Lee Fairclough

Lee Fairclough
MPP
Fairclough in 2025
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 27, 2025
Preceded byChristine Hogarth
Personal details
Born (1973-06-02) June 2, 1973
PartyOntario Liberal
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Health administrator
Website

Lee Fairclough MPP (born June 2, 1973) is a Canadian politician who has served as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Etobicoke—Lakeshore since 2025. A member of the Ontario Liberal Party, she is a candidate in the 2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election.

Before entering politics, Fairclough worked for more than two decades in Ontario's health system as a medical radiation therapist, hospital executive, and health-quality leader, including as president of St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener (2019–2022) and as senior vice-president of clinical care at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Since September 2025 she has served as the Liberal critic for hospitals, mental health, and addictions and homelessness.[1][2]

Early Life and education

Fairclough's parents, Valerie and Neville Fairclough, immigrated to Canada from England in 1967. They first settled in Etobicoke, then moved to Southampton, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Huron during Fairclough's pre-teen years, before moving to Scarborough, Ontario, where she attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute.[3]

Valerie Fairclough taught high school art and English while Neville Fairclough worked as an engineer on nuclear projects for Ontario Hydro.[4][5] In her inaugural speech, Fairclough said her father eventually led construction of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.[6]

Fairclough has a Master's degree in Health Sciences (MHSc) from the University of Toronto, an undergraduate degree in biology and mathematics (BSc) from McMaster University, and is a certified Medical Radiation Therapy Technologist (MRTT) trained at the University of Waterloo. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.[7]

Fairclough was a competitive swimmer for many years including as a Varsity Swimmer for McMaster. After university, Fairclough was a member of the Canada women's national rugby union team from 1995 to 1998.[8] She represented Canada at the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup in Amsterdam.[6]

Since 2001, Fairclough has lived in Etobicoke—Lakeshore, where she and her husband raise two children.[9]

Career

She began her medical career as a medical radiation therapist at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, subsequently moving to several roles within Princess Margaret and the University Health Network. She moved to Health Quality Ontario in 2014 as vice president of quality improvement, and in 2018 also served as interim executive lead to establish the newly announced Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence.[10]

She was appointed president of St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener in 2019.[11] She stepped down from that job to run in Etobicoke—Lakeshore in the 2022 Ontario general election. She subsequently served as senior vice-president of clinical care at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health[12] until the 2025 election when she ran again in Etobicoke—Lakeshore defeating Hogarth.

Political career

2022 and 2025 elections

Fairclough first sought election in Etobicoke—Lakeshore in the 2022 Ontario general election, resigning as president of St. Mary's to run.[13] She was defeated by Progressive Conservative incumbent Christine Hogarth, despite an endorsement from the Not One Seat movement.[14]

She ran again in the 2025 Ontario general election and defeated Hogarth, taking the seat with 25,195 votes (48.5 percent).[15] During the campaign she was endorsed by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO).[16]

Legislative roles

Fairclough has served on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts since April 29, 2025, and as second vice-chair since May 5, 2025.[17]

On September 2, 2025, she was appointed Ontario Liberal critic for hospitals, mental health, and addictions and homelessness.[18]

In the 44th Parliament she has sponsored or co-sponsored private members' legislation including the Homelessness Ends with Housing Act, 2025 (Bill 28) and the Stop Harmful Gambling Advertising Act, 2026 (Bill 107).[19]

2026 leadership campaign

On May 8, 2026, Fairclough announced her candidacy in the 2026 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, campaigning under the slogan "Fighting for a Better Ontario".[20][21] Media coverage has noted that she is among the candidates already serving as an MPP at Queen's Park.[22]

At launch she had the support of caucus colleagues Ted Hsu and Lucille Collard, and of former deputy premier Deb Matthews.[23] In May 2026, Stephanie Smyth endorsed Fairclough, joining Hsu and Collard among Liberal MPPs backing her bid;[24] Tyler Watt later became a fourth caucus endorser.[25]

Awards

Fairclough was presented with the University of Toronto Arbor Award in 2019, a recognition "given to individuals who are exemplary in their dedication and service to the community."[26]

