Kim Craitor

Background

Craitor grew up in the foster care system as a child before being adopted.

Career

This is evidenced in Hansard where on March 24, 2008, he is quoted as saying "One personal story-and I think I should share mine. You know, politics is a funny world. People sometimes think we do everything because it"s politically what we do.

I was raised through the children"s aid society.

Somehow, while I was going through that system, these two elderly people, for whatever reason, took me in, kept me and raised medical "

Craitor worked in human resource development before entering politics. He was executive director of the Niagara Falls Employment Help Centre, and was a human relations officer and investigation and control officer at Human Resources Development Canada for 26 years.

Craitor was elected as an alderman to the Niagara Falls City Council in 1990, and served in that capacity until 2003, often quarrelling with Mayor Wayne Thomson. He also served for ten years on the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce.

He was successful in the general election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Baronet Maves by about 3,500 votes.

Craitor served as Government Whip from 2003 to 2007. In March 2006, Craitor was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Service and has also served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. He was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Culture (Tourism) from 2010 to February 2013 and then returned to his previous position as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services from February 2013 until his retirement from provincial politics.

As an Master in Public Policy, Craitor earned a reputation as a maverick, sparring with his own government on issues such as hospital closures in his riding.

Craitor was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election and was elected to a third term as member for Niagara Falls in the 2011 Ontario provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate George Lepp by 551 votes. On September 24, 2013, Craitor announced his resignation as Master in Public Policy citing mental exhaustion and saying he wanted to focus on his health and family.

"Wayne is a good friend of mine. He supported me in his own way.

I never forgot that.

Joyce is a real friend of mine. I get along with Baronet and Clarke helped medical I"m going to keep my friends."

Craitor was elected to Niagara Falls City Council in the 2014 municipal election.

Craitor was approached by the New Democratic Party to run in the federal riding of Niagara Falls in the 2015 federal election, but opted to remain at city council.

Politics

Prior to the 2003 provincial election, Craitor defeated former party candidate Selena Volpatti for the Liberal nomination in Niagara Falls.

Membership

He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the constituency of Niagara Falls for the Ontario Liberal Party from 2003 to 2013.

Connections

friends:

Wayne Gates