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Jim Bradley (politician)

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The Honourable
James J. Bradley
ECO
Bradley in 2014
Niagara Regional Chair
In office
December 6, 2018 – September 26, 2025
Preceded byAlan Caslin
Succeeded byBob Gale
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for St. Catharines
In office
June 9, 1977 – June 7, 2018
Preceded byRobert Mercer Johnston
Succeeded byJennie Stevens
Dean of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office
October 2, 2003 – June 7, 2018
Serving with Norm Sterling (2003–2011)
Preceded bySean Conway
Succeeded byTed Arnott
Gilles Bisson
Jim Wilson
Personal details
Born(1945-02-19)February 19, 1945
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
DiedSeptember 26, 2025(2025-09-26) (aged 80)
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
PartyLiberal
OccupationTeacher

James Joseph Bradley ECO (February 19, 1945 – September 26, 2025) was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He was a long-serving Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, sitting as an MPP from 1977 until 2018. He represented the riding of St. Catharines and served in the provincial cabinets of David Peterson, Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. He was elected as a regional councillor in the St. Catharines municipal election of 2018. He served as the Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara from 2018 until his death in 2025.

His 41-year term as an MPP is the second longest tenure in Ontario history, behind only Harry Nixon.[1]

Background

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Before entering politics, Bradley was a teacher with the Lincoln County Board of Education. He was elected as a city councillor to the St. Catharines City Council in 1970, but also remained in the classroom until 1977.[2]

Politics

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After failed bids in the elections of 1967[3] and 1971,[4] Bradley was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1977 election in the riding of St. Catharines,[5] and served as MPP for that riding until the 2018 election. He fended off strong challenges from the New Democratic Party in the 1990 election and the Progressive Conservative Party in 1995 election.[6][7] On all other occasions until 2018, he was re-elected easily.

Peterson government

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When the Liberals came to power under David Peterson following the 1985 election, Bradley became Minister of the Environment and held that position until the Liberals were defeated in the 1990 election.[8] He is generally regarded as Ontario's most effective Environment Minister, although some believe that his ambitions for the portfolio were undermined by Peterson and Finance Minister Robert Nixon. As Environment Minister, Bradley expanded Blue Box Recycling, making it a province-wide initiative, as well as instituting tough new penalties for polluters, enforced by a strengthened investigation and enforcement branch.

In opposition

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Bradley was a vocal opponent of Peterson's plans to call an election in 1990, preferring that the party wait until 1992 before going to the polls. While the Liberals were defeated, Bradley was personally re-elected and had a prominent position in the Opposition benches.[6]

When Nixon, the interim leader of the Liberals, left Queen's Park to accept an appointment, he was replaced by Murray Elston. Elston resigned as interim leader to run in the 1992 leadership convention, and Bradley became interim leader of the party and interim Leader of the Opposition from November 1991 until the election of Lyn McLeod in February 1992. He remained an opposition stalwart until the Liberals won the 2003 election under Dalton McGuinty.

McGuinty government

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There was some speculation that Bradley would be re-appointed Minister of the Environment in McGuinty's government, but this did not occur. Instead, he was named Minister of Tourism and Recreation on October 23, 2003.[9] He was also given ministerial responsibility for Seniors on June 29, 2005.[10] On October 11, 2005, Bradley was also appointed to replace Dwight Duncan as Government House Leader, following Duncan's appointment as Minister of Finance.[11] Bradley was also the province's wine secretary, as well as the minister responsible for the Greenbelt.

On October 30, 2007, Bradley was sworn in as Minister of Transportation in McGuinty's new cabinet.[12] As Transportation Minister, Bradley supervised the introduction of an Ontario Enhanced driver's licenses to be used at Canada/US border crossings. He introduced legislation to merge GO Transit and Metrolinx. Enacted tougher penalties for drivers who have a BAC of .05 or higher. Mandated that all commercial trucks that operate in Ontario be equipped with speed limiters to ensure heavy trucks don't exceed 105 km/h. And in April 2009, it was announced that GO Transit would be expanded to the Niagara region, with bus service to Burlington in September and with weekend rail service to Toronto starting at the end of June.