In 2022, Fairclough was awarded the YWCA Cambridge Women of Distinction Awards' "The Courage of COVID" for her role at St. Mary's Hospital managing the COVID-19 pandemic in her region.[27]

Electoral record

2025 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalLee Fairclough25,19548.5+12.8$116,832
Progressive ConservativeChristine Hogarth21,05040.5+3.0$57,177
New DemocraticRozhen Asrani3,6407.0–10.9$49,230
GreenSean McClocklin1,2182.4–2.5$0
New BlueTony Siskos4520.9–2.5$0
ModerateLarisa Berson2040.4N/A$0
None of the AboveVitas Naudziunas1650.3–0.1$0
Total valid votes/expense limit 51,92499.3–0.17$180,091
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 3650.70–0.17
Turnout 52,28946.75+1.4
Eligible voters 111,858
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +4.9
Source: Elections Ontario[28][29]
2022 Ontario general election: Etobicoke—Lakeshore
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeChristine Hogarth17,97837.48−0.87$75,837
LiberalLee Fairclough17,13635.73+11.48$88,272
New DemocraticFarheen Alim8,59517.92−14.97$68,196
GreenThomas Yanuziello2,2784.75+1.13$1,471
New BlueMary Markovic1,6123.36 $4,739
IndependentBill Denning1860.39 $460
None of the AboveVitas Naudziunas1810.38 $0
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,96699.47+0.40$149,099
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 2550.53−0.40
Turnout 48,22145.28−13.33
Eligible voters 105,778
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −6.17
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.

References

  1. ↑ "Current MPPs". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ Casaletto, Lucas (May 8, 2026). "Lee Fairclough launches Ontario Liberal leadership bid, promising healthcare reform". CityNews. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  3. ↑ Official Report of Debates. . Hansard No. 3, 16 April 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Official Report of Debates. . Hansard No. 3, 16 April 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Peter Stevens-Guille (December 1985). "Impressions of Nuclear Plant Design and Construction Methods in Japan". Canadian Nuclear Society Bulletin, Vol. 6, No. 6. . Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Official Report of Debates (Hansard)". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Ontario. April 16, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Faculty Directory, Lee Fairclough". Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. University of Toronto. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ Pare, Mark (April 2, 2020). "COVID 19: Town Hall". St. Joseph's Health System. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Inaugural Speech as MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore April 16th 2025. leefaircloughmpp.ca. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Innovation Fund Showcase 2019, Lee Fairclough". The Innovation Fund Provincial Oversight Committee. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ Johanna Weidner. "St. Mary's finds new hospital president". Waterloo Region Record, October 10, 2019.
  12. ↑ "CAMH Annual Report 2024–2025" (PDF). CAMH. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Kitchener hospital president Lee Fairclough resigns post to run in provincial election". CBC News. April 5, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  14. ↑ Ellis, Timothy (May 31, 2022). "Not One Seat announces third and final wave of Unity candidates". Not One Seat. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Vote Totals From Official Tabulation". Elections Ontario. March 3, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ "President's Memo February 5, 2025 – Provincial Election and Endorsed Candidates". Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. February 5, 2025. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Current MPPs". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Lee Fairclough, MPP". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Lee Fairclough, MPP". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ Casaletto, Lucas (May 8, 2026). "Lee Fairclough launches Ontario Liberal leadership bid, promising healthcare reform". CityNews. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Candidates". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ "What is happening with the Ontario Liberal leadership race?". The London Free Press. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Ontario Liberal MPP from Etobicoke enters leadership race". CP24. May 8, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ Stone, Laura (May 21, 2026). "Ontario Liberal leadership race heats up as Stephanie Smyth endorses Lee Fairclough". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Ontario Liberal Leadership candidate gains another caucus endorsement". Global News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ "An ambassador for IHPME, alumna and health care leader Lee Fairclough wins U of T Arbor Award". University of Toronto. October 25, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ Matt Betts. (June 15, 2022). "YWCA Cambridge Women of Distinction Awards: Lee Fairclough". Cambridge Times. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Vote Totals From Official Tabulation" (PDF). Elections Ontario. March 3, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Financial Statements". Elections Ontario. August 27, 2025. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.