The Honourable Monique Smith

Minister of Tourism

 

Monique Smith was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2003, but was no stranger to the legislature, having worked from 1997 to 1999 as chief of staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition, Dalton McGuinty. Smith was appointed Minister of Tourism in 2008 and added the role of Government House Leader in 2009. She previously served as Minister of Revenue.

 

Prior to her recruitment by McGuinty’s team, she practised labour and employment law at McCarthy Tétrault, a Toronto law firm. After the 1999 general election, Smith joined the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) as executive director. The ACP is a national trade association representing over 140 Canadian-owned publishing houses across the country. As executive director she travelled extensively promoting Canadian publishing and was a bilingual spokesperson for the industry both nationally and internationally.

 

Since her election in 2003, Smith has been working hard on behalf of the people of Nipissing and ensuring the voices of northern Ontarians are heard at Queen’s Park. She has delivered results for Nipissing with the construction of two hospitals underway, the building of a new children’s treatment centre and the continued four-laning of Highway 11.

 

Shortly after the 2003 election, she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. In May 2004, she completed a province-wide review of long-term care, the results of which were included in her report, “A Commitment to Care: A Plan for Long-Term Care in Ontario.” This report has served as the foundation for the many reforms the McGuinty government has undertaken in long-term care.