Information AboutDwight Duncan |
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EARLY CAREER Duncan was born in Windsor , Ontario , and holds a Bachelor Of Arts degree in Economics from McGill University and a Master Of Business Administration from the University Of Windsor . He has been a member of the Liberal Party since the early 1970s, and once skipped class in 1972 to attend a rally for his political hero, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau . Duncan's first full-time job after graduating from university was in the office of federal Liberal Member Of Parliament (MP) Herb Gray , and he later worked for provincial Labour Minister Bill Wrye between 1985 and 1987. From 1987 to 1995, Duncan was Administrator of Brentwood Recovery Centre, Canada's largest alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre. He also served on Windsor City Council from 1988 until 1994, and declined to seek re-election in order to prepare for his first provincial campaign. OPPOSITION MEMBER He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 Provincial Election , defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Wayne Lessard by 380 votes in Windsor—Walkerville . The Progressive Conservative Party won a majority government in this election, and Duncan became a member of the official opposition. Between 1995 and 1999, he served as his party's critic for Labour, Privatization, Housing, Transportation, and the Workers Compensation Board. Following the resignation of Ontario Liberal Party leader Lyn McLeod in 1996, Duncan became a candidate for the party leadership. His campaign combined conservative fiscal policies with plans for increased investment in health and education, and his leading supporters included Sean Conway , Tim Murphy and Mike Colle . He finished third on the first and second ballots at the party's Leadership Convention , but was eliminated after falling to fourth place on the third ballot, behind Dalton McGuinty . Duncan then endorsed Gerard Kennedy , who lost to McGuinty on the fifth ballot. (At the announcement of McGuinty's victory, a TV Ontario camera recorded Duncan telling supporters, "we're fucked".) Duncan's opponent from 1995, Wayne Lessard, won a By-election for a different Windsor constituency in 1997. For the 1999 Provincial Election , redistribution of constituencies forced the two MPPs to face one other in Windsor—St. Clair . Duncan was again successful, defeating Lessard by 4,212 votes. The Progressive Conservatives won a second majority government, and Duncan became opposition House Leader on June 25 , 1999 . He also served as Liberal critic for Municipal Affairs and the Management Board of Cabinet during the next four years. CABINET MINISTER The Liberals won a majority government in the 2003 Provincial Election , and Duncan was easily returned over NDP candidate Madeline Crnec . He was appointed Minister Of Energy and Government House Leader on October 23 , 2003 , and took on the difficult task of managing Ontario Power Generation . Duncan encouraged energy conservation in his capacity as Energy Minister. He announced an end to fixed electricity prices on August 9 , 2004 , and was quoted as saying, "I can't protect consumers from the fact that natural gas is running out". In an October 10 , 2005 interview with the Canadian Press, Duncan emphasized his government's plans to phase out coal-burning plants, and expressed a willingness to consider increased nuclear production in the province. In late 2004, Duncan helped to establish a new medical school affiliated with the University of Windsor. On October 11 , 2005 , Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara unexpectedly resigned from office due to an investigation of his family's real estate development firm by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police . Duncan was appointed to replace Sorbara as Minister of Finance and Chair Of The Management Board Of Cabinet later the same day. He presented his first budget as Minister of Finance on March 23 , 2006 . It focused on infrastructure spending, and particularly new spending on public transit projects in the Greater Toronto Area including extension of the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway line, and roads and bridges in other parts of the province.
EXTERNAL LINKS ELECTORAL RECORD 1991 municipal election, Windsor Ward One (two members) {Provisional results taken from the ''Windsor Star'' newspaper, 13 November 1991. The revised final totals were not significantly different. Electors were permitted to vote for two candidates.) 1988 municipal election, Windsor Ward One (two members) {Provisional results taken from the ''Windsor Star'' newspaper, 15 November 1988. The revised final totals were not significantly different. Electors were permitted to vote for two candidates.) NOTES AND SOURCES All provincial electoral information is taken from Elections Ontario . The 1999 and 2003 expenditure entries are taken from official candidate reports as listed by Elections Ontario. The figures cited are the Total Candidate's Campaign Expenses Subject to Limitation, and include transfers from constituency associations. The 1995 expenditures do not include these transfers, and cover only candidate expenses subject to limitation. |
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