John Baird (Canadian politician)
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Image:ONOttawaWestJoh0Baird.jpgJohn Russell Baird, PC (born May 26, 1969) is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for Ottawa West—Nepean in the 2006 federal election, and currently serves in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper as President of the Treasury Board. He previously served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2005, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. Baird is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
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Early life and career
Baird was born in Ottawa, Ontario, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Studies from Queen's University in Kingston in 1992. He was president of the youth wing of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party in the late 1980s, and supported Dennis Timbrell in his two unsuccessful bids to lead the provincial party in 1985. At age sixteen, Baird was the youngest delegate to attend the party's January 1985 leadership convention.Template:Ref During the 1988 federal election, he said that he was charged with trespassing after he tried to question Ontario Ontario Premier David Peterson about free trade with the United States at a Liberal campaign stop in a Kingston shopping mall.Template:Ref
Baird worked on the political staff of Perrin Beatty when he was federal Minister of National Defence in the early 1990s, and followed Beatty through subsequent cabinet shifts culminating in his becoming Secretary of State for External Affairs in the short-lived government of Kim Campbell. After the defeat of the federal Progressive Conservative government in the 1993 federal election, Baird worked as a lobbyist in Ottawa.Template:Ref
Provincial politics
Government backbencher
While Baird had previously been associated with Red Tories such as Timbrell and Beatty, upon entering provincial politics he aligned himself with the more right-wing ideology of the Mike Harris-led Ontario PC party. He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 election, defeating Liberal incumbent Hans Daigeler in the Ottawa-area division of Nepean. He was the youngest member of the legislature. Baird was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Labour on July 13, 1995.
Baird made a number of controversial statements early in his legislative career. In 1995, when the mother of a severely disabled five-year-old child was ejected from the legislature for protesting the Harris government's cutbacks, Baird shouted "She's an OPSEU [Ontario Public Service Employees Union] member" from his legislative seat as many as three times. Some considered this to be a cavalier insult, and his seatmate Chris Stockwell later recalled that he told Baird to "shut the ---- up" after the last such occurrence.Template:Ref Baird said his comments were taken out of context, and that he was responding to a question about the woman's employment. He offered an unconditional apology to anyone who took offense.Template:Ref On another occasion, during a televised debate in early 1996, Baird acknowledged that his government's privatization policies would likely result in lower wages for workers, but argued this would be balanced out by lower prices for consumers.Template:Ref
He was promoted to parliamentary assistant to Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet in April 1997, and was named assistant to the Minister of Finance in November of the same year. As a backbencher, Baird proposed a bill officially naming the 416 the "Veterans' Memorial Highway" and obtained its passage through the legislature.Template:Ref He was re-elected without difficulty in 1999.
Community and Social Services minister
Baird joined Premier Harris's cabinet on June 17, 1999 as Minister of Community and Social Services, where he became responsible for implementing and expanding Ontario's workfare program. As one of Harris's few bilingual ministers, he also became Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs.
1999
Baird's tenure in the Harris cabinet was marked by controversy. His first press conference as a cabinet minister was held in July 1999, and was intended to highlight his government's record in reducing the provincial welfare rolls. The new minister asserted that 15,000 people had left the system since the introduction of workfare, and argued that the policy was a success. He was unable to provide information on the number of workfare recipients who actually found employment, however, and was unable to account for 40% of the welfare recipients who had been cut from the list.Template:Ref The press conference received largely negative reviews, and a number of media reports subsequently criticized both the principle and the implementation of workfare in Ontario. One political columnist, Ian Urquhart, described the program as "largely a fraud".Template:Ref
A September 1999 report from Baird's department showed that 10,600 workfare placements had been created in the first six months of 1999, a figure which the Toronto Star noted was significantly lower than that predicted by the government.Template:Ref Baird announced that his government would continue with the program, and that the proportion of welfare recipients on workfare would be increased from 15% to 30%.Template:Ref
In late 1999, Baird came under criticism for refusing to cancel a five-year contract worth up to $180 million between his department and the Bermuda-based private firm Andersen Consulting (later known as Accenture). The contract, signed when Janet Ecker was Community and Social Services minister, entrusted Andersen with providing technological upgrades to the province's welfare management system. This arrangement was criticized by Auditor General Erik Peters, who observed that there was nothing in the contract to prevent the firm from increasing its hourly rates.Template:Ref A published report in early 2000 indicated that Andersen was charging an average of $257 per hour for work that had previously been done by ministry staff at $51 per hour,Template:Ref while another report indicated that the firm had charged a total of $55 million to find roughly $66 million worth of savings.Template:Ref In response to opposition questions, Baird said that he planned to negotiate a lower rate but would not terminate the contract.Template:Ref
Baird opposed the Harris government's plan to amalgamate the city of Ottawa with suburban municipalities in 1999, but was unable to prevent the policy from passing the legislature.Template:Ref
2000
In early 2000, Baird unveiled a series of initiatives designed to reduce fraud and misuse in the welfare system, including a welfare fraud hotline.Template:Ref In April, he further announced that anyone convicted of welfare fraud would run the risk of receiving a lifetime ban from the program.Template:Ref Critics argued that the Harris government was overstating the extent of fraud to undermine public confidence in welfare programs.Template:Ref In mid-year, Baird announced that workfare placements had reached departmental quotas in most of the province.Template:Ref
In May 2000, Baird announced a $50 million program to help people with developmental disabilities live in their communities.Template:Ref Later in the year, he announced that the province was considering closing its remaining three institutions for the mentally handicapped as part of a larger strategy focusing on home care. Baird expressed concern about the physical condition of these institutions, and was quoted as saying that their residents "deserve better".Template:Ref
During the summer of 2000, Baird's department produced a four-page brochure promoting his government's record of welfare reform. The work cost $780,000, and was criticized by opposition members as a waste of government expenditures.Template:Ref Later in the year, Baird announced that his department would spend $26 million on shelters and other funding for the homeless. This was praised as a positive first step, although opposition members criticized the plan for not providing for investment in affordable housing.Template:Ref
Drug testing policy
Baird supported mandatory drug-testing for welfare recipients in this period, and suggested that those who refused such tests could have their funding cut off. He introduced a policy initiative to this effect at a press conference in late 2000, during which he dramatically reached into a box of (inactive) syringes and cast them onto the floor. He was quoted as saying that his department planned to "stop people from shooting their welfare cheque up their arm, and to help them shoot up the ladder of success". Baird acknowledged that his department did not have reliable figures on the number of welfare recepients abusing drugs, though he cited estimates of between 4% and 10%.Template:Ref
The proposal was met with criticism from several sources. Ontario Human Rights Commissioner Keith Norton, himself a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, expressed concern that it could violate civil liberties.Template:Ref The tone of Baird's announcement was also criticized, with the Toronto Star accusing him of "doing his utmost [...] to incite fear and loathing of the poor, doubling the stigma the most vulnerable in society bear".Template:Ref When campaigning for federal office five years later, Baird acknowledged that the syringe event demonstrated "immature judgement".Template:Ref
Shortly after Baird's policy announcement, a government website operated by the Community and Social Services ministry launched a partisan attack against Liberal Party leader Dalton McGuinty for opposing the drug testing plan. The site claimed that McGuinty was "opposed to helping welfare recipients who are addicted to drugs". Baird denied that the message was partisan, and initially refused to apologize.Template:Ref The Speaker of the Ontario Legislature subsequently ruled that the site content was inappropriate, and it was removed with an apology from the government.Template:Ref Some aspects of the drug-testing plan were scaled back in 2001 when legal complications surfaced.Template:Ref
2001-02
In early 2001, Baird announced that his government's drug-testing plan would be extended to welfare recipients addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol.Template:Ref He later announced that provincial welfare applicants would be required to pass a literacy test.Template:Ref
The Harris government's welfare policies were criticized in August 2001, when a pregnant woman in Sudbury died while serving a house arrest for welfare fraud. The woman had been confined to her apartment for three months, and reports indicate that her pregnancy was "exacerbated by sweltering conditions in her apartment". In response to criticism, Baird said that he could not comment on the specifics of the case until a coroner's inquest was completed.Template:Ref. He also defended his government's general policy direction.Template:Ref A subsequent inquest did not assign blame to the government for the woman's death, but recommended that lifetime bans for fraud be eliminated, and that adequate food, housing and medication be provided to anyone under house arrest.Template:Ref
On February 8, 2001, Baird was given additional responsibilities as Minister responsible for Children. His department increased funding for child services early in the year, amid a significant increase in provincial demand.Template:Ref Late in the year, a confidential government report recommending 40-45% cuts in provincial child-care programs was obtained by the provincial media. Baird initially declined to comment on the leaked document,Template:Ref but rejected its proposals in early 2002.Template:Ref
Chief Government Whip
Baird was the first cabinet minister to openly support Jim Flaherty's bid to succeed Mike Harris as Progressive Conservative Party leader in the party's 2002 leadership election.Template:Ref The election was won by Flaherty's rival Ernie Eves, and early media reports suggested that Baird would be dropped from the new premier's cabinet.Template:Ref He was instead demoted to the position of Chief Government Whip, while remaining associate minister for Francophone Affairs. His replacement in Social Services was Brenda Elliott, who was from the more centrist wing of the party.