On January 18, 2010, Bradley moved to the position of Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.[13] In August he was moved to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.[14]

On October 20, 2011, Bradley moved to become Minister of Environment once again in the wake of the 2011 election that saw the previous Minister of Environment, John Wilkinson, defeated.[15]

Wynne government

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Bradley continued as Environment Minister in Kathleen Wynne's first cabinet after she won the leadership of the Liberal Party.[16] Following the 2014 provincial election, the 69-year-old Bradley became a minister without portfolio with the title of Chair of Cabinet and was also appointed Deputy Government House Leader.[17] He left cabinet in June 2016 as part of a cabinet shuffle, and later served as Chief Government Whip and Deputy Government House Leader.[18]

In the 2018 election, Bradley lost his seat as the Liberal Party was defeated, losing official party status and suffering the greatest loss for any governing party in provincial history. He had served as St. Catharines MPP for 41 years.[19]

Municipal politics

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On July 27, 2018, the last day registration was open, Bradley registered to run for Niagara Regional Council.[20]

Bradley was elected on October 22, 2018, finishing first out of 23 candidates with 18,954 votes.

On December 6, 2018, Bradley was selected as the Niagara Regional Chair, being elected on the first ballot receiving 19 out of 31 votes against two other candidates.[21]

Bradley was re-elected as a regional councilor in 2022 and re-appointed regional chair on November 24, 2022.[22]

Bradley served as the Chair of the Niagara Regional Council until his death in 2025.

Personal life and death

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Bradley never married and had no children. He told Steve Paikin, having observed the difficulties politicians have in balancing their careers and family life: "It was my decision and I have to live with it, so I won't complain about it," adding, "I knew politics would consume all my time, and at times I regret that. But I'm also having a direct influence on the lives of many people.”[2]

Bradley participated in community sports as a hockey and baseball coach, manager, and referee.[23][24]

In 2012, Bradley was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[25]

On June 20, 2025, Bradley was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal.[25]

Bradley died in St. Catharines, Ontario on September 26, 2025, at the age of 80.[2][26] He had liver cancer and was in hospital since August 29, 2025, after suffering a stroke. He was unable to recover his health and decided to seek and was approved for medical assistance in dying. Prior to his death he called friends and colleagues to say goodbye and wrote a farewell statement.[2][27]

Tributes in memorium were read into the record of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on December 3, 2025.[28]

