Eric Hoskins

Eric William Hoskins OC MSC (born November 29, 1960) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2009 to 2018 who represented the electoral district of Toronto—St. Paul's. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne in the portfolios of Health and Long-Term Care (2009 – 2018), Economic Development, Trade, and Employment (2013 – 2014), Children and Youth Services (2011 – 2012), and Citizenship and Immigration (2010 - 2011).[2] In 2013 he contended for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, which was won by Kathleen Wynne. Hoskins resigned from cabinet and the legislature on February 26, 2018, three months before the provincial election.[3] On June 20, 2018, the federal government announced that Hoskins had been appointed Chair of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare.[4]

Doctor Eric Hoskins OC MSC
Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto—St. Paul's
In office September 17, 2009 – February 26, 2018
Preceded by	Michael Bryant
Succeeded by	Jill Andrew
Minister of Health & Long-Term Care
In office June 24, 2014 – February 26, 2018
Premier	Kathleen Wynne
Preceded by	Deb Matthews
Succeeded by	Helena Jaczek
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Personal details
Born	Eric William Hoskins November 29, 1960 Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Ontario Liberal
Spouse(s)	Samantha Nutt
Alma mater	McMaster University Balliol College, Oxford[1] London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Occupation	Physician, politician, humanitarian

A medical doctor and former president of War Child Canada, Hoskins was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008 for his humanitarian work.[5]

Early life and education

Hoskins was born on November 29, 1960, in Simcoe, Ontario. After he attended Simcoe Composite School[6] for high school, Hoskins completed a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry at McMaster University in 1982 and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from McMaster University Medical School in 1985. Subsequently, Hoskins was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and continued his studies at the University of Oxford where he completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in public health and epidemiology.[7] Hoskins also holds a Master of Science degree from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a postgraduate diploma in health economics from The University of Aberdeen. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is board-certified in the speciality of Community Medicine (now referred to as Public Health and Preventive Medicine).[8][9]

Career

Working in conflict areas

From 1987 to 1990, Hoskins lived and worked in Sudan providing humanitarian relief to Ethiopian refugees in eastern Sudan, and to displaced civilians in southern Sudan.[10] In 1991, Hoskins co-founded the International Study Team, and led a group of international experts to examine the impact of war on the civilian population in Iraq.[11] The study provided a detailed humanitarian assessment of post-Gulf War Iraq.

Having seen the impact of war on Iraqi children, Hoskins lobbied the Canadian government to release over 2 million dollars of frozen Iraqi assets held in Canadian banks, and spent the following two years overseeing the purchase and distribution of food and medicine to tens of thousands of at-risk Iraqi children.[12]

Department of Foreign Affairs

In 1997, Hoskins joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Lloyd Axworthy's Senior Policy Advisor. While at the Department of Foreign Affairs, he was responsible for contributing to Canadian foreign policy in the areas of human rights, human security, humanitarian affairs, peace building, war-affected children and Africa.[13]

Hoskins later also served as an Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations, and has been involved in setting United Nations policy on issues concerning the protection of children living with war.[13]

War Child Canada

Hoskins is the co-founder and former president of War Child Canada, a charitable organization that works to raise funds for relief and development programs in support of war-affected children around the world.[14][15] Working alongside his wife, War Child Executive Director Samantha Nutt, Hoskins helped the organization develop international relief programs and spread awareness of the issues facing war-affected children.[16] He worked with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in some of the world's worst conflict areas including Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Burundi, Afghanistan and Pakistan.[13]

As President of War Child Canada, Hoskins was a frequent contributor to Maclean's magazine on war-related issues. He was a regular commentator on CTV, CBC and other major broadcast networks concerning the impact of war on civilians.[17]

First foray into politics

On April 21, 2007, Hoskins was chosen as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk for the 2008 Federal election. On October 14, 2008, he was defeated by Conservative incumbent Diane Finley.[18][19]

Provincial politics

On August 12, 2009, Hoskins was nominated as the provincial Liberal candidate in the St. Paul's by-election.[20] On September 19, 2009, he defeated Toronto Sun columnist Sue-Ann Levy running for the Progressive Conservatives.[21]

On January 18, 2010, he was named the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Dalton McGuinty's second government.[22]

In the 2011 Ontario election, Hoskins was easily re-elected defeating PC candidate Christine McGirr by 16,076 votes.[23] After the election he was appointed as Minister of Children and Youth Services.[24]

Hoskins resigned on November 9, 2012, to stand as a candidate in the Ontario Liberal Party leadership election.[25] He was eliminated after the first ballot and he endorsed Kathleen Wynne, the eventual winner.[26] On February 11, 2013, he was appointed Minister of Economic Development, Trade & Employment.[27]

Hoskins was re-elected in June 2014,[28] and was appointed by Kathleen Wynne as the Minister of Health and Long Term Care.[29]

On February 26, 2018, Hoskins announced his resignation with immediate effect as an MPP and as Minister of Health & Long-Term Care.[30]

Pharmacare leader

On June 20, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Hoskins to head a national pharmacare strategy.[4]

Awards and recognition

In April 2008, Hoskins was made an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaëlle Jean for his humanitarian work.[31] At the age of 33, Hoskins became the youngest recipient of the United Nations Association in Canada's Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal and was later awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada in the name of the Queen of Canada for his work in war-torn communities around the world.[12][32]

Hoskins has been awarded the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Citation for Citizenship, was a member of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 Award, and won the Distinguished Alumni Award from McMaster University.[33]

