Harinder Takhar
Harinder Takhar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 2003–2018 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Sampson |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Constituency | Mississauga—Erindale Mississauga Centre (2003-2007) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harinder Jeet Singh Takhar 1951 (age 72–73) Punjab, India |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Balwinder |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Mississauga, Ontario |
| Alma mater | MA Guru Nanak Dev University BA Punjabi University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Harinder Jeet Singh Takhar (born c. 1951) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2018 who represented the ridings of Mississauga Centre and Mississauga—Erindale. He served in the cabinets of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.
Background
Takhar was born to a Sikh family in the Indian state of Punjab, with a background in farming and civil service work.[1] He moved to Canada in 1974, and arrived in Mississauga, Ontario in 1977. He obtained a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in economics and political science. He has certified as a CMA. He has taught CMA and CGA accredited courses at Sheridan College for thirteen years. Takhar worked for such companies as AGRA Industries Limited, Linear Technology Inc./Gennum Corporation and Timex Canada Inc. He served as the president and chief executive officer of the Chalmers Group of Companies until his election to the Ontario legislature.[2]
Takhar received the 2001 Community Service Award from the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario for "demonstrating selflessness and kindness for the benefit of society." He lives with his wife Balwinder and their two daughters in Mississauga.[3]
Politics
Takhar ran in the 2003 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Mississauga Centre. He defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Rob Sampson by 2,620 votes.[4] He ran again in 2007 in the redistributed riding of Mississauga—Erindale defeating PC candidate David Brow by 6,638 votes.[5] He was re-elected in 2011.[6] While it was initially reported that he intended to retire, he changed his mind about running and was re-elected in June 2014.[7][8]
He was appointed Minister of Transportation on October 23, 2003, by Premier Dalton McGuinty. He is the first Indian-Canadian to hold a cabinet post in Ontario.[9]
In June 2005, Takhar faced criticism after he was caught visiting his company despite it having been placed in a blind trust when he joined the cabinet. Cabinet ministers are required to keep an arms-length relationship with any business they own to avoid a conflict of interest. Premier McGuinty admitted that Takhar had shown poor judgement. Takhar claimed that he was visiting the company only to speak with his wife, who is the company's CEO.[10]
The matter was sent to the province's Integrity Commissioner which issued a decision on January 4, 2006, that Takhar had violated the province's integrity guidelines by failing to maintain an arms-length relationship with the trustee of his blind trust. Following the release of the decision, McGuinty issued a statement that he would not fire Takhar.[11] Takhar was reassigned to the new position of Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship on May 23, 2006.[12]
In September 2008, Takhar was reappointed to a slightly revised cabinet post of Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services.[13] In June 2009, Takhar's moved to the positions of Minister of Government Services.[14]
He resigned from Cabinet in 2012 in order to stand as a candidate in the 2013 Liberal leadership convention to choose McGuinty's successor.[15] Takhar came in fourth place with 11.3% of the vote on the first ballot after which he withdrew to endorse Sandra Pupatello who went on to lose to Kathleen Wynne.[16]
On February 11, 2013, Wynne reappointed Takhar to position of Minister of Government Services and also made him the Management Board Chair.[17] On May 8, 2013 he resigned from cabinet after being hospitalized with chest pains.[18]
He remained in the legislature as MPP until he decided not to seek reelection in June, 2018. He currently serves as the Chairman/CEO of Chalmers Group of Companies.
Cabinet positions
Electoral record
| 2014 Ontario general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ** Preliminary results — Not yet official ** | ||||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Harinder Takhar | 25,174 | 48.83 | +3.80 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Jeff White | 15,375 | 29.82 | -5.88 | ||||
| New Democratic | Michelle Bilek | 7,745 | 15.02 | -2.00 | ||||
| Green | Vivek Gupta | 1,196 | 2.32 | +0.45 | ||||
| Libertarian | Christopher Jewell | 892 | 1.73 | |||||
| None of the Above | Greg Vezina | 706 | 1.37 | |||||
| Family Coalition | Nabila Kiyani | 469 | 0.91 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 51,557 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +4.84 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[8] | ||||||||
| 2011 Ontario general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Harinder Takhar | 20,552 | 45.0 | -2.6 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | David Brown | 16,294 | 35.7 | +2.5 | ||||
| New Democratic | Michelle Bilek | 7,768 | 17.0 | -5.6 | ||||
| Green | Otto Casanova | 853 | 1.9 | -5.9 | ||||
| Freedom | Gerald Jackson | 176 | 0.4 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 45,643 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Harinder Takhar | 21,294 | 47.6% | N/A | |
| Progressive Conservative | David Brown | 14,838 | 33.2% | N/A | |
| New Democratic | Shaila Kibria | 5,117 | 11.4% | N/A | |
| Green | Richard Pietro | 3,495 | 7.8% | N/A | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Harinder Takhar | 18,466 | 47.45 | +7.19 | |
| Progressive Conservative | Rob Sampson | 15,846 | 40.72 | -10.91 | |
| New Democratic | Michael Miller | 3,237 | 8.32 | +3.29 | |
| Green | Jeffrey Scott Smith | 776 | 1.99 | ||
| Family Coalition | John R. Lyall | 588 | 1.51 | ||
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ "The Candidates: Harinder Takhar". The Gazette. January 18, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ Battagello, Dave (November 6, 2003). "Border 'top priority,' new minister vows". The Windsor Star. p. A2.
- ^ Cooper, John (September 2001). "On their own". CMA Management. 75 (6): 16–21.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 8 (xvii). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "MPP Frank Klees won't seek re-election". Toronto Star. January 21, 2014.
- ^ a b "General Election by District: Mississauga-Erindale". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Premier Dalton McGuinty and his 22-member cabinet were sworn in Thursday". Canadian Press NewsWire. October 23, 2003. p. 1.
- ^ Wass, Joel (June 16, 2005). "Takhar's visit to Chalmers Group a 'lapse in judgment,' McGuinty says". Canadian Press NewsWire.
- ^ Livingston, Gillian (January 4, 2