Electoral record

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1977 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalJim Bradley12,39238.89
Progressive ConservativeEleanor Lancaster11,66936.62
New DemocraticFred Dickson7,55623.71
CommunistEric Blair2470.78
Total valid votes 31,864100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 213
Turnout 32,07760.91
1981 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal(x)Jim Bradley16,50951.85+12.96
Progressive ConservativeJohn Larocque10,27332.26-4.36
New DemocraticDon Loucks4,92715.47-8.24
CommunistNorman J. Newell1320.41-0.37
Total valid votes 31,841100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 181
Turnout 32,02257.20
1985 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal(x)Jim Bradley20,60557.94+6.09
Progressive ConservativeElaine Herzog9,02925.39-6.87
New DemocraticMichael Cormier5,62415.81-0.34
CommunistEric Blair3050.86+0.45
Total valid votes 35,563100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 201
Turnout 35,76461.65
1987 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal(x)Jim Bradley17,58463.30+5.36
New DemocraticRob West5,56620.04+4.23
Progressive ConservativeChuck Bradley4,25815.33-10.06
CommunistEric Blair3691.33+.29
Total valid votes 27,777100.00
1990 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal(x)Jim Bradley11,56538.76-24.54
New DemocraticDave Kappele10,62935.63+15.59
Progressive ConservativeBruce Timms3,92613.16-2.17
Confederation of RegionsEva Longhurst2,3847.99+7.99
Family CoalitionBert Pynenburg1,3314.46+4.46
Total valid votes 29,835100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 337
Turnout 30,17266.77
1995 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJim Bradley13,76146.53+7.77$33,835.95
Progressive ConservativeArchie Heide11,48638.84+25.68$36,875.32
New DemocraticJeff Burch3,92913.29−22.34$12,043.92
Family CoalitionJon Siemens2450.83−3.63$0.00
Natural LawMarcy Sheremetta1530.52 $0.00
Total valid votes 29,574100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 2270.76
Turnout 29,80164.58
1999 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJim Bradley25,18653.90+7.37$45,478.14
Progressive ConservativeTom Froese17,99438.51−0.33$68,831.44
New DemocraticGordon Coggins2,9026.21−7.08$8,286.11
Natural LawHelene Ann Darisse2720.58 $0.00
GreenDouglas Woodard2150.46 $83.93
Independent (Marxist-Leninist)Ron Walker1540.33 $112.00
Total valid votes 46,723100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 3360.71
Turnout 47,05959.61
Note: percentage change in vote is calculated from 1995 results redistributed according to new riding boundaries.
2003 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJim Bradley25,31957.44+3.54$63,576.04
Progressive ConservativeMark Brickell12,93229.34−9.17$72,267.48
New DemocraticJohn Bacher3,9448.95+2.74$8,542.84
GreenJim Fannon1,1672.65+2.19$2,858.89
Family CoalitionLinda Klassen7141.62 $13.80
Total valid votes 44,076100.00
Rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 2710.61
Turnout 44,34756.43
2007 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJim Bradley21,02947.23−10.21$60,133.56
Progressive ConservativeBruce Timms12,86428.89−0.45$33.521.98
New DemocraticHenry Bosch7,06915.88+6.93$11,300.79
GreenByrne Smith3,1527.08+4.43$2,172.38
Family CoalitionBarra Gots2670.60−1.02$0.00
CommunistSam Hammond1390.31 $826.44
Total valid votes 44,520100.0
2011 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Bradley17,16640.21−7.02
Progressive ConservativeSandy Bellows15,46136.21+7.32
New DemocraticIrene Lowell8,62420.20+4.32
GreenJennifer Mooradian1,0662.50−4.58
Family CoalitionChris Clarke1910.45−0.15
CommunistSaleh Waziruddin680.16−0.15
IndependentJon Radick (Canadians' Choice)620.15
FreedomDave Unrau570.13
Total valid votes 42,695100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1880.44
Turnout 42,88351.00
Eligible voters 84,078
Liberal hold Swing −7.17
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2011). "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - St. Catherines" (PDF). Retrieved June 4, 2014.
2014 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJim Bradley19,07041.00+0.79
Progressive ConservativeMat Siscoe13,81429.70-6.51
New DemocraticJennie Stevens11,35024.40+4.20
GreenKaren Fraser1,7923.85+1.35
LibertarianNicholas Dushko2230.48
FreedomDave Unrau1700.37+0.24
CommunistSaleh Waziruddin950.20+0.04
Total valid votes 46,514100.0  
Source(s)
"General Election Results by District, 076 St. Catharines". Elections Ontario. 2014. Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
2018 Ontario general election: St. Catharines
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJennie Stevens18,91136.61+12.01$8,736
Progressive ConservativeSandie Bellows17,35333.60+4.28$41,729
LiberalJim Bradley12,67124.53−16.67$77,481
GreenColin Ryrie1,9233.72−0.11$10
None of the AboveJim Fannon4940.96N/A$27,700
LibertarianDaniel Tisi1950.38N/Anone listed
CommunistSaleh Waziruddin660.13N/Anone listed
Cultural ActionDuke Willis370.07N/Anone listed
Total valid votes 51,65098.93
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 5561.07
Turnout 52,20658.06
Eligible voters 89,924
New Democratic notional gain from Liberal Swing +14.34
Source: Elections Ontario[29][30]
St. Catharines regional council election, 2018
Candidate Total votes % of total votes
Jim Bradley18,95414.10
George Darte12,5169.31
Sandie Bellows11,1178.27
Laura Ip9,8787.35
Brian Heit (X)8,4996.32
Tim Rigby (X)8,4356.27
Kelly Edgar (X)7,2335.38
Mike Britton6,7655.03
Bruce Timms (X)5,8594.36
Haley Bateman5,5464.13
Mark Elliott5,5194.10
Rob Depetris4,7843.56
Mo Al Jumaily4,1053.05
Debbie MacGregor (X)3,8442.86
Emily Beth Spanton3,4212.54
Frank Rupcic3,3602.50
Peter Gill3,2472.42
Mary Margaret Murphy2,7632.06
Len Stack2,7352.03
Alan Caslin (X)1,9281.43
Lou Felice1,4761.10
Paul Allan1,4381.07
Bob Szajkowski1,0240.76

Source:[31]

St. Catharines regional council election, 2022
Candidate Total votes % of total votes
Jim Bradley (X) 16,960 16.30
Laura Ip (X) 10,986 10.56
Haley Bateman 9,964 9.58
Peter Secord 8,150 7.83
Tim Rigby 7,915 7.61
Sal Sorrento 7,798 7.50
Brian Heit (X) 7,162 6.88
Alicia Marshall 5,850 5.62
Trecia McLennan 5,060 4.86
Sabrina Hill 4,994 4.80
Rob Herzog 4,887 4.70
Dennis Van Meer 4,082 3.92
John McGill 2,693 2.59
Matthew Bradman 2,337 2.25
Bryan Blue 2,104 2.02
Steve Borisenko 1,615 1.55
Shawn Marriott 1,478 1.42

Source:[32]

The 1999, 2003 and 2007 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 are taken from an official listing of election expenses published by Elections Ontario.

References

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  1. ↑ Thompson, Nicole (September 27, 2025). "Jim Bradley, Ontario's 2nd-longest-serving MPP, dead at 80". CBC News. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Paikin, Steve (September 26, 2025). "Jim Bradley was born to serve the public — and he did until his final day". TVO. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  3. ↑ Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  5. ↑ "Ontario provincial election results riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1977. p. D9.
  6. 1 2 "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  7. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Liberals pledge reform as they take over in Ontario". The Gazette. Montreal, Que. June 27, 1985. p. B1.
  9. ↑ "Premier Dalton McGuinty and his 22-member cabinet were sworn in Thursday". Canadian Press NewsWire. October 23, 2003. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Cabinet shuffle focuses on health care, education; McGuinty to head new Research and Innovation ministry". The Kitchener Record. June 30, 2005. p. A5.
  11. ↑ "Premier McGuinty announces changes to cabinet". Canada NewsWire. October 11, 2005. p. 1.
  12. ↑ Ferguson, Rob; Benzie, Robert (October 31, 2007). "Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area". Toronto Star. p. A13.
  13. ↑ Kenyon, Wallace (January 19, 2010). "Sweeping changes hit Queen's Park; Liberal Cabinet". National Post. p. A8.
  14. ↑ Aveling, Nick (August 18, 2010). "McGuinty moves 6, brings in 2 new faces in Ontario cabinet shuffle". Postmedia News.
  15. ↑ "Ontario's new cabinet". Toronto Star. October 21, 2011. p. A18.
  16. ↑ "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. February 12, 2013. p. A3.
  17. ↑ Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  18. ↑ "Struggling Wynne shuffles cabinet, adds 7 new ministers". June 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Jim Bradley voted out after 41 years as MPP in St. Catharines". CBC. June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Ford creates 11th hour candidate scramble". July 27, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Bradley aiming to restore trust in Region | StCatharinesStandard.ca". Archived from the original on December 7, 2018.
  22. ↑ Morgan, Linda (November 24, 2022). "Niagara Region Reappoints Jim Bradley as Regional Chair". 105.1 The River. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
  23. ↑ Arsenych, Alex (September 27, 2025). "Jim Bradley, former Ontario MPP who served for more than 40 years, dies at 80". CTVNews. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Jim Bradley". Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "James Bradley". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley passes away". Niagara Region. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Bradley leaves final message for Niagara: 'I have deeply treasured our time together'". St Catharines Standard. September 26, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Hansard Transcript 2025-Dec-03 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. December 3, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Political Financing and Party Information". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Certificate of Election Results - Office of Regional Councillor" (PDF). City of St. Catharines. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Election Summary Report City of St. Catharines 2022 Municipal Election" (PDF). www.stcatharines.ca. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
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