Energy Minister
Baird was returned to a more prominent cabinet position in August 2002, when Eves separated the ministries of Environment and Energy and appointed him to lead the latter department. As Energy Minister, baird was initially entrusted with implementing the government's plan to sell off part of Ontario's Hydro One.Template:Ref A few months later, he was unexpectedly involved in two major and interrelated policy reversals on the subject.
The Energy ministry came under intense media scrutiny in late 2002, when hydro rates increased singificantly in many parts of the province. Critics asserted that the Progressive Conservative government's price deregulation policy (which was implemented before Baird became minister) was responsible for the rate hikes, although Baird initially argued that an unusually hot summer was to blame.Template:Ref Rates remained high through the autumn, and the Eves government was forced to re-regulate the market in November by introducing a price cap.Template:Ref The government continued to support deregulation in principle, but maintained the cap for the remainder of its term in office. The second and more fundamental reversal occurred in late January 2003, when Eves personally announced that Hydro One would remain under public control.Template:Ref
Baird was less combative as Energy Minister than he had been in Community and Social Services, and also demonstrated that he had a sense of humour. In November 2002, he was followed around by "Hydrozilla", a man in a giant lizard suit sent by the opposition New Democrats as a media stunt designed to highlight the NDP's position that deregulation of electricity rates would create a monster. At one point, when he was sure no cameras were around, Baird gave Hydrozilla a bear hug.Template:Ref
Although the energy policies of the Eves government were very controversial, opposition criticism was usually directed at the premier rather than his minister. In early March 2003, Baird announced that the government might be forced to implement rolling blackouts as a response to energy shortages.Template:Ref He encouraged conservation in late summer, after a serious province-wide blackout caused by a generator failure in America.Template:Ref
Baird was given additional responsibilities as Government House Leader in June 2003, when Chris Stockwell was forced to resign after allegations that he had used government funds for a family vacation.Template:Ref
Opposition member
The Liberal Party won a majority government in the 2003 election, although Baird had little difficulty retaining his own seat. Between 2003 and 2005, he served as Official Opposition critic for Finance, Culture, Francophone Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs and Health. He spoke out against the imposition of a health premium by Dalton McGuinty's government in 2004]Template:Ref and was also a vocal critic of Speaker Alvin Curling, at one point describing his job performance as an "absolute disgrace".Template:Ref
Baird co-chaired Jim Flaherty's second campaign to lead the Progressive Conservative party in the 2004. Flaherty was again defeated, losing on the second count to the more centrist John Tory.Template:Ref Both Baird and Flaherty subsequently chose to leave provincial politics in order to campaign for the federal House of Commons.
Although Baird was generally on the right-wing of the provincial Progressive Conservative Party, he demonstrated liberal views on some social issues. He supported same-sex marriage during the 2003 provincial election, and in 2005 helped the McGuinty government achieve quick passage of a provincial bill granting legal recognition to same-sex couples. Some Progressive Conservative MPPs openly criticized Baird on the latter occasion.Template:Ref
Federal politics
Baird supported a candidate of the Canadian Alliance in the 2000 federal election, and endorsed Stephen Harper's bid to lead the newly-formed Conservative Party of Canada in its 2004 leadership election.Template:Ref He was subsequently made the Conservative Party's Ontario co-chair for the 2004 federal election.Template:Ref There were rumours that Baird would leave provincial politics to contest the 2004 election, but this did not happen.Template:Ref In 2005, he announced that he would resign his provincial seat to campaign federally for the Conservative Party.
