Lindsey Park
Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General
In office
June 29, 2018 – October 1, 2021
MinisterCaroline Mulroney
Doug Downey
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Durham
In office
June 7, 2018 – May 3, 2022[1]
Preceded byGranville Anderson
Succeeded byTodd McCarthy
Personal details
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Progressive Conservative (2017–2021)
ParentJim Park
Alma materWayne State University, University of Ottawa
OccupationLawyer

Lindsey E. Park[2] is a Canadian politician from Ontario. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election[3] to represents the riding of Durham, initially as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario before resigning from the caucus in October 2021.[4] She sat as an independent MPP for the remainder of her term and did not seek re-election in the 2022 election.

Background

Park is the daughter of former professional hockey goalie Jim Park. She grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, and earned a Bachelor of Science at Wayne State University, where she was a goaltender for the NCAA Division I Wayne State Warriors women's ice hockey team, finishing her collegiate career in 2010 as Wayne State's then-all-time leader in career save percentage (.912) and goals-against average.[5][6] She later studied law at the University of Ottawa, where she got her start in politics working for then-Thornhill MP and Minister of the Environment Peter Kent,[7] and then practiced civil litigation in Durham Region.[5]

Politics

Park was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Progressive Conservative MPP in the 2018 provincial election for the electoral district of Durham on June 7, 2018.

On June 29, 2018, Park was named parliamentary assistant to the attorney general, Caroline Mulroney.[8]

On October 1, 2021, Park was removed from her role as parliamentary assistant to the attorney general after the government house leader Paul Calandra alleged that Park had "misrepresented her vaccination status".[9]

On October 22, 2021, Park released a statement denying Calandra's claim and accusing him of issuing a "false statement". Citing a "breakdown in trust", Park also announced her resignation from the Progressive Conservative Party caucus.[10] Park did not seek re-election in 2022.

Golden Girls Act, 2019

MPP Park’s Golden Girls Act, 2019 advocated for reducing barriers for seniors who want to co-live in a “Golden Girls” style housing arrangement. It passed 2nd reading in the Ontario Legislature with all party support but did not pass into law before the end of the 42nd Parliament. [11]

Support for Nuclear Energy

In 2020, Park introduced a motion that called on the Ontario government to add the next generation of nuclear technology known as Small Modular Reactors to its environment and energy plans and policies. Since the motion passed, the Ontario government has announced they are supporting the building of 4 Small Modular Reactors in the province at the Darlington site. [12]

Strategy to Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation

Park introduced the Connected Communities Act, 2022 calling on the government to implement a strategy to reduce loneliness and social isolation that would need to be updated every 5 years. This bill passed 2nd reading with all party support but did not pass into law before the end of the 42nd Parliament.[13]

Electoral record

2018 Ontario general election: Durham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Lindsey Park 28,575 46.99 +14.38
New Democratic Joel Usher 19,253 31.66 +3.22
Liberal Granville Anderson 10,237 16.84 −17.35
Green Michelle Corbett 2,360 3.88 −0.05
Libertarian Ryan Robinson 382 0.63
Total valid votes 60,807 99.01  
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 609 0.99
Turnout 61,416 59.94
Eligible voters 102,471
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +15.87
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 16 January 2019.

References

  1. ^ "Lindsey Park". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 7 June 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  2. ^ @TheOFIFC (February 9, 2023). "Today friendship centre workers from across Ontario came to #QueensPark to tour the provincial legislature. Our Chief Engagement Officer, and former MPP, @SuzeMorrison, finally got to see her name carved into the marble wall!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ O'Meara, Jennifer (June 7, 2018). "Park says she will represent Durham at Queen's Park, not the other way around". Clarington This Week. Metroland Media Group.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Rob; Benzie, Robert (October 22, 2021). "Progressive Conservative MPP who 'misrepresented' her COVID-19 vaccination status resigns from caucus". Toronto Star. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b O'Meara, Jennifer (June 29, 2017). "Lindsey Park wins the Durham provincial Conservative nomination". Clarington This Week. Metroland Media Group.
  6. ^ "Lindsey Park - Women's Ice Hockey". Wsuathletics.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  7. ^ O'Meara, Jennifer (13 June 2018). "Conservative MPP Lindsey Park pledges to fight for Durham". Clarington This Week. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Premier Ford Announces Parliamentary Assistant Assignments as Part of Ontario's Government for the People". Ontario Newsroom. Queen's Printer for Ontario. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Durham MPP Lindsey Park loses parliamentary assistant role after vaccination status "misrepresented"". Durham Radio News. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
  10. ^ "Durham MPP resigns from PC caucus, disputes she misrepresented vaccination status". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Golden Girls Act would pave way for Ontario seniors to co-live". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  12. ^ "MPP Lindsey Park's Motion Supporting Nuclear Energy". TorStar. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Bill 104, Connected Communities Act, 2022". Retrieved 6 April 2022.
Categories