Chris Hodgson (born ) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was Reeve of Dysart country in 1993, and warden of Haliburton. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1994 to 2003 representing the ridings of Victoria—Haliburton and Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. He was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves, serving variously as Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet and Deputy Government House Leader, and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Background Hodgson was born in Millbrook, Haliburton, Ontario, to the first Director of Education for Haliburton County, John Douglas Hodgson (1926-1997) and his wife Barbara Brintell. He graduated from Trent University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in history and political science. He worked as a real-estate agent for RE/MAX and worked in health care planning for Haliburton County. Hodgson's son, Cody, is a retired ice hockey player picked 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft who last played for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League in 2016. His uncle, Ronald Glen Hodgson, was a Tory MPP for many years, in the same riding later held by Chris Hodgson. His grandfather, Clayton Hodgson, also represented the riding federally from 1945 to 1963. Another uncle, Louis Hodgson, was also a PC MPP, representing the Toronto riding of Scarborough East for one term from 1963 to 1967. Political career Hodgson was the Reeve of Dysart county, winning 70% of the vote in his election, and warden of Haliburton County, prior to entering provincial politics. Hodgson was elected to the Ontario legislature in a 1994 by-election with 63% of the vote, defeating Liberal candidate Sharon McCrae by fewer than 2,000 votes in the rural riding of Victoria—Haliburton. After the by-election, there were may accusations by the Liberal opposition and media that Hodgson's team appealed to homophobic prejudice in the region to put their candidate over the top. However, Hodgson's campaign prioritized the ongoing recession, and electoral analysis shows that he was elected on the basis of the positive response to his 5-point plan, focusing on cutting red tape and taxes, downsizing government, creating a good job climate, bringing deficits under control, and reforming education. Meanwhile, at the time of the by-election, the Liberal Party claimed to have unequivocally supported the NDP government's plans to provide