25 Facts About Phil Gillies

Philip Andrew Gillies was born on May 7,1954 and is a former politician in Ontario, Canada.

Phil Gillies served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987 as a Progressive Conservative, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller.

Phil Gillies's family moved to Brantford, Ontario, Canada when he was seven.

Phil Gillies completed his education at the University of Western Ontario and worked as an advertising executive.

Phil Gillies ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial election, but lost to New Democratic Party candidate Mac Makarchuk in the riding of Brantford.

In 1977 and 1978, Phil Gillies worked as research assistant to Ontario Premier Bill Davis.

Phil Gillies ran again in the 1981 election, and defeated Makarchuk by over 3,000 votes.

Phil Gillies served as a backbench supporter of the Davis government, and endorsed Larry Grossman for the party leadership in January 1985; Grossman would lose the leadership contest to Frank Miller.

Phil Gillies himself was narrowly re-elected in Brantford, defeating NDP candidate Jack Tubman by 1,141 votes.

Phil Gillies was promoted to Minister of Skills Development on May 17,1985 but accomplished little before the Tories were defeated in a non-confidence motion in the house two months later.

In opposition, Phil Gillies served as his party's critic for skills development, labour and the environment.

Phil Gillies took an interest in labour and human rights issues, and was one of the first PC MPPs to work for LGBT rights in Ontario.

Phil Gillies was defeated in the 1987 provincial election, finishing third against Liberal candidate Dave Neumann.

Phil Gillies ran communications and advertising for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives in the 1990 provincial election in support of new party leader Mike Harris.

Phil Gillies later worked as a consultant for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the Royal Bank of Canada and other corporations and non-profit organizations, and came out as gay.

Phil Gillies has served on committees for Autism Speaks Canada and TVOntario.

Phil Gillies has published columns in the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun and Hamilton Spectator.

Phil Gillies worked on endangered species issues for the WildAid Conservation Society in 2011 and 2012.

In 2011, Phil Gillies helped spearhead a national campaign to have shark fin banned in Canada.

Phil Gillies led his hometown of Brantford to become the first municipality in North America to ban the trade and possession of shark fin through a by-law passed on May 24,2011.

Phil Gillies ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Brant in the 2014 election, but was not re-elected to the legislature.

In June 2016 Phil Gillies joined Enterprise Canada Public Affairs as Municipal Practice Lead.

In 2016 at the annual convention of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, Phil Gillies was presented with a special achievement award by leader Patrick Brown for his decades of service to the party.

In 2018 Phil Gillies was appointed executive director of the Ontario Construction Consortium, a think tank supported by the unionized construction sector.

In 2023 Phil Gillies was appointed a Director of Ontario One Call.