Jeff Burch
MPP
Caucus Chair of the Ontario New Democratic Party
Assumed office
July 13, 2022
LeaderPeter Tabuns (interim)
Critic, Municipal Affairs
Assumed office
September 6, 2018
LeaderAndrea Horwath and Peter Tabuns (interim)
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Niagara Centre
Assumed office
June 7, 2018
Preceded byCindy Forster
Personal details
Political partyNew Democratic
Residence(s)Thorold, Ontario
OccupationNon profit executive director / CEO, President of Steel Workers Union

Jeff Burch is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[1] He represents the electoral district of Niagara Centre as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party.

Prior to his election to the legislature Burch was the executive director of Niagara Folk Arts, a non–profit social services agency, and served as city councillor for Merritton Ward for St. Catharines City Council.

Background

Jeff Burch is a graduate from Brock University, with an honours BA in philosophy. Burch then spent three years as a graduate student and teaching assistant at Brock, teaching seminars in social issues and women's studies. He left his studies in 1996 after being elected president of a United Steelworkers local union.[2]

Politics

Burch ran as the Ontario New Democratic Party's candidate in St. Catharines in 1995, losing to Liberal Jim Bradley.[citation needed] He was elected as a city councillor in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 2006. He served from 2006 to 2014, including four years as budget chair.[3] He ran for mayor of St. Catharines in 2014, losing to Walter Sendzik by fewer than 2000 votes.

In February 2018, Burch won the NDP nomination in Niagara Centre.[4] The riding has been an NDP stronghold for 44 years[citation needed] with Mel Swart, Peter Kormos and Cindy Forster holding the seat. On June 8, 2019, Burch won the seat.[5] Burch currently serves as the Official Opposition critic for Municipal Affairs.[6]

Three months after his election in 2018, he scored a major victory by winning unanimous support for his motion to bring two-way all-day GO Transit rail service to Niagara.[7]

Electoral record

2022 Ontario general election: Niagara Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Jeff Burch 16,360 39.70 -4.53
Progressive Conservative Fred Davies 15,506 37.64 +0.13
Liberal Terry Flynn 5,492 13.33 +1.51
Green Michelle McArthur 1,865 4.52 +0.83
New Blue Gary Dumelie 1,148 2.78
Ontario Party Vincent Gircys 837 2.03
Total valid votes 41,208 99.53 +0.90
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 194 0.47 -0.90
Turnout 41,402 43.33 -12.80
Eligible voters 95,540
New Democratic hold Swing
Source: Elections Ontario[8]
2018 Ontario general election: Niagara Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Jeff Burch 21,618 44.23 −3.65
Progressive Conservative April Jeffs 18,333 37.51 +10.87
Liberal Benoit Mercier 5,779 11.82 −8.60
Green Joe Dias 1,803 3.69 −0.34
None of the Above Joe Crawford 623 1.27
Libertarian Patrick Pietruszko 368 0.75 −0.27
Independent Steve Soos 217 0.44
People's Political Party Dario Smagata-Bryan 133 0.27
Total valid votes 48,874 98.63
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 680 1.37
Turnout 49,554 56.13
Eligible voters 88,287
New Democratic hold Swing -7.26
Source: Elections Ontario[9]

2014 St. Catharines Mayoral Election

Mayoral Candidate [10] Vote %
Walter Sendzik 13,147 40.19
Jeff Burch 11,321 34.61
Peter Secord 6,571 20.09
Mark Stevens 1,135 3.47
Jim Fannon 535 1.64

2010 St. Catharines City Council Election - Ward 1 - Merriton

Candidate Total votes % of total vote
Jennie Stevens (X) 2,294 32.96%
Jeff Burch (X) 2,064 29.66%
David Haywood 1,134 16.29%
Garry Robbins 817 11.74%
Sam Sacco 491 7.05%
Cameron Alderdice 160 2.30%
Total valid votes 6,960 100.00

2006 St. Catharines City Council Election - Ward 1 - Meritton

Candidate Total votes % of total vote
Jeff Burch 2857 33.01%
Jennie Stevens (X) 2849 32.92%
Sheila Morra (X) 2049 23.68%
Robbie Craine 899 10.39%
Total valid votes 6,960 100.00

References

  1. ^ "Blue wave stops in Niagara ". Niagara This Week, June 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Jeff Burch". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  3. ^ Johnson, Nathaniel (2018-06-05). "Provincial election: Niagara Centre riding profile". StCatharinesStandard.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  4. ^ Média, Bell. "Jeff Burch wins NDP nomination in Niagara Centre". www.iheartradio.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  5. ^ Johnson, Nathaniel (2018-06-07). "Burch maintains NDP dynasty". StCatharinesStandard.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  6. ^ "Jeff Burch | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  7. ^ Benner, Allan (2018-09-28). "Province commits to 2023 for GO train". StCatharinesStandard.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  8. ^ "Niagara Centre Election Night Results/Résultats du soir de l'élection pour Niagara-Centre". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Election Results". Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-10-29.
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