Eric Hoskins

Education

After he attended Simcoe Composite School for high school, Hoskins completed a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry at McMaster University in 1982 and graduated with an M.D. degree from McMaster University Medical School in 1985. Subsequently, Hoskins was awarded a Rhodes scholarship and continued his studies at the University of Oxford where he completed a DPhil in public health and epidemiology. Hoskins also holds a MSc degree from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics from The University of Aberdeen. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Working in conflict areas

From 1987 to 1990, Hoskins lived and worked in Sudan providing humanitarian relief to Ethiopian refugees in eastern Sudan, and to displaced civilians in southern Sudan. In 1991, Hoskins co-founded the International Study Team, and led a group of international experts to examine the impact of war on the civilian population in Iraq. The study provided a detailed humanitarian assessment of post-Gulf War Iraq.

Having seen the impact of war on Iraqi children, Hoskins lobbied the Canadian government to release over 2 million dollars of frozen Iraqi assets held in Canadian banks, and spent the following two years overseeing the purchase and distribution of food and medicine to tens of thousands of at-risk Iraqi children.

In 1997, Hoskins was asked to join the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, as his Senior Policy Advisor. While at the Department of Foreign Affairs, he was responsible for contributing to Canadian foreign policy in the areas of human rights, human security, humanitarian affairs, peace building, war-affected children and Africa. He later also served as an Advisor to the Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations, and has been involved in setting United Nations policy on issues concerning the protection of children living with war.

War Child Canada

Hoskins is the co-founder and former president of War Child Canada, a multimillion-dollar Canadian charitable organization that works to raise funds for relief and development programs in support of war-affected children around the world. Working alongside his wife, War Child Executive Director Samantha Nutt, Hoskins helped the organization develop international relief programs and spread awareness of the issues facing war-affected children. He worked with the United Nations and non-governmental organizations in some of the world's worst conflict areas including Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Burundi, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As President of War Child Canada, Hoskins was a frequent contributor to Maclean's magazine on war-related issues. He was a regular commentator on CTV, CBC and other major broadcast networks concerning the impact of war on civilians.

Awards and recognition

At the age of 33, Hoskins became the youngest recipient of the United Nations Association in Canada's Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal and was later awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada in the name of the Queen of Canada for his work in war-torn communities around the world.

In addition to receiving the United Nations Association in Canada's Lester B. Pearson Peace Medal and the Meritorious Service Cross, Hoskins has been awarded the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Citation for Citizenship, Canada's Top 40 Under 40 Award, and a McMaster University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Hoskins and his wife, Samantha Nutt, received Honorary Doctorates of Law from McMaster University in May 2005 for their work promoting human rights and their role in delivering humanitarian assistance to some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Hoskins also has honorary degrees from Brock and Niagara Universities.

In April 2008, Hoskins was made an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaëlle Jean for his humanitarian work.

Politics

On April 21, 2007, Hoskins was chosen as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk for the 2008 Federal election. On October 14, 2008, he was defeated by Conservative incumbent Diane Finley.

On August 12, 2009, Hoskins was nominated as the provincial Liberal candidate in the St. Paul's by-election. On September 19, 2009, he defeated Toronto Sun columnist Sue-Ann Levy running for the Progressive Conservatives. On January 18, 2010, he was named the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

In the 2011 Ontario election, Hoskins was easily re-elected defeating PC candidate Christine McGirr by 16,076 votes. After the election he was appointed as Minister of Children and Youth Services.

He resigned on November 9, 2012, to stand as a candidate in the Ontario Liberal Party leadership election. He was eliminated after the first ballot and he endorsed Kathleen Wynne, the eventual winner. On February 11, 2013, he was appointed Minister of Economic Development, Trade & Employment. He was re-elected in June 2014, and was appointed as the Minister of Health and Long Term Care.