Gilles Bisson

Not to be confused with Gilles Brisson.
Gilles Bisson
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Timmins
In office
June 7, 2018 – May 3, 2022
Preceded by first member
Succeeded by George Pirie
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Timmins—James Bay
In office
June 3, 1999 – May 9, 2018
Preceded by Riding established
Succeeded by Riding dissolved
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Cochrane South
In office
September 6, 1990 – June 3, 1999
Preceded by Alan Pope
Succeeded by riding dissolved
Dean of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
In office
June 7, 2018 – May 3, 2022
Serving with Ted Arnott and Jim Wilson
Preceded by Jim Bradley
Succeeded by Ted Arnott
Personal details
Born May 14, 1957
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Political party New Democratic
Spouse Murielle
Children 2
Occupation Trade unionist

Gilles C. Bisson (born May 14, 1957) is a Franco-Ontarian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 until his defeat in the 2022 Ontario general election. From 1999 to 2022 he represented the northern riding of Timmins.

Background

Bisson is Franco-Ontarian. He was a labour union organizer, who worked for the Ontario Federation of Labour (of which he was the Northeast Director for a time).

A licensed private pilot, Bisson owns a small aircraft which he uses to fly between communities in his far-flung riding, the legislative seat in Toronto and elsewhere. Bisson was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets with #10 Timmins Kiwanis Squadron where he attained the rank of Flight Sergeant. He also served in both the Canadian Armed Forces "reg force" in 1974/1975 and as a reservist with the Algonquin Regiment B Company.

Bisson is married, is a father of two daughters, and is a grandfather of four.

Politics

Bisson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990, defeating Liberal Frank Krznaric by about 2,000 votes in the old riding of Cochrane South. He served as parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Francophone Affairs in Bob Rae's government, and also served as a member of the cabinet committee on the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.

Although the NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995, Bisson significantly increased the margin of his victory in Cochrane South. He was, in fact, the only NDP candidate elected with more than 50% riding support in that cycle. He was easily re-elected in the 1999 election, and fought off a closer challenge from Liberal Michael Doody, a former mayor of Timmins and broadcaster, in the election of 2003. He was re-elected in 2007, 2011, and 2014.

Bisson's popularity has helped make Timmins—James Bay one of the top ridings in Ontario for the federal NDP as well, helping Charlie Angus pick up the seat in the 2004 election.

On August 29, 2008, Bisson announced he would run to succeed Howard Hampton in the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election. Bisson was defeated, finishing in third place behind first runner-up Peter Tabuns and the victor, Andrea Horwath.

From 2014 until 2022 he was the party's House Leader and was the NDP's critic for Natural Resources and Forestry issues.

Bisson lost his seat to Progressive Conservative candidate George Pirie in the 2022 Ontario general election.

Electoral record

2022 Ontario general election: Timmins
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative George Pirie 9,450 64.93 +35.29
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 4,295 29.5 -27.92
New Blue David Farrell 408 2.80
Green Elizabeth Lockhard 337 2.32 +0.57
Confederation of Regions Nadia Sadiq 64 0.44
Total valid votes 14,554
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots
Turnout 43.43 -4.68
Eligible voters 33,508
Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing +31.60
Source: Elections Ontario


2018 Ontario general election: Timmins
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 8,978 57.43
Progressive Conservative Yvan L. Génier 4,634 29.64
Liberal Mickey Auger 1,378 8.81
Green Lucas Blake Schinbeckler 273 1.75
Northern Ontario Gary Schaap 249 1.59
Libertarian Jozef Bauer 121 0.77
Total valid votes 15,633 100.0  
Turnout 48.5
Eligible voters 32,253
New Democratic pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 11,756 51.39 +1.92
Liberal Sylvie Fontaine 5,527 24.32 +11.95
Progressive Conservative Steve Black 5,226 22.72 -13.97
Green Bozena Hrycyna 403 1.31 +0.31
Confederation of Regions Fauzia Sadiq 60 0.27
Total valid votes 22,972 100.00
New Democratic hold Swing -5.02
Source: Elections Ontario
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 11,479 49.47 -2.70
Progressive Conservative Al Spacek 8,515 36.69 +28.08
Liberal Leonard Rickard 2,870 12.37 -25.15
Green Angela Plant 233 1.00 -0.70
Freedom Robert Neron 108 0.47  
Total valid votes 23,205 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 83 0.36
Turnout 23,288 46.84
Eligible voters 49,723
New Democratic hold Swing -15.39
Source: Elections Ontario
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 13,176 52.17 +2.47
Liberal Pat Boucher 9,729 37.52 -3.64
Progressive Conservative Steve Kidd 2,191 8.61 +0.2
Green Larry Verner 437 1.70 +0.97
Total valid votes 25,533 100.00
2003 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 14,941 49.70 -3.20
Liberal Michael Doody 12,373 41.16 +8.34
Progressive Conservative Merv Russell 2,527 8.41 -4.86
Green Marsha Kriss 219 0.73
Total valid votes 30,060 100.00
1999 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 16,504 52.90
Liberal Yves Malette 10,238 32.82
Progressive Conservative Marcel Pelchat 4,139 13.27
Independent Ed Walsh 316 1.01
Total valid votes 31,197 100.00
1995 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 12,114 50.48 +1.27
Progressive Conservative Gord Miller 6,587 27.45 +23.07
Liberal Jim Brown 4,958 20.66 -19.54
Independent Joel Vien 339 1.41 N/A
Total valid votes 23,098 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 192 0.83
Turnout 23,290 60.36
Eligible voters 38,584
New Democratic hold Swing +1.27
1990 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Gilles Bisson 11,460 49.21
Liberal Peter Krznaric 9,361 40.20
Confederation of Regions Ken Metsala 2,229 9.26
Progressive Conservative Tina Positano 1,019 4.38
Total valid votes 24,069 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 153 0.63
Turnout 24,222 62.95
Eligible voters 38,479
New Democratic gain Swing