There may be one or two lessons in this story. Or maybe you're just happy with a certain level.
In any case, Sylvia Jones is the new Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister of Ontario.
Of course, Jones is not a stranger to the Ontario Parliament. She was previously the first Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the Ford Government (please refrain from Ford Nation's cultural jokes) before becoming a state solicitor during COVID.
It's no wonder Jones is currently the head of the ministry responsible for about half of Ontario's huge budget. Looking back on her entry into public life, it's amazing.
I first met Jones at David Tillson's Equestrian Office, the MPP for becoming Dafferin-Caledon. Tillson gave up the seat of party leader Arnie Eve in 2002. History students will know that the good people of the party and Dafferin haven't been looking for new candidates for long.
Of course, this caused a huge nomination battle.
Opportunities to represent vehicles like Dufferin-Caledon can only occur every few decades, and politicians ready to throw hats and everything else into the ring. There was a long line.
About half a dozen people who have the reputation and money of being serious competitors have stepped up. On earth, it was a dream of a political consultant. By the end of the race, they were polling cows in Kaledon.
Politicians and candidates are the night when a quiet, slightly muttering young man is nominated. The woman who was shocked by was awarded the award. Sylvia Jones lacked glitz and dollars, and her volunteers and friends ran a long nomination campaign. And she won, ok.
This wasn't the last time Jones was tested, and it wasn't the last time she underestimated freckles.
She entered Queen's Park in 2007. Again, history students know that this was not the beginning of a golden age for Ontario conservatives. For the next 11 years, Jones served under six different leaders.
Ernie Eves, John Torrey, Tim Hudak, Jim Wilson, Patrick Brown, Vic Fedeli, and finally Doug Ford touring the leader's office, fiercely splitting the party There was a leadership contest.
MPP, not to mention, wasn't easy to become a party member, but Jones was always quiet and solid, and surprisingly, at the moment of her occasional grace. Even dealt with Rancor.
Ford appointed Jones as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports when he finally returned the conservatives to Queen's Park after wandering through various forms of darkness for 15 years. It's not a well-known ministry, but it's a good place to learn business and gain a reputation as a smart, nonsense, and politically sensitive team player.
Ford's first year was turbulent, to say the least. Jones turned out to be one of the solid hands of the government that encountered some early controversy. She didn't take long before she was shuffled into the challenging role of her solicitor.
Jones was at the forefront and central during the strange twist of the state's pandemic response. The era may have been crazy, but the minister was not.
Currently she leads the largest province in Canada's largest state.
When any politics seems to be more important than ever about bravery, empty rhetoric, and slogans, Jones proves that her abilities and substance are still important. increase.
She may surprise some politicians, but Jones has surprised them for years.
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