On May 5, 2005, Baird won a contested nomination battle for the federal Conservative nomination in Ottawa West—Nepean, defeating challengers Ed Mahfouz, Margret Kopala and Ade Olumide. John Pacheco, a leader in the social conservative movement against same-sex marriage had also sought the nomination but was disqualified as a possible candidate by the riding association in April, due to past comments he had made alleging that homosexual practices posed a health riskTemplate:Ref. Pacheco later campaigned in the election as an "Independent conservative" with the explicit intention of being a spoiler against Baird. He asserted that if his campaign caused Baird to lose, the Conservatives would "get the message that social conservatives are serious about their politics."Template:Ref Baird chose to ignore Pacheco entirely in at least one all-candidates debate.Template:Ref
Baird was elected, defeating Liberal candidate Lee Farnworth by about 5,000 votes. The Ottawa Citizen endorsed Baird in this campaign, and argued that his political judgement had improved considerably since his tenure as a Harris cabinet minister.Template:Ref
President of the Treasury Board
Baird was appointed President of the Treasury Board on February 6, 2006, a position that puts him in charge of the federal public service. He has said that one of his priorities will be to prevent government jobs from being relocated from Ottawa to other regions for political purposes, as he has alleged occurred under the previous government.Template:Ref Baird has also indicated that his government does not plan to introduce job cuts or a radical reduction in the size of government.Template:Ref
Trivia
- Baird is nicknamed "Rusty", a shortened version of his middle name.
Table of offices held
Template:Start box Template:Ministry box 28 Template:Ministry box cabinet posts 1 Template:End box
Template:Start box Template:Ministry box/Eves Template:Ministry box cabinet posts 1 Template:Ministry box special cabinet 1 Template:Ministry box special parl 2 Template:Ministry box/Harris Template:Ministry box cabinet posts 1 Template:Ministry box special cabinet 2 Template:End box
Template:Start box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:End box
- Elliott led a restructured Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services.
External links
Electoral record
| 2006 federal election: Ottawa West—Nepean | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conservative | John Baird | 25,607 | 43.07 | Liberal | Lee Farnworth | 20,250 | 34.06 | New Democratic Party | Marlene Rivier | 9,626 | 16.19 | Green | Neil Adair | 2,941 | 4.95 | Ind. (Independent Conservative) | John Pacheco | 905 | 1.52 |
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Canadian Action/row | Canadian Action | Randy Bens | 121 | 0.20 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 59,450 | 100.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 269 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 59,719 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 provincial election: Nepean—Carleton | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | |||||||||||||||
| Progressive Conservative | (x)John Baird | 31,662 | 54.06 | $89,484.81 | Liberal | Rod Vanier | 20,878 | 35.65 | $59,182.48 | New Democratic Party | Liam McCarthy | 3,828 | 6.54 | $7,619.96 | Green | Matt Takach | 2,200 | 3.76 | $4,820.88 |
| Total valid votes | 58,568 | 100.00 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 263 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 58,831 | 62.23 | |||||||||||||||||
| Electors on the lists | 94,544 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 provincial election: Nepean—Carleton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Conservative | (x)John Baird | 31,546 | 62.31 | $60,150.37 | Liberal | Gord Hunter | 16,809 | 33.20 | $56,229.71 | New Democratic Party | Craig Parsons | 1,647 | 3.25 | $8,231.29 | Freedom | Bill Frampton | 386 | 0.76 | $0.00 | Natural Law Party | Brian E. Jackson | 239 | 0.47 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes | 50,627 | 100.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 294 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 50,921 | 61.02 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electors on the lists | 83,448 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 provincial election: Nepean | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Progressive Conservative | John Baird | 17,510 | 49.66 | $40,800.37 | Liberal | (x)Hans Daigeler | 13,575 | 38.50 | $45,021.83 | New Democratic Party | John Sullivan | 3,274 | 9.29 | $15,380.57 | Green | Frank de Jong | 390 | 1.11 | $0.00 | Natural Law Party | Brian E. Jackson | 259 | 0.73 | $0.00 | Freedom | Cathy Frampton | 252 | 0.71 | $2,307.70 |
| Total valid votes | 35,260 | 100.00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots | 363 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 35,623 | 64.97 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electors on the lists | 54,832 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All electoral information taken from Elections Canada and Elections Ontario.
The 1999 and 2003 expenditure entries are taken from official candidate reports as listed by Elections Ontario. The figures cited are the Total Candidate's Campaign Expenses Subject to Limitation, and include transfers from constituency associations. The 1995 expenditures do not include these transfers, and cover only candidate expenses subject to limitation.
Notes and sources
- Template:Note Jake Rupert and Shannon Proudfoot, "Baird takes Liberal stronghold", Ottawa Citizen, 24 January 2006, D3.
- Template:Note Duncan McMonagle, "Peterson cites examples of U.S. woe in bid to block deal", Globe and Mail, 7 November 1988, A8.
- Template:Note Daniel Drolet, "Youngest MPP comes of age", Ottawa Citizen, 5 September 1995, B3.
- Template:Note Jim Coyle, "John Baird, we'll be watchin' you", Toronto Star, 29 June 1999, p. 1.
- Template:Note Kelly Toughill, "Pleading mom ejected from legislature", Toronto Star, 29 November 1995, A3. Baird claimed he was responding to a question as to the protester's occupation, and did not mean the comment as one of disparagement.
- Template:Note Thomas Walkom, "Tories would trade good jobs for bad", Toronto Star, 29 February 1996, A25.
- Template:Note John Baird, campaign literature for the 2006 federal election. (2006 campaign literature accessed December 26 2005)
- Template:Note Jane Coutts, "15,000 fell off welfare in July, Tories say ", Globe and Mail, 17 August 1999, A7 and Caroline Mallan, "Workfare stats elude minister", Toronto Star, 17 August 1999, p. 1. Both articles were extremely critical of Baird's ability to handle difficult questions.
- Template:Note Ian Urquhart, "Workfare program a fraud", Toronto Star, 18 August 1999, p. 1.
- Template:Note "Hardly a triumph", Toronto Star, 5 November 1999, p. 1.
- Template:Note Richard Mackie, "Ontario workfare plans won't work", Globe and Mail, 31 December 1999, A7.
- Template:Note Theresa Boyle, "Some consulting service fees higher, ministry confirms", Toronto Star, 10 December 1999, p. 1.
- Template:Note "Ontario Tories real perpetrators of welfare fraud", Toronto Star, 15 January 2000.
- Template:Note Colin Perkel, "Tracking device angers opposition", Toronto Star, 31 March 2000, p. 1.
- Template:Note "Ontario rejects call to fire firm", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 December 1999, B6. In 2005, a glitch in Accenture's computer system prevented an increase in payments for Ontarians with disabilities.
- Template:Note Dan Nolan, "Tory MPPs talk merger with caucus", Hamilton Spectator, 30 November 1999, A01.
- Template:Note "Government Continues Crackdown on Welfare Fraud and Misuse", Canada NewsWire, 6 January 2000, 10:45 report.
- Template:Note "Ontario's Zero Tolerance Policy on Welfare Cheats Effective Today", Canada NewsWire, 1 April 2000.
- Template:Note Richard Mackie, "Ontario 'inflating' welfare fraud", Globe and Mail, 7 January 2000, A8.
- Template:Note James McCarten, "Ontario workfare placements finally up to snuff: Baird", Canadian Press, 5 June 2000, 16:02 report.
- Template:Note "Disabled people to get more funds", Globe and Mail, 6 May 2000, A9.
- Template:Note Tom Blackwell, "Ontario could close institutions for mentally disabled", National Post, 15 September 2000, A04.
- Template:Note James Stevenson, "Brochure touting Ontario's welfare programs costs taxpayers", Canadian Press, 14 July 2000, 15:30 report.
- Template:Note James Stevenson, "Ontario to spend $26 million on shelters and programs for homeless", Canadian Press, 21 December 2000, 17:59 report.
- Template:Note Tom Blackwell, "Civil rights group may challenge drug testing", National Post, 15 November 2000, A27.
- Template:Note Theresa Boyle, "Welfare drug test plan sets off storm", Toronto Star, 15 November 2000, p. 1.
- Template:Note "Baird really sticking it to the poor", Toronto Star, 18 November 2000, p. 1.
- Template:Note "Baird is the clear choice", Ottawa Citizen, 17 January 2006, B4.
- Template:Note Richard Mackie, "Government-funded Web site launches attack on McGuinty", Globe and Mail, 6 December 2000, A7.
- Template:Note "Tories-web attack", Broadcast News, 13 December 2000, 14:55 report.
- Template:Note Richard Mackie, "Ontario pares down drug-testing proposal", Globe and Mail, 9 January 2001, A5.
