View source for Helena Jaczek

{{short description|Canadian politician and physician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Helena Jaczek
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}} [[Executive Council of Ontario|ECO]] {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|MP|size=100%}}
| image               = 
| imagesize           = 
| office              = [[Minister of Public Services and Procurement]]<br />[[Receiver General for Canada]]
| primeminister       = [[Justin Trudeau]]
| term_start          = August 31, 2022
| term_end            = July 26, 2023
| predecessor         = [[Filomena Tassi]]
| successor           = [[Jean-Yves Duclos]]
| office1             = [[Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario|Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]]
| primeminister1      = [[Justin Trudeau]]
| term_start1         = October 26, 2021
| term_end1           = August 31, 2022
| predecessor1        = [[Mélanie Joly]] (Economic Development)
| successor1          = [[Filomena Tassi]]
| constituency_MP2    = [[Markham—Stouffville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Stouffville]]
| parliament2         = Canadian
| term_start2         = October 21, 2019
| term_end2           = 
| predecessor2        = [[Jane Philpott]]
| successor2          = 
| office3             = [[Chair of Cabinet (Ontario)|Chair of the Cabinet of Ontario]]
| premier3            = [[Kathleen Wynne]]
| term_start3         = January 17, 2018
| term_end3           = June 29, 2018
| predecessor3        = [[Deb Matthews]]
| successor3          = [[Vic Fedeli]]
| office4             = [[Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario)|Minister of Health and Long-Term Care]]
| premier4            = [[Kathleen Wynne]]
| term_start4         = February 26, 2018
| term_end4           = June 29, 2018
| predecessor4        = [[Eric Hoskins]]
| successor4          = [[Christine Elliott]]
| office5             = [[Minister of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Minister of Community and Social Services]]
| premier5            = [[Kathleen Wynne]]
| term_start5         = June 24, 2014
| term_end5           = February 26, 2018
| predecessor5        = [[Ted McMeekin]]
| successor5          = [[Michael Coteau]]
| parliament6         = Ontario Provincial
| riding6             = [[Oak Ridges—Markham (provincial electoral district)|Oak Ridges—Markham]]
| term_start6         = October 10, 2007
| term_end6           = June 7, 2018
| predecessor6        = ''Constituency established''
| successor6          = ''Constituency abolished''
| party               = [[Liberal Party of Canada]]
| otherparty          = [[Ontario Liberal Party]]
| birth_name          = Krystina Helena Jaczek
| birth_date          = 
| birth_place         = [[London]], [[England]]
| education           = St. Clement's School
| alma_mater          = [[University of Toronto]] ([[Doctor of Medicine|MD]], [[Master of Health Science|MHS]])<br>[[Schulich School of Business]], [[York University]] ([[MBA]])
| residence           = Markham, Ontario
| occupation          = Physician, politician
| children            = 2
| website             = [https://helenajaczek.liberal.ca/ helenajaczek.liberal.ca/]
}}

'''Krystina Helena Jaczek''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|æ|z|ɛ|k}} {{Respell|JAZ|ek}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1i8nuF8ciU|title=Trudeau swaps cabinet ministers Helena Jaczek and Filomena Tassi|work=YouTube|date=August 31, 2022|accessdate=3 April 2023}}</ref>) is a Canadian physician and politician. A member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]], she currently represents the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Markham—Stouffville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Stouffville]] in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] and formerly served as the [[Minister of Public Services and Procurement]] and [[Receiver General for Canada]].

In October 2021, Jaczek was appointed [[Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario|Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]] (FedDev Ontario) in the [[Cabinet of Canada]]. Before entering federal politics in 2019, Jaczek served as a Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 2007 to 2018 representing [[Oak Ridges—Markham (provincial electoral district)|Oak Ridges—Markham]]. She served as [[Ministry of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Minister of Community and Social Services]] from 2014 until 2018 and as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in 2018, under the leadership of [[Kathleen Wynne]].

==Background==
Jaczek was born in England to a Polish father<ref>{{Cite book|title=Toronto's Many Faces|last=Ruprecht|first=Tony|publisher=[[Dundurn Press]]|year=2011|isbn=978-1-55488-885-6|location=Toronto|pages=315}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=119285839456013&id=116451229739474|title=Liberal Canada Team Polonia|date=2019-09-15|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> and an English mother, and emigrated to Canada in 1963 at age 12. She received her medical degree and Masters of Health Science from the [[University of Toronto]] and later a Masters of Business Administration from [[York University]]. After many years in general practice on staff at [[Women's College Hospital]] in [[Toronto]], she then served as chief medical officer of health in [[York Regional Municipality, Ontario|York Region]] for 18 years. Through the years, she has sat on the boards of many community agencies.

