Monte McNaughton Biography Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, and Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, is a politician, community leader and former small business owner from southwestern Ontario. He is currently serving his third consecutive term as a Member of Provincial Parliament. Monte attended elementary and high school in Glencoe and graduated from Westervelt Business College in London. He later completed executive programs at the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University. At the age of twenty Monte was elected as municipal councillor in his hometown of Newbury, and was re-elected to two further terms before retiring from that office. From 2009 to 2010 he served as President of the Strathroy and District Chamber of Commerce, and he served on the board of Four Counties General Hospital Foundation. Monte McNaughton was elected to the provincial legislature in 2011 and served in numerous critic positions, most notably as Official Opposition Critic for Economic Development. He also chaired the Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs. Monte took the oath of office as Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure in June 2018. As Minister he embarked on an ambitious consultation across Ontario on previously neglected infrastructure needs. Monte introduced legislation to expand natural gas availability into rural parts of the province and he tabled a plan to deliver high-speed internet to poorly serviced parts of the province. In 2018 he announced an investment to renovate the aging Massey Hall, Canada’s most renowned concert hall. In June 2019 Monte was appointed Minister of Labour. He has since opened a new dialogue with Ontario’s labour partners. This has included meeting with more than 150 labour leaders in his first four months as minister. In October 2019 his portfolio was expanded to include Training and Skills Development. Monte and his wife Kate and their daughter, Annie, live in Mt. Brydges, Ontario.
Politics
In 1997, at the age of 20, McNaughton was elected to the municipal council in his hometown of Newbury, Ontario, eventually serving three terms. In the 2007 provincial election he was the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex. He lost to Liberal incumbent Maria Van Bommel by 2,933 votes. In the 2011 election he ran against Van Bommel again this time defeating her by 6,956 votes. He was re-elected in the 2014 election, winning by 8,550 votes. In opposition, McNaughton served in multiple critic roles, including, most notably, as official Opposition Critic for Economic Development, Employment, and Infrastructure. He also chaired the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.
Leadership campaign
On September 17, 2014, McNaughton announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. During his campaign McNaughton received endorsements from Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto, who called McNaughton a "family man" and "the conservative in the PC leadership race." Ford added, "he will help the little guy and defend the taxpayer." McNaughton criticized the Liberal government for not consulting with parents when they implemented a new sex education curriculum. He also supported a move to private liquor sales and opposed the LCBO retail model. He said, "If we were to build Ontario again, we wouldn’t be building the same communist-style liquor system that we have here in the province."
In the fall of 2018, McNaughton successfully introduced and passed legislation for Bill 32, the Access to Natural Gas Act. The legislation makes it possible to expand access to natural gas to more parts of rural and northern Ontario, as well as First Nations communities.
Nipigon Natural Gas
During the winter of 2019, Minister McNaughton announced that Ontario will provide $27 million towards the plant, which would convert natural gas into a liquid form, so it could be a safely and economically tucked to customers. It would replace costlier fuel sources to more than 550 businesses and 5,000 homes – saving residents an estimated $181.3 million and businesses $65.3 million on energy bills over 40 years. The project will create between 700 and 2,800 jobs in the region.
Massey Hall
In the fall of 2018, McNaughton announced that in his role as the Minister of Infrastructure, he is supporting infrastructure investments to renovate and expand Canada’s oldest concert hall, a move that will boost Ontario’s tourism and culture sector. McNaughton and Minister Michael Tibollo announced a full restoration of the exterior and interior of the building, including 100 original stained-glass windows. As well, a new seven-storey tower addition will feature a live-music stage and performance studio. The second phase of the revitalization has a budget of up to $113 million.
Private Members Bills
Estate Administration Tax
In September 2015, McNaughton introduced legislation to reform the Estate Administration Tax, also known as the Death Tax. The Estate Administration Tax Fairness Act 2015 would exempt low income earners and charitable donations from the tax, as well as eliminating the related audit and verification authority the Ministry of Finance had recently taken on.
Debt Cap
In February 2016, as the provincial debt surpassed $300 billion, McNaughton introduced a private member’s bill to the legislature which would implement a debt cap. The debt cap would stop the government of Ontario from taking on debt exceeding 45% of its GDP without the approval of the legislature.
Transparency in Energy Pricing
In June 2017, in response to concerns about undisclosed taxation, McNaughton introduced a private member’s bill which would mandate that the cost of the provincial Cap and Trade program be disclosed to consumers as a separate line item on natural gas bills. The bill passed second reading on September 21, 2017.