- Template:Note Tom Blackwell, "Tories to force alcoholics on welfare into treatment", National Post, 26 January 2001, A02.
- Template:Note Tom Blackwell, "Literacy to be mandatory to get welfare", National Post, 4 May 2001, A04.
- Template:Note Mark MacKinnon and Keith Lacey, "Bleak House", Globe and Mail, 18 August 2001, F1.
- Template:Note "Province defends welfare rules after death of pregnant Sudbury, Ont., woman", Canadian Press, 17 August 2001, 08:50 report.
- Template:Note "Selected Inquest Recommendations", Elizabeth Fry Society, online document. [1]
- Template:Note Martin Mittelstaedt, "Funding boosted for child services", Globe and Mail, 15 February 2001, A16.
- Template:Note "Minister silent on child-care paper", Toronto Star, 15 November 2001, p. 33.
- Template:Note Cassandra Szklarski, "Ontario's Tories say no plan to slash child care as indicated in leaked report", Canadian Press, 17 January 2002, 17:12 report.
- Template:Note Richard Mackie, "Three ministers surge ahead in Tory race", Globe and Mail, 29 October 2001, A10.
- Template:Note Caroline Mallan and Richard Brennan, "Eves gives rival plum job", Toronto Star, 15 April 2002, A19.
- Template:Note Colin Perkel, "Ministry in such hot water, Eves splits duties", Hamilton Spectator, 23 August 2002, B05.
- Template:Note Chinta Puxley and Fred Vallance-Jones, "High bills shock consumers", Hamilton Spectator, 25 September 2002, A12.
- Template:Note Rajiv Sekhri, "Ontario caps power rates as deregulation unravels", Reuters News, 11 November 2002, 19:07 report.
- Template:Note "Hydro sale dead: Eves", CBC News Report, 20 January 2003 (revised 4 December 2003, 8:43:55) [2]
- Template:Note Robert Benzie and Graham Richardson, "They're calling it 'Electrocution Week'", National Post, 18 November 2002, A12.
- Template:Note John Spears, "Power supply woes loom?", Toronto Star, 4 March 2003, A01.
- Template:Note "Ontario averts new blackout, but hot weather stirs fears", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 August 2003, A11.
- Template:Note April Lindgren, "Stockwell quits over expenses", National Post, 17 June 2003, A1.
- Template:Note Rob Ferguson, "New premium won't be listed separately on pay", Toronto Star, 19 May 2004, A09.
- Template:Note "'Dysfunctional' legislature shocks Tory", CanWest News Service, 17 December 2004, A11.
- Template:Note Ian Urquhart, "Tories are lining up to replace Eves", Hamilton Spectator, 21 January 2004, A11.
- Template:Note Karen Howlett, "Ontario approves same-sex law", Globe and Mail, 25 February 2005, A9.
- Template:Note Tonda McCharles, "Harper fast out of the blocks", Toronto Star, 13 January 2004, A03.
- Template:Note Robert Benzie and Susan Delacourt, "Tories must sustain their drive, Harper says", Toronto Star, 6 June 2004, A08.
- Template:Note "John Baird has decided not to go federal", Broadcast News, 10 February 2004, 07:42 report.
- Template:Note "Conservative Party Rejects Organizer of Huge Ottawa Marriage March As Potential Candidate", Lifesite news, 29 April 2005. Lifesite.net, April 2005
- Template:Note Juliet O'Neill, "Social conservative runs as independent; hopes to spoil Baird's bid", Ottawa Citizen, 30 December 2005, A6. 2005-DEC-24: Election campaigning ceases over Christmas religioustolerance.org
- Template:Note Juliet O'Neill, "Baird's health-care stance draws fire in Ottawa West-Nepean", Ottawa Citizen, 14 January 2006, A5.
- Template:Note "Baird is the clear choice", Ottawa Citizen, 17 January 2006, B4.
- Template:Note Mohammad Adam, "PS jobs will stay in Ottawa, Baird vows", Ottawa Citizen, 8 February 2006, A1.
- Template:Note Kathryn May, "No cuts coming, Baird assures PS", Ottawa Citizen, 7 February 2006, A4.fr:John Baird (politicien canadien)
Categories: 1969 births | Living people | Members of the Canadian House of Commons from Ontario | Conservative Party of Canada MPs | Historical Ontario MPPs | Ottawans | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs | Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada | Queen's University, Canada alumni