Hoskins and his wife, Samantha Nutt, received Honorary Doctorates of Law from McMaster University in May 2005 for their work promoting human rights and their role in delivering humanitarian assistance to some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Hoskins also has honorary degrees from Brock and Niagara Universities.[13]

Cabinet portfolios

Electoral record

2014 Ontario general election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Eric Hoskins	30,036	59.65	+1.26
	Progressive Conservative	Justine Deluce	12,032	23.89	+2.97
	New Democratic	Luke Savage	5,142	10.21	-6.40
	Green	Josh Rachlis	2,556	5.08	+2.33
	Libertarian	John Kittredge	413	0.82	+0.04
	Freedom	Mike Rita	176	0.35	+0.15
Total valid votes			50,355	100.0
Source: Elections Ontario[34]

2011 Ontario general election: St. Paul's
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal	Eric Hoskins	25,048	58.39
	Progressive Conservative	Christine McGirr	8,972	20.92
	New Democratic	David Hynes	7,124	16.61
	Green	Judith Van Veldhuysen	1,180	2.75
	Libertarian	John Kittredge	335	0.78
	Freedom	Mike Rita	86	0.20
	Socialist	Keith Pinto	83	0.19
	Northern Ontario Heritage	David Vallance	69	0.16

Ontario provincial by-election, September 17, 2009: St. Paul's Resignation of Michael Bryant
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Eric Hoskins	13,192	47.60	+0.17
	Progressive Conservative	Sue-Ann Levy	7,851	28.33	+1.79
	New Democratic	Julian Heller	4,677	16.88	+1.14
	Green	Chris Chopik	1,515	5.47	-2.87
	Libertarian	John Kittredge	161	0.58	+0.05
	Special Needs	Danish Ahmed	95	0.34
	Independent	Marius Frederick	84	0.30
	Freedom	Paul McKeever	61	0.22	-0.04
	Independent	John Turmel	52	0.19
	Independent	Rajendra Rama	24	0.09
Total valid votes			27,711	100.00
	Liberal hold		Swing		-0.81

Haldimand—Norfolk - 2008 Canadian federal election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Diane Finley	19,657	40.8%	-7.5%	$67,583
	Liberal	Eric Hoskins	15,577	32.4%	-1.9%	$72,913
	New Democratic	Ian Nichols	5,549	11.5%	-1.3%	$5,509
	Independent	Gary McHale	4,821	10.0%	–	$22,798
	Green	Stephana Johnston	2,041	4.2%	+0.7%	$2,581
	Christian Heritage	Steven Elgersma	501	1.0%	0.0%	–
Total valid votes/Expense limit			48,146	100%	$85,391
Majority			4,080	8.48%
Total rejected ballots			248	–
Turnout			48,394	%

References

1. "Honours, Appointments and Awards" (PDF). Canadian Association of Rhodes Scholars Newsletter. 64 (2). Canadian Association of Rhodes Scholars. 2014. p. 16. ISSN 0821-039X. Retrieved February 27, 2018 – via Rhodes Trust.
2. "Eric Hoskins | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
3. https://globalnews.ca/news/4048563/eric-hoskins-resigns/
4. "Government of Canada launches Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
5. "Dr. Eric Hoskins, O.C., M.S.C., M.D. | The Governor General of Canada".
6. "SCS dunking for dollars". Simcoe Reformer.
7. "The Irma M. Parhad Programme Profile on Eric Hoskins". University of Calgary. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
8. "Liberal.ca :: Meet Your Liberal Candidate". liberal.ca. Archived from the original on October 1, 2008.
9. "Ontario Liberal leadership candidate: Eric Hoskins". thestar.com. January 6, 2013.
10. "International Doctoring and Entertaining: Samantha Nutt and Eric Hoskins". Peace Magazine.
11. "Our common responsibility: The impact of a new war on Iraqi children". Relief Web.
12. "Pearson Peace Prize Profile on Eric Hoskins". United Nations Association in Canada. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011.
13. "War Child Canada president named to Order of Canada". McMaster University.
14. "2010 Annual Report" (PDF). War Child International. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2011.
15. "About Us". War Child Canada.
16. "War Child Canada co-founders to receive honorary degrees at 2005 Brock Fall Convocation". Brock University.
17. "A Bloody Road to Peace". Maclean's Magazine. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011.
18. "Ontario Results". The Toronto Star. October 15, 2008. p. U2. Missing or empty |url= (help)
19. "OVR / ROS". elections.ca.
20. Benzie, Robert (August 13, 2009). "Doctor gets nod in St. Paul's".
21. "Liberals win easily in St. Paul's byelection". Toronto Star. September 17, 2009.
22. Kenyon, Wallace (January 19, 2010). "Sweeping changes hit Queen's Park; Liberal Cabinet". National Post. p. A8.
23. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013.
24. "Ontario's new cabinet". Toronto Star. October 21, 2011. p. A18.
25. "Hoskins officially joins Ontario Liberal leadership race". The City Centre Mirror. Willowdale, Ont. November 13, 2012. p. 1.
26. Benzie, Robert; Ferguson, Rob; Brennan, Richard (January 27, 2013). "Wynne triumphs, makes history: Opponents deliver victory for 'spectacular' candidate". Toronto Star. p. A1.
27. "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. February 12, 2013. p. A3.
28. "General Election by District: St. Paul's". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014.
29. Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
30. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/eric-hoskins-ontario-health-minister-resignation-1.4552697
31. "Media Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada". Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008.
32. "Eric Hoskins leads assessment in Sudan". War Child International.
33. "Profile of Eric Hoskins" (PDF). Brickenden Speaker's Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2012.
34. "General Election Results by District, 077 St. Paul's". Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archived)