Information AboutDwight Duncan |
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EARLY CAREER Duncan was born in Windsor , Ontario , and holds a Bachelor's 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 '', 1 November 1996, A27. OPPOSITION MEMBER Duncan 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. Duncan became a candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership following the resignation of Lyn McLeod in 1996. His campaign plan combined a cautious fiscal strategy with plans for increased investment in health and education, and his leading supporters included Sean Conway , Tim Murphy and Mike Colle .William Walker, "Rookie MPP in Liberal race", ''Toronto Star'', 26 June 1996, A9 Kelly Toughill, "Liberals begin choosing new leader Party voters pick delegates to convention", 19 October 1996, A14 [Murphy ; Colin Vaughan, "Shuffle approved with no public input", '' Globe And Mail '', 16 September 1996, A3 [Colle]. He finished third on the first and second ballots at the party's 1996 Leadership Convention , but was eliminated after falling to fourth place behind Dalton McGuinty on the third. Duncan then endorsed Gerard Kennedy , who lost to McGuinty on the fifth ballot.William Walker, "Deals turned convention into high drama", ''Toronto Star'', 2 December 1996, A11. At the announcement of McGuinty's victory, a TV Ontario camera recorded Duncan telling supporters, "we're fucked". See [http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/17/26/News/feature2.html Enzo di Matteo, "Who's out to get Dalton McGuinty"], ''Now Magazine'', 26 February-4 March 1998. Duncan's 1995 opponent, Wayne Lessard, won a By-election for a different Windsor constituency in 1997. For the 1999 Provincial Election , redistribution forced the two MPPs to face one other a second time in Windsor—St. Clair . Duncan was again successful, defeating Lessard by over 4,000 votes. The Progressive Conservatives won a second majority government, and Duncan became opposition House Leader on June 25 , 1999 . He also served as Liberal Party critic for Municipal Affairs and the Management Board of Cabinet over the next four years. CABINET MINISTER The Liberals won a majority government in the 2003 Provincial Election . Duncan was appointed Minister Of Energy and Government House Leader on October 23 , 2003 . Minister of Energy (first time) One of Duncan's primary responsibilities as Energy Minister was managing Ontario Power Generation , which was in an extremely troubled state when the Liberals assumed power in 2003. A damning report into systemic mismanagement at OPG was issued shortly soon the new government assumed power, and several high-level executives were forced to submit their resignations. Duncan appointed a new interim board led by former federal Minister Of Energy, Mines And Resources Jake Epp to lead the organization's renewal."Former federal energy minister Jake Epp has been appointed to chair a new interim board of directors at Ontario Power", ''Broadcast News'', 10 December 2003, 16:40 report. Duncan subsequently announced plans for a comprehensive audit of OPG, when its budgetary shortfall was found to be $850 million."Ont.'s $850 million shocker", ''Canadian Press'', 16 December 2003, 02:56 report. See also April Lindgren, "Liberals to fire four more OPG senior executives", ''National Post'', 6 January 2004, A7. Reports in early 2004 indicated that Tory advisers with close ties to Mike Harris and Ernie Eves had received untendered contracts worth $5.6 million in 1999, when the Progressive Conservatives were still in government.James McCarten, "Hydro One deals reviled", ''Hamilton Spectator'', 25 February 2004, A14. The OPG's situation improved under its new management, and it was able to post a $42 million profit in 2005."Ontario Power Generation posts $42-million profit", ''Guelph Mercury'', 30 March 2005, A6. Duncan issued a strategic report from the Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force in January 2004. The report called for Ontario to emphasize energy conservation, while also ensuring "reliability, diversity and affordability", and consumer protection."Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force report confirms need for new direction in Ontario's ...", ''Canada NewsWire'', 14 January 2004, 13:00 report. Two months later, Duncan brought forward a conservation plan highlighted by the use of "smart" electricity meters to discourage overuse during peak hours.Richard Mackie, "Ontario blueprint aims to chop electricity use", ''Globe and Mail'', 16 March 2004, A1. The government plans to have smart meters installed throughout the province by 2010.Caroline Alphonso, "Big cities first in line for smart meters", ''Globe and Mail'', 27 January 2005, A14. In April 2004, Duncan announced the creation of a new body called the Ontario Power Authority to purchase energy for the province and plan its long-term energy strategy.Richard Mackie, "Ontario to create new power authority", ''Globe and Mail'', 15 April 2004, A7; April Lindgren, "Ontario to get U.S.-style power authority", ''National Post'', 16 June 2004, A11. Duncan argued that the body would "depoliticize" energy debates in Ontario. Most energy companies supported this decision, while a number of environmental groups criticized it."Critics take aim at new energy board", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', 16 June 2004, A3. The ''Globe and Mail'' newspaper raised concerns over the Authority's expanding budget in late 2006, but Duncan argued that its expenses are necessary to create a planning regime for the future.Karen Howlett, "Soaring hydro costs defended", ''Globe and Mail'', 19 December 2006, A8. Hydro rates increased twice during Duncan's first tenure as Energy Minister. The Liberal Party had campaigned on a pledge to keep energy rates frozen until 2006, but reconsidered their options after discovering a $5.6 billion deficit left by the previous government. Homeowners and small business owners were paying 4.3 cents per kilowatt hour of hydro energy in 2003, even though the market rate was close to six cents. Premier McGuinty described this situation as "completely unsustainable" in light of the deficit,Caroline Mallan, "Honeymoon over, hydro's going up", ''Hamilton Spectator'', 31 October 2006, A1. and Duncan announced that the rate would increase to 4.7 cents per kilowatt on 1 April 2004. In an effort to promote conservation, usage above 750 kilowatt hours was priced at 5.5 cents.Darren Yourk, "Ontario electricity rates to rise", ''Globe and Mail'' news , 25 November 2003. Rates were increased a second time in March 2005, to 5 cents and 5.8 cents beyond 750 kilowatt hours. In making the change, Duncan acknowledged that his party had erred in its initial support for a freeze.John Spears, "Hydro price hike receives approval", ''Toronto Star'', 12 March 2005, D1. Duncan was also forced to revise his government's plans to shut down all of Ontario's coal-burning generators by 2007. In 2004, he acknowledged that "one or two" generators would be required as backup in the event of a failure elsewhere in the system. In June 2005, Duncan announced that the Nanticoke coal plant would remain open past 2007.John Spears, "Power shortage by '06, report says", ''Toronto Star'', 15 January 2004, B1; "Ontario says coal plans won't jeopardize consumers", ''Reuters News'', 15 April 2004, 12:32 report; Richard Brennan, "Coal-fired plants won't all close", ''Toronto Star'', 2 December 2004, D6; Murray Campbell, "McGuinty to break coal plant promise", ''Globe and Mail'', 15 June 2005, A1. He later announced that the Lambton station would remain open as well.Steve Erwin, "Ontario energy minister delays closure of two coal-fired power plants", ''Canadian Press'', 9 June 2006, 15:13 report. A 2006 government report recommended keeping some plants open until 2014.Karen Howlett, "McGuinty's pollution pledge under new cloud", ''Globe and Mail'', 15 November 2006, A5. In November 2006, the McGuinty government asked the provincial power authority to create a new timetable for plant closure.Tyler Hamilton, "Power authority predicts bigger bills", ''Toronto Star'', 16 November 2006, C1. Duncan has said that Ontario will reduce its coal consumption in the coming years, even if plants remain open. In April 2005, Duncan granted approval for four private companies to create new energy projects to replace the coal plants. The firms are expected to generate 1,675 megawatts of electricity."Ontario okays private electricity", ''Montreal Gazette'', 14 April 2005, B5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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