==Politics==
===Ontario provincial politics===
In 2003, Jaczek ran as the [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate in the riding of [[Oak Ridges (electoral district)|Oak Ridges]]. Issues included tax rates and health care.<ref>{{cite news |title=All-candidates meeting gets rowdy |last=Johnson |first=Linda |work=The Liberal |date=September 28, 2003 |page=1}}</ref> She lost to incumbent [[Frank Klees]] by 2,521 votes.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Oak+Ridges&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808040147/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=oak+ridges&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2007, Jaczek won the newly formed riding of [[Oak Ridges—Markham (provincial electoral district)|Oak Ridges—Markham]] by 7,197 votes beating Conservative candidate Phil Bannon and New Democrat Janice Hagan. She was re-elected in the [[2011 Ontario general election|2011]], and [[2014 Ontario general election|2014]] elections. At the time, Oak Ridges-Markham was the most populous riding in the province until redistribution in 2018.

==== Parliamentary Assistant ====
Jaczek was appointed as a [[Parliamentary assistant]] (PA) to the [[Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (Ontario)|Minister of Health Promotion]] on October 30, 2007. On September 11, 2009, she was made PA to the [[Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)|Minister of Environment]]. In February 2013, Jaczek was appointed as PA to the [[Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care|Minister of Health and Long-Term Care]].<ref>{{cite news |title=New Ontario ministry posts |work=Daily Commercial News and Construction Record |date=November 17, 2011}}</ref> From 2011 to 2014, she served as chair of the Liberal Caucus, under the premierships of both Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. Jaczek was a member of several Standing Committees: Public Accounts, Social Policy, Government Agencies, Finance and Economic Affairs.

Jaczek was also a member of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions. This special Committee held public hearings around the province, visiting mental health and addictions facilities and several First Nations communities to better understand the Mental Health and Addictions program challenges facing Ontario.

==== Private Member's Bills ====
Jaczek brought forward several Private Member's Bills. In 2009, she proposed a [[private member's bill]], Bill 117, that would have prohibited riders under the age of 15 from riding [[motorcycles]]. In September 2010, she co-sponsored a [[private member's bill]] with PC and NDP MPPs to amend the [[Arthur Wishart]] Act (Franchise Disclosure) 2000, to better protect prospective franchisees. In March 2012, Jaczek introduced a [[private member's bill]], Bill 40, to proclaim March 26 Epilepsy Awareness Day. She also introduced a private member's resolution to encourage organ donations.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} In February 2013, she introduced Bill 16, "An Act to amend the Municipal Act, 2001 to provide that the head of council of The Regional Municipality of York must be elected."{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} On June 6, 2013, the bill received the support of all three parties, but it died on the order paper because of the 2014 Ontario General Election. However, in November 2016, the government introduced legislation that included a provision to ensure the direct election of chair and CEO of the Regional Municipality of York. This was subsequently overturned by the incoming PC government of Premier Doug Ford.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

==== Cabinet appointment ====
On June 24, 2014, she was appointed by Premier [[Kathleen Wynne]] as the [[Minister of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Minister of Community and Social Services]] and was the Vice Chair of Health, Education and Social Policy Cabinet Committee.<ref name="2014WynneCab">{{cite news |title=Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/06/24/ontario_premier_kathleen_wynnes_new_cabinet_unveiled.html |author1=Richard Brennan |author2=Robert Benzie |author3=Rob Ferguson |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=June 24, 2014}}</ref>

As a Cabinet Minister, Jaczek led the government's plan to reform social assistance, which includes overseeing Ontario's Basic Income Pilot as well as the establishment of the Income Security Reform Working Group who was tasked with developing ideas for a more holistic, client-centred approach to a broader income security. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}Jaczek has also overseen considerable reform in the developmental services sector, which includes the closing of all sheltered workshops in Ontario and has led the implementation of Ontario's Strategy to End Human Trafficking.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Jaczek was appointed Chair of Cabinet in addition to her role as Minister of Community and Social Services on January 17, 2018.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

