van Dongen, Matthew (May 25, 2016). "LRT affirmation vote running off the rails". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  27. ^ Fragomeni, Carmela (June 10, 2016). "Councillors reserve judgment on review of city's ward boundaries". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  28. ^ Van Dongen, Matthew (November 17, 2016). "Hamilton councillors reject ranked ballot voting". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Van Dongen, Matthew (January 24, 2017). "Skelly gets herself in a bind over library budget talk; Margaret Atwood weighs in on social media uproar against councillor". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  30. ^ D'Amatp, Luisa (April 28, 2017). "Hamilton politician has some nerve, calling any other place unattractive: D'Amato". The Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  31. ^ Werner, Kevin (August 2, 2017). "Flamborough-Glanbrook provincial Tory nomination up in the air". Hamilton Mountain News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  32. ^ Bowes, Gord (September 25, 2017). "Donna Skelly seeking provincial office again". Hamilton Mountain News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  33. ^ Werner, Kevin (October 5, 2017). "Hamilton Mountain Coun. Donna Skelly acclaimed as Tory candidate for Flamborough-Glanbrook". Hamilton Mountain News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  34. ^ Christie, Mac (February 26, 2018). "Flamborough-Glanbrook PC candidate Skelly to support Christine Elliott in leadership race". Flamborough Review. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Craggs, Samantha (May 29, 2018). "PC candidate draws fire after holding hat associated with controversial right-wing website". CBC Hamilton. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Ontario PC Candidate Promoted Alt-Right Website Linked to Hate Figures at Young Conservative Event". PressProgress. May 28, 2018. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  37. ^ "Donna Skelly appoint parliamentary assistant to ec-dev minister in Ford cabinet". The Hamilton Spectator. June 29, 2018.
  38. ^ "Hamilton MPP launches website to help small businesses amid pandemic". The Hamilton Spectator. January 14, 2021. ISSN 1189-9417. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  39. ^ "PC Donna Skelly is re-elected in Flamborough—Glanbrook". Toronto Star. June 2, 2022. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  40. ^ Christie, Mac (March 19, 2023). "'A massive win': Flamborough's Carmeuse Lime withdraws controversial application". Flamborough Review. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  41. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
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