Sylvia Jones

Sylvia Jones MPP (born c. 1965) is a Canadian politician who has served as the deputy premier of Ontario and minister of health since June 24, 2022. Jones sits as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Dufferin—Caledon, representing the Progressive Conservative (PC) party, and has held her seat since she was first elected following the 2007 general election. She joined the provincial cabinet after the PCs formed government in 2018, and has been successively the minister of tourism, culture and sport, the minister of community safety and correctional services, and the solicitor general of Ontario.

The Honourable Sylvia Jones MPP
Jones in 2024
12th Deputy Premier of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office June 24, 2022
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Christine Elliott
Minister of Health
Incumbent
Assumed office June 24, 2022
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Christine Elliott
Solicitor General of Ontario[a]
In office November 5, 2018 – June 24, 2022
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Michael Tibollo
Succeeded by	Michael Kerzner
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
In office June 29, 2018 – November 5, 2018
Premier	Doug Ford
Preceded by	Daiene Vernile
Succeeded by	Michael Tibollo
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Dufferin—Caledon
Incumbent
Assumed office October 10, 2007
Preceded by	Riding established
Personal details
Born	1965 (age 59–60)
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	David Gillies
Children	2
Residence	Dufferin County
Occupation	Politician executive assistant

Background

Jones grew up on her family's farm. She attended Fanshawe College, where she received a diploma in radio broadcasting. She worked as an executive assistant for former PC party leader John Tory. She and her husband David live in Dufferin County and are the parents of two children.^[2]

Politics

Jones ran in the 2007 provincial election as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the new riding of Dufferin—Caledon. She was re-elected in 2011 and 2014.^[3][4] The Ontario PCs were in opposition from the time of Jones' election to the 2018 provincial election.

In opposition

During her time in opposition, Jones introduced several private member's bills. These include the Protecting Vulnerable People Against Picketing Act, Criminal Record Checks for Volunteers Act, Social Assistance Statute Law Amendment Act, and the Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act. Only the Aggregate Recycling Promotion Act in 2014 made it past first reading. The bill made it to third reading before it died on the order paper when the 2014 election was called.^[5] Another private member's, Bill 94, which would have ensured that Ontario Disability Support Program payments could not be scaled back as a result of Registered Disability Support Program contributions, was eventually adopted by the Liberal government through regulation.

She was named the co-deputy leader on September 10, 2015 following a shadow cabinet shuffle.

In government

The Ontario PC Party formed government following the 2018 election, with newly elected Premier Doug Ford appointing Jones as the minister of tourism, culture and sport.^[6] In November, Jones took over as the minister of community safety and correctional services role.^[7] Her title was changed to Solicitor General in April 2019 and the name of her ministry was also restored to Ministry of the Solicitor General, as it had been prior to 2002.^[8]

As Solicitor General, Jones played a role in the PC government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, as the mandate of her portfolio includes overseeing policing and law enforcement.

COVID-19

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario

Amid growing case numbers in 2021, the government moved to introduce a third province-wide shutdown. As part of the response, Jones announced on April 16, 2021 that she would be authorizing police and bylaw enforcement to require anyone who is not in a private residence to explain why they’re not at home and provide their home address, as well as pull people over while driving to ask why they are not at home.^[9] The regulations raised concerns about a re-legalization of carding.^[10] Indeed, the government experienced significant backlash with the new enforcement measures, with some commentators – such as the National Post's Randall Denley, a former PC party nominated candidate^[11] – equating the province to a "police state".^[12] After 21 police services across the province announced that they would refuse to enforce the new measures,^[13] and round criticism in the media, Jones' government promptly amended the new regulation the next day and rescinded the new enforcement powers.^[14]

Minister of Health and Deputy Premier

Following the 2022 provincial election, Premier Ford named Jones as the new deputy premier and minister of health, replacing Christine Elliott, who did not seek re-election.^[15][16]

Cabinet Posts

Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford

Electoral history

v t e 2022 Ontario general election: Dufferin—Caledon
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Sylvia Jones	22,911	49.67	−3.42
	Liberal	Bob Gordanier	8,678	18.81	+6.35
	Green	Laura Campbell	6,518	14.13	+1.60
	New Democratic	Tess Prendergast	4,967	10.77	−9.57
	New Blue	Andrea Banyai	2,280	4.94
	Ontario Party	Lily Nguyen	589	1.28
	Moderate	Erickumar Emmanuel	105	0.23
	Public Benefit	Kay Sayer	79	0.17
Total valid votes			46,127	100.0
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots			246
Turnout			46,373	42.07
Eligible voters			109,942
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		−4.88
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	Sylvia Jones	29,702	53.08	+13.22
	New Democratic	Andrea Mullarkey	11,381	20.34	+8.68
	Green	Laura Campbell	7,011	12.53	-4.10
	Liberal	Bob Gordanier	6,972	12.46	-18.20
	Libertarian	Jeff Harris	430	0.78	-0.41
	Consensus Ontario	Stephen McKendrick	301	0.54	+0.54
	Trillium	Andrew Nowell	157	0.28	+0.28
Total valid votes			55,956	100.00
Turnout			55,956	58.55
Eligible voters			95,569
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		+13.22
Source: Elections Ontario[17]

2014 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Sylvia Jones	18,017	39.86	-7.09
	Liberal	Bobbie Daid	13,861	30.66	+3.91
	Green	Karren Wallace	7,518	16.63	+2.05
	New Democratic	Rehya Yazbek	5,269	11.66	+0.60
	Libertarian	Daniel Kowalewski	538	1.19	+0.53
Total valid votes			45,203	100.00
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		-5.50
Source: Elections Ontario[18]

2011 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Sylvia Jones	17,833	46.95	+5.12
	Liberal	Lori Holloway	10,162	26.75	-5.27
	Green	Rob Strang	5,540	14.58	-1.71
	New Democratic	Karen Gventer	4,200	11.06	+1.20
	Libertarian	Daniel Kowalewski	250	0.66
Total valid votes			37,985	100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			166	0.44
Turnout			38,151	47.74
Eligible voters			79,918
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		+5.20
Source: Elections Ontario[19]

2007 Ontario general election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Sylvia Jones	16,508	41.83	−22.93
	Liberal	Betsy Hall	12,636	32.02	+3.19
	Green	Rob Strang	6,429	16.29	+13.84
	New Democratic	Lynda McDougall	3,891	9.86	+5.89
Total valid votes			39,464	100.0

Notes

1. The position was known as the minister of community safety and correctional services until the title solicitor general was restored on April 4, 2019.^[1]