On February 26, 2018, she was appointed Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. During her time as Minister, the provincial government made an investment of $2.1 billion in mental health and addiction services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Budget Boosts Access to Health Care for Peterborough Families|url=https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2018/04/2018-budget-boosts-access-to-health-care-for-peterborough-families.html|access-date=2020-08-05|website=news.ontario.ca|language=en}}</ref> This was the largest provincial investment in mental health and addictions in Canadian history. The purpose of the funding was  improving the quality of and access to community-based services, including the creation of 15 additional youth wellness hubs and more supportive housing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Budget Boosts Access to Health Care for Peterborough Families|url=https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2018/04/2018-budget-boosts-access-to-health-care-for-peterborough-families.html|access-date=2020-08-05|website=news.ontario.ca|language=en}}</ref>

In the [[2018 Ontario general election|2018 general election]], Jaczek ran for re-election in the new district of [[Markham—Stouffville (provincial electoral district)|Markham—Stouffville]] which encompassed the eastern portion of her old riding, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative [[Paul Calandra]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

===Federal politics===
In June 2019, there was speculation that Jaczek might enter federal politics and run as a [[Liberal Party of Canada]] candidate in [[Markham—Stouffville (federal electoral district)|Markham—Stouffville]] in the [[2019 Canadian federal election]], against the incumbent Independent MP [[Jane Philpott]]. In July 2019, Jaczek announced that she would be seeking the Liberal Party nomination in the riding.<ref>{{cite news |title=Helena Jaczek, former Ontario health minister, to seek Liberal nomination in Markham-Stouffville |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5478902/helena-jaczek-markham-stouffville/ |access-date=22 July 2019 |agency=Global News}}</ref>

During the [[43rd Canadian Parliament]], Jaczek introduced one private members bill, Bill C-303 ''An Act to establish a national strategy for health data collection,'' which sought to require the [[Minister of Health (Canada)|Minister of Health]] to develop a national strategy for the collection of [[health data]], including the creation a national public health database for the purposes of research and policy development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-303/first-reading |title= Bill C-303 An Act to establish a national strategy for health data collection |publisher=Parliament of Canada |date= May 28, 2021}}</ref> though the Parliament ended before it was brought to a vote. In Budget 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Department of Finance |date=2022-04-07 |title=Chapter 6: Strong Public Health Care {{!}} Budget 2022 |url=https://budget.gc.ca/2022/report-rapport/chap6-en.html |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=budget.gc.ca}}</ref> the federal government committed to working with provinces and territories to ensure that Canada's healthcare system is underpinned by health data that will support health care system improvements and Canadians' access to their own personal data.

Jaczek served on the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) and the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN). During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaczek was invited to take part in the Standing Committee on Health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roles - Hon. Helena Jaczek - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/helena-jaczek(105229)/roles |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=www.ourcommons.ca}}</ref>

On September 20, 2021, Jaczek was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Markham—Stouffville.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-21 |title=Helena Jaczek hopeful next Parliament will be better after big victory in Markham-Stouffville |language=en-CA |work=The Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/local-markham/news/federal-election/2021/09/21/helena-jaczek-hopeful-next-parliament-will-be-better-after-big-victory-in-markham-stouffville.html |access-date=2022-05-07 |issn=0319-0781}}</ref>

====Contributions to Health Committee during COVID-19====
As part of the Standing Committee on Health, Jaczek used her expertise in medicine and public health to contribute to Canada's response to COVID-19, within the country and globally. She advocated for funding transparency, greater safety on airlines and better public health standards in the agricultural sector.<ref>{{Cite web|title=HESA - Home - House of Commons of Canada|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Committees/en/HESA?parl=43&session=1|access-date=2020-08-05|website=www.ourcommons.ca}}</ref>

====Cabinet appointment====
On October 16, 2021, Jaczek was appointed as the [[Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario|Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raman-Wilms |first=Menaka |date=2021-10-26 |title=New faces in cabinet include six women and an MP from Alberta |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-new-faces-in-cabinet-include-six-women-and-an-mp-from-alberta/ |access-date=2022-05-07}}</ref> Jaczek also serves as the vice-chair of the Treasury Board, Vice-chair of the Cabinet Committee on Reconciliation and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Operations, and the Cabinet Committee for Economy, Inclusion and Climate "A".

