Monique M. Smith (born c. 1965) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2011 who represented the riding of Nipissing. She was a cabinet minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty.
Monique Smith | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 2003–2011 | |
| Preceded by | Al McDonald |
| Succeeded by | Vic Fedeli |
| Constituency | Nipissing |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1965 (age 58–59) North Bay, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Relations | Richard Smith, father |
| Residence | North Bay, Ontario |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Background
editSmith was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario, the largest city in the Nipissing riding.[1] She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, and a law degree from Queen's University. After graduating, she worked at the Toronto law firm of McCarthy Tétrault until 1997,[2] when she resigned to work as chief of staff for provincial Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty. She served as director of operations for the Liberals in the 1999 provincial election, which the party lost.
After this election, Smith became executive director of the Association of Canadian Publishers, and represented the organization across the country.[2] She returned to North Bay in 2002, and worked for the firm of Larmer and Larmer.
Her father, Dick Smith, represented Nipissing in the legislature from 1965 to 1977.[3] Her mother Marthe Smith was the Liberal candidate for the riding in 1987.[4]
Politics
editSmith ran for political office in the 2003 provincial election, in the Nipissing riding (until recently held by former Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Harris). Despite her roots in the North Bay community, she was often described as a "Toronto lawyer" and a "parachute candidate" by the Tory campaign. These criticisms were not an obstacle to her being elected, and she defeated Harris' immediate successor, Al McDonald, by just over 3,000 votes.[5]
The Liberals won the election, and Smith was subsequently named parliamentary assistant to George Smitherman, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. In December 2003, Smitherman commissioned her to undertake a comprehensive review of the province's long-term care system. The review was published in May 2004 calling for more funding and inspections.
On October 30, 2007 following the provincial election, Premier Dalton McGuinty appointed Smith into cabinet as the province's Minister of Revenue.[6] In a cabinet shuffle on September 18, 2008, Smith was appointed as the province's Minister of Tourism.[7] On February 4, 2009 Smith was appointed Government House Leader. She continued as Minister of Tourism until she was appointed Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs in January 2010.[8]
On November 19, 2010, Smith announced that she would not run in the 2011 election.[3]
In August 2013, Premier Kathleen Wynne appointed Smith to represent the Government of Ontario at its office at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.[9]
On July 16, 2018, Conservative Premier Doug Ford withdrew Monique Smith from her position as the representative in a Washington, DC effective immediately. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4748423
Cabinet positions
editAfter politics
editOn August 15, 2013, she was appointed by Premier Kathleen Wynne to run Ontario's office in the Canadian embassy in Washington.[10]
Electoral record
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Monique Smith | 13,730 | 41.94 | -7.90 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Bill Vrebosch | 13,373 | 40.85 | -0.62 | |
| New Democratic | Henri Giroux | 4,135 | 12.63 | +5.40 | |
| Green | Amy Brownridge | 1,258 | 3.84 | +2.38 | |
| Family Coalition | Suzanne Plouffe | 238 | 0.73 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Monique Smith | 18,003 | 49.84 | +6.70 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Al McDonald | 14,978 | 41.47 | -8.95 | |
| New Democratic | Terry O'Connor | 2,613 | 7.23 | +2.37 | |
| Green | Jaimie Board | 528 | 1.46 | +0.51 | |
References
edit- ^ Ruimy, Joel (17 April 1999). "Grit Kids aim to craft myths of their own". Toronto Star. p. 1.
- ^ a b "Executive director appointment". Quill & Quire. Vol. 66, no. 2. February 2000. p. 17.
- ^ a b "Another McGuinty Liberal bows out". Toronto Star. 19 November 2010.
- ^ Campbell, Laurel J. (26 September 2007). "Family, past and present, integral to Smith's goals" (PDF). Almaguin News. p. 7.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
- ^ Ferguson, Rob; Benzie, Robert (31 October 2007). "Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area". Toronto Star. p. A13.
- ^ "The new-look Ontario cabinet". The Hamilton Spectator. 19 September 2008. p. A9.
- ^ Kenyon, Wallace (19 January 2010). "Sweeping changes hit Queen's Park; Liberal Cabinet". National Post. p. A8.
- ^ "Ontario Appoints New Representative in Washington" (Press release). Toronto, ON: Province of Ontario. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ "Former Liberal minister Monique Smith appointed Ontario's envoy to Washington". Toronto Star. 15 August 2013.