Cliff Graydon

{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cliff Graydon | predecessor = Jack Penner | successor = District abolished | party = {{ubl | Independent (2018–2019) | Progressive Conservative (2007–2018)}} | other_party = | occupation = Farmer | office = Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for Emerson | term_start = May 22, 2007 | term_end = August 12, 2019 | image = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|69|2016|4|19}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/provincial-election/?division=emerson&candidate=3402 | title=Provincial Election - Winnipeg Free Press }}</ref> | birth_place = Arnaud, Manitoba, Canada }}

'''Cliff Graydon''' is a farmer and former politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 2007 to 2019, representing the electoral division of Emerson.

Graydon was born in Arnaud, Manitoba and has farmed for 30 years, growing grain and raising cattle. Before entering politics, Graydon was a founding member of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association and served on its board of directors. He has also served as a member of the Stuartburn Piney Agricultural Development Association and the Prairies East Sustainable Agricultural Initiative.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmanitoba.com/cliff_graydon |title=Cliff Graydon |access-date=2018-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719234030/https://www.pcmanitoba.com/cliff_graydon |archive-date=2018-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Political career== After being elected in 2007, Graydon held various critic portfolios during his time in caucus, including: Manitoba Public Insurance; Liquor Control; Lotteries; Gaming; Agriculture; Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade; and Healthy Living and Seniors.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.cliffgraydon.ca/main.asp?cat_ID=2|title = About Cliff|website = cliffgraydon.ca|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160212054232/http://cliffgraydon.ca/main.asp?cat_ID=2|archive-date = 2016-02-12|url-status = dead}}</ref> Following his party's move from opposition to government after the 2016 provincial election, Graydon was Progressive Conservative caucus whip from 2016 to 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/progressive-conservatives-name-caucus-chair-whip-1.3575462 |title=Manitoba Progressive Conservatives name caucus chair, whip}}</ref>

Graydon underwent sensitivity training in early 2018 after posting on Twitter that asylum seekers in Canada are a "drain on society."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cliff-graydon-sensitivity-training-1.4529193 |title=Sensitivity training 'a nice first symbolic gesture,' but attitudes need to change, not just language: trainer}}</ref> He had previously retweeted a post about Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau which asked "How can any woman vote for that SICK/RETARDED/TRAITOR?"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/manitoba-legislature-member-to-take-sensitivity-training-after-offensive-tweets |title=Manitoba MLA to take sensitivity training after offensive 'turdeau' tweets}}</ref>

On October 22, 2018, Graydon was expelled from caucus following allegations of sexual harassment by two legislative staffers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cliff-graydon-caucus-review-expelled-1.4872979 |title=Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon expelled from PC caucus following harassment allegations}}</ref> Before his expulsion, Graydon had indicated he would take a medical leave of absence from the legislature, not seek reelection in the next provincial election, and undergo further sensitivity training.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cliff-graydon-absence-1.4866939 |title=MLA accused of harassment taking medical leave, not seeking re-election}}</ref>

Graydon held a news conference on November 8, 2018 in which he denied all allegations, stating: "I admit I’m guilty of having a bad sense of humour and sincerely apologize to those who have been offended by my inconsiderate jokes. I have grown up in a different era and realize some people today are much more sensitive to inappropriate humour."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-inappropriate-comments-stem-from-outdated-sense-of-humour-manitoba-2/ |title=Inappropriate comments stem from outdated sense of humour, Manitoba politician says|website=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> Graydon was subsequently accused of having groped and propositioned a party staffer for sex in September, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/hes-got-a-hold-of-me-woman-says-she-was-groped-by-manitoba-politician--500521462.html |title='He's got a hold of me:' Woman says she was groped by Cliff Graydon}}</ref>

In July 2019, Graydon declared he would contest the upcoming provincial election as an independent in the new constituency of Borderland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pembinavalleyonline.com/local/graydon-enters-borderland-election-race |title='Graydon Enters Borderland Election Race}}</ref> The riding was created by the 2018 provincial redistribution out of parts of Emerson and Morden-Winkler. He finished in third place behind PC candidate Josh Guenter.

==Electoral results== {{Canadian election result/top|MB|2019|Borderland (electoral district)|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes|}} {{CANelec|MB|PC|Josh Guenter|4,886|66.09||}} {{CANelec|MB|Liberal|Loren Braul|1,226|16.58||}} {{CANelec|MB|Independent|Cliff Graydon|740|10.01||}} {{CANelec|MB|NDP|Liz Cronk|291|3.94||}} {{CANelec|MB|Green|Ken Henry|250|3.38||}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|7,393|100.0  }} {{Canadian election result/total|Rejected & declined ballots|28||}} {{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|7,421||}} {{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|11,996}} {{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Manitoba<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/downloads/GE2019/EMB_SOV_2019_Agassiz_to_KirkfieldPark.pdf|title=2019 Voting Areas and Station-by-Station Results|publisher=Elections Manitoba|accessdate=14 November 2020}}</ref>}} {{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|MB|2016|Emerson (electoral district)|Emerson|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|MB|PC|Cliff Graydon|4,943|72.71|+0.73}} {{CANelec|MB|Liberal|Loren Braul|1,423|20.93|+13.43}} {{CANelec|MB|NDP|Alanna Jones|432|6.35|-13.25}} {{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|6,798|100.0  }} {{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|–}} {{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Manitoba<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Voting/Candidates/1|title=Candidates: 41st General Election|publisher=Elections Manitoba|date=29 March 2016|accessdate=31 March 2016}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/ENR|title=41ST GENERAL ELECTION, APRIL 19, 2016 - OFFICIAL RESULTS|publisher=Elections Manitoba|date= 19 April 2016|accessdate=10 November 2016}}</ref> {{end}}

{{2007 Manitoba general election/Emerson}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_emerson_summary_results.html |title=Emerson — Official Results — 2007 Provincial Election |accessdate=2010-11-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403170849/http://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Results/39_division_results/39_emerson_summary_results.html |archivedate=2012-04-03 }} - 2007 results</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Graydon, Cliff}} Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Category:Farmers from Manitoba Category:Independent MLAs in Manitoba Category:Living people Category:People from Eastman Region, Manitoba Category:Politicians affected by a party expulsion process Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba MLAs Category:Year of birth missing (living people)