On August 31, 2022, Jaczek swapped portfolios with [[Filomena Tassi]], becoming [[Minister of Public Services and Procurement]] and [[Receiver General for Canada]] while Tassi became [[Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario|Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]]; the cabinet shuffle had been held at Tassi's request, having asked to be moved to a position with a lighter workload in order to deal with a family health matter.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Zimonjic|first=Peter|date=August 31, 2022|title=Trudeau tweaks cabinet, swapping ministers Tassi and Jaczek|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-shuffles-liberal-cabinet-1.6567811|access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref>

On 25 July 2023, she announced she would not be running in the next election.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet |url=http://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/10/26/prime-minister-welcomes-new-cabinet |access-date=2023-07-25 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}}</ref> In October 2024, she publicly called for a secret ballot on Trudeaus leadership of the Liberal Party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-27 |title=LIVE: CTV News Kitchener |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/time-to-clear-the-air-some-liberal-mps-want-secret-ballot-vote-on-trudeau-s-leadership-1.7089811?clipId=1930095 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref> In the [[2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election]], she endorsed [[Mark Carney]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Simon |date=2025-01-22 |title=Markham Stouffville MP ditches retirement plans after Trudeau's exit ignites 'new energy' in Liberal party |url=https://www.yorkregion.com/news/markham-stouffville-mp-ditches-retirement-plans-after-trudeaus-exit-ignites-new-energy-in-liberal-party/article_9f6e088c-9ce3-5f91-8b9d-ee451d4a3361.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=YorkRegion.com |language=en}}</ref> On January 20, 2025, she announced her intention to run as a candidate in the [[2025 Canadian federal election]].<ref name=":0" />

==Awards and honours==
* 1996: Jaczek received the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Local Public Health Agencies. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
* 1997: Jaczek was a recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Mentor Award from the University of Toronto's Public Health Sciences Alumni Association. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
* 2000: "In Celebration of Women" for medical leadership in York Region. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
* In 2005, she received an award for environmental planning from the [[Canadian Institute of Planners]]. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
* In 2016, she received the Ontario Psychological Association Public Service Award, as well as, the Ontario Medical Association, Life Membership Award. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
* In April 2017, she was awarded the Helen Keller Award by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre for the contributions she has made to hearing and visually impaired Ontarians. {{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
*In November 2021, she received a Life Membership from The College of Family Physicians of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Helena Jaczek|url=https://helenajaczek.libparl.ca/about/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=helenajaczek.libparl.ca}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
===Federal===
{{2025 Canadian federal election/Markham—Stouffville}}
{{2021 Canadian federal election/Markham—Stouffville}}
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Markham—Stouffville}}

===Provincial===
{{2018 Ontario general election/Markham—Stouffville}}
{{2014 Ontario general election/Oak Ridges—Markham}}
{{2011 Ontario general election/Oak Ridges—Markham}}
{{2007 Ontario general election/Oak Ridges—Markham}}

<!-- {{Ontario provincial election, 2003/Oak Ridges}} -->
{{Election box begin | title=[[2003 Ontario general election]], [[Oak Ridges (electoral district)|Oak Ridges]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Frank Klees|32,647|47.27|-12.72}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|'''Helena Jaczek'''|30,126|43.62|+9.27}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Pamela Courtot|4,464|6.46|+2.60}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Steven Haylestrom |1,821 |2.64 |+0.84}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=20128}}
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=helena-jaczek}}
*[https://helenajaczek.liberal.ca/ Private website]

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=29}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[Filomena Tassi]]
| post2         = [[Minister of Public Services and Procurement]]
| post2years    = August 31, 2022 – July 26, 2023
| post2note     = 
| post2followed = [[Jean-Yves Duclos]]
| post1preceded = [[Mélanie Joly]]
| post1         = [[Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario|Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]]
| post1years    = October 26, 2021 – August 31, 2022
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = [[Filomena Tassi]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Kathleen_Wynne}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[Eric Hoskins]]
| post2         = [[Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care|Minister of Health and Long-Term Care]]
| post2years    = 2018 (January–June)
| post2note     =
| post2followed = [[Christine Elliott]]

| post1preceded = [[Ted McMeekin]]
| post1         = [[Ministry of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Minister of Community and Social Services]]
| post1years    = 2014–2018
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = [[Michael Coteau]]
}}
{{s-end}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaczek, Helena}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian physicians]]
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[[Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian women physicians]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:English emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Ministers of health of Ontario]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the 29th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
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[[Category:Ontario Liberal Party MPPs]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:Women government ministers of Canada]]
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[[Category:People from East Gwillimbury]]
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