Michael Kerzner

The Honourable
Michael Kerzner
ECO MPP
Kerzner in 2024
Solicitor General of Ontario
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded bySylvia Jones
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for York Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 2, 2022
Preceded byRoman Baber
Personal details
BornMichael Shawn Kerzner
PartyProgressive Conservative
SpouseRochelle Kerzner
EducationYork University
ProfessionPolitician, Businessman

Michael Shawn Kerzner ECO MPP is a Canadian politician who was in June 2022 named Solicitor General of Ontario. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2022 provincial election. He represents the riding of York Centre as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.[1]

Biography

Kerzner is Jewish.[2] His parents are Max and Dolly Kerzner.[2] His father was a chartered accountant.[2] His father's parents, Sam and Sarah Kerzner, emigrated to Canada in 1930 from Stopnica, Poland.[2] Everyone in his grandfather's family was killed during the Holocaust.[2] His maternal grandfather, Murray Penwick, was born in Toronto where he opened a pharmacy.[2] His maternal grandmother, Tilly Penwick, is from England, and emigrated to Canada in her youth.[2]

Kerzner attended York University, graduating with a B.A. (Hons.) in 1986.[2] After university he worked in the construction business, building commercial buildings, and then in 2015 started doing genetic testing at DNALabs Canada.[2] He is a bioscience and technology entrepreneur.[3] He lives in York Centre.[4]

Kerzner succeeded to the seat of independent MPP Roman Baber. Baber had been elected as a Progressive Conservative but was expelled from the PC caucus on January 15, 2021, for his COVID-19 lockdown stances. It was expected that Baber would run against Kerzner in the general election, but Baber instead opted to run in the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race.[5][6]

On June 24, 2022, Kerzner was named Solicitor General of Ontario by Premier Doug Ford.[7]

Politics

Kerzner faced criticism in February 2023 when a member of his staff posted a series of joyful selfies in a provincial jail. Criticism centred on the lack of professionalism, trivialization of incarceration and questions on how a member of Kerzner's staff was able to access a photography-restricted area and take photos.[8]

In April 2026, Kerzner drew criticism after it was revealed that 157 inmates had been improperly released from Ontario correctional facilities between 2021 and 2025 during his tenure as solicitor general. After incorrectly telling the legislature that all had been immediately re-apprehended, despite records showing some remained at large for months, Kerzner apologized and claimed he had meant that police were notified immediately. Opposition parties accused him of misleading the legislature and called for his resignation.[9]

In April 2026, Kerzner came under scrutiny after government records revealed that his office had sought a taxpayer-funded replacement for his government SUV after it was stolen and damaged, insisting on a three-row vehicle SUV with staff rejected smaller and more affordable options. Interim Ontario Liberal leader John Fraser accused Kerzner of focusing on "his personal needs for his government vehicle" instead of addressing failures within the correctional system.[10]

In May 2026 Kerzner tabled an omnibus bill that would grant him the power direct police boards. Opposition parties and civil liberties advocates raised serious concerns that the legislation blurred the separation between elected officials and police oversight bodies, warning that government-directed priorities could undermine public confidence in police accountability.[11]

Electoral history

2025 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMichael Kerzner16,41654.06+8.03
LiberalSam Nestico10,82335.64+3.70
New DemocraticNatalie Van Halteren1,7005.60–8.39
GreenCourtney Martin6582.17–0.67
New BlueJohnny Blythe3091.02–0.44
Special NeedsLionel Poizner2120.70+0.26
PopulistJeffrey Anisman1400.46N/A
ModerateParviz Isgandadrov1110.37+0.09
Total valid votes 30,36998.88+0.07
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 3451.12–0.07
Turnout 30,71439.67+0.73
Eligible voters 76,546
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +2.17
Source: Elections Ontario[12][13]
2022 Ontario general election: York Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeMichael Kerzner12,94746.03−4.12$79,866
LiberalShelley Brown8,98431.94+10.54$74,566
New DemocraticFrank Chu3,93513.99−9.45$16,511
GreenAlison Lowney7992.84+0.55$0
Ontario PartyNick Balaskas6792.41 $988
New BlueDon Pincivero4111.46 $0
None of the AboveMark Dewdney1690.60−0.67$0
Special NeedsLionel Wayne Poizner1240.44 $0
ModerateParviz Isgandarov800.28−0.09$780
Total valid votes/expense limit 28,12898.81+0.30$102,341
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 3391.19-0.30
Turnout 28,46738.94-13.98
Eligible voters 72,576
Progressive Conservative gain from Independent Swing −7.33
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. ↑ Andrew Palamarchuk (June 2, 2022). "PC candidate Michael Kerzner wins York Centre riding". Toronto.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Michael Kerzner - JRCC.org".
  3. ↑ "This is who's in and who's out of Doug Ford's cabinet". CP24. June 24, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Experience Ontario Grant Opportunities". April 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "What will Roman Baber's next move be as an independent Ontario MPP? York Centre candidates and voters await the answer". January 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber to enter Conservative leadership race". March 9, 2022.
  7. ↑ Jones, Allison (June 24, 2022). "Ford names new cabinet, with Jones as health minister and a role for his nephew". CP24. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ Nanji, Sabrina (February 23, 2023). "Prison break: SolGen staffer sorry for jail cell selfies". Queen's Park Observer. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  9. ↑ Casey, Liam (April 21, 2026). "Ontario's solicitor general apologizes for being 'imprecise' about catching improperly released inmates". CBC. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  10. ↑ Callan, Isaac (April 23, 2026). "Ontario solicitor general sought 3-row, 8-seat replacement after vehicle stolen". Global News. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  11. ↑ Casey, Liam (May 27, 2026). "Ontario's solicitor general defends new powers to direct police boards". CityNews. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Candidates in: York Centre (120)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Vote Totals From Official Tabulation" (PDF). Elections Ontario. March 3, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
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