Jeff Burch
{{short description|Canadian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeff Burch
| image = Jeff Burch - Press Conference (cropped).png
| honorific-suffix = MPP
| office1 = Caucus Chair of the Ontario New Democratic Party
| term_start1 = July 13, 2022
| term_end1 =
| leader1 = Peter Tabuns (interim) Marit Stiles
| office2 = Critic, Municipal Affairs
| term_start2 = September 6, 2018
| term_end2 =
| leader2 = Andrea Horwath Peter Tabuns (interim)
| parliament3 = Ontario Provincial
| term_start3 = June 7, 2018
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 = Cindy Forster
| successor3 =
| riding3 = Niagara Centre
| party = New Democratic
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| residence = Thorold, Ontario
| occupation = Non profit executive director / CEO, President of Steel Workers Union
| spouse =
| children =
| caption = Burch in 2020
| alma_mater = Brock University
}}
Jeff Burch is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/8658620-blue-wave-stops-in-niagara-/ "Blue wave stops in Niagara "]. Niagara This Week, June 7, 2018. He represents the electoral district of Niagara Centre as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party.
Prior to his election to the legislature Burch was the executive director of Niagara Folk Arts, a non–profit social services agency, and served as city councillor for Merritton Ward for St. Catharines City Council.
Background
Jeff Burch is a graduate from Brock University, with an honours BA in philosophy. Burch then spent three years as a graduate student and teaching assistant at Brock, teaching seminars in social issues and women's studies. He left his studies in 1996 after being elected president of a United Steelworkers local union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=107887|title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - Jeff Burch|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2019-08-17}}
Politics
Burch ran as the Ontario New Democratic Party's candidate in St. Catharines in 1995, losing to Liberal Jim Bradley.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} He was elected as a city councillor in St. Catharines, Ontario, in 2006. He served from 2006 to 2014, including four years as budget chair.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8652003-provincial-election-niagara-centre-riding-profile/|title=Provincial election: Niagara Centre riding profile|last=Johnson|first=Nathaniel|date=2018-06-05|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-17}} He ran for mayor of St. Catharines in 2014, losing to Walter Sendzik by fewer than 2000 votes.
In February 2018, Burch won the NDP nomination in Niagara Centre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/news/jeff-burch-wins-ndp-nomination-in-niagara-centre-1.3639196|title=Jeff Burch wins NDP nomination in Niagara Centre|last=Média|first=Bell|website=www.iheartradio.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-17}} The riding has been an NDP stronghold for 44 years{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} with Mel Swart, Peter Kormos and Cindy Forster holding the seat. On June 7, 2018, Burch won the seat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8658777-burch-maintains-ndp-dynasty/|title=Burch maintains NDP dynasty|last=Johnson|first=Nathaniel|date=2018-06-07|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-17}}
Burch currently serves as the Official Opposition critic for Municipal Affairs{{Cite web|url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/jeff-burch|title=Jeff Burch {{!}} Legislative Assembly of Ontario|website=www.ola.org|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}} as well as the chair of the Official Opposition caucus.
Three months after his election in 2018, he scored a major victory by winning unanimous support for his motion to bring two-way all-day GO Transit rail service to Niagara.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8933528-province-commits-to-2023-for-go-train/|title=Province commits to 2023 for GO train|last=Benner|first=Allan|date=2018-09-28|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-08-17}}
Electoral record
{{2025 Ontario general election/Niagara Centre}}
{{2022 Ontario general election/Niagara Centre}}
{{CANelec/top|ON|2018|Niagara Centre (provincial electoral district)|Niagara Centre|percent=yes|change=yes|prelim=no}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Jeff Burch| 21,618 |44.23|−3.65}}
{{CANelec|ON|PC|April Jeffs| 18,333 |37.51|+10.87}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Benoit Mercier| 5,779 |11.82|−8.60}}
{{CANelec|ON|Green|Joe Dias| 1,803 |3.69|−0.34}}
{{CANelec|ON|NOTA|Joe Crawford| 623 |1.27|}}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Patrick Pietruszko| 368 |0.75|−0.27}}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Steve Soos|217|0.44|}}
{{CANelec|ON|The People|Dario Smagata-Bryan|133|0.27|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes| 48,874 |98.63}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|680|1.37|}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|49,554|56.13|}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|88,287}}
{{CANelec/hold|ON|NDP|-7.26}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Ontario{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid%20Votes%20Cast%20for%20Each%20Candidate%20-%202018%20Provincial%20General%20Election.pdf|title=Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate|page=6|publisher=Elections Ontario|access-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228175029/https://www.elections.on.ca/content/dam/NGW/sitecontent/2018/results/officialresults-yellowbook/votescastbycandidate/pdf/Valid%20Votes%20Cast%20for%20Each%20Candidate%20-%202018%20Provincial%20General%20Election.pdf|archive-date=28 December 2018|url-status=dead}}|}}
{{end}}
= 2014 St. Catharines Mayoral Election =
| class="wikitable" | ||
| style="background:#ddf; width:200px;"| Mayoral Candidate {{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharines.ca/election2014/#at/e75b0092-41bc-47b2-9bfa-6bbd3a4a7501/ar/10/ct/1011|title=Election Results|access-date=2014-10-29|archive-date=2014-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223034501/https://www.stcatharines.ca/election2014/#at/e75b0092-41bc-47b2-9bfa-6bbd3a4a7501/ar/10/ct/1011|url-status=dead}}
! style="background:#ddf; width:50px;"| Vote ! style="background:#ddf; width:30px;"| % | ||
|---|---|---|
| Walter Sendzik | 13,147 | 40.19 |
| Jeff Burch | 11,321 | 34.61 |
| Peter Secord | 6,571 | 20.09 |
| Mark Stevens | 1,135 | 3.47 |
| Jim Fannon | 535 | 1.64 |
= 2010 St. Catharines City Council Election - Ward 1 - Merriton =
| class="wikitable" | ||
| bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="200px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Total votes ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | % of total vote | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jennie Stevens (X) | 2,294 | 32.96% |
| Jeff Burch (X) | 2,064 | 29.66% |
| David Haywood | 1,134 | 16.29% |
| Garry Robbins | 817 | 11.74% |
| Sam Sacco | 491 | 7.05% |
| Cameron Alderdice | 160 | 2.30% |
| bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
| Total valid votes | 6,960 | 100.00 |
= 2006 St. Catharines City Council Election - Ward 1 - Meritton =
| class="wikitable" | ||
| bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="200px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | Total votes ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" | % of total vote | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Burch | 2857 | 33.01% |
| Jennie Stevens (X) | 2849 | 32.92% |
| Sheila Morra (X) | 2049 | 23.68% |
| Robbie Craine | 899 | 10.39% |
| bgcolor="#EEEEEE"
| Total valid votes | 6,960 | 100.00 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ontario MPPs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burch, Jeff}}
Category:Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs
Category:St. Catharines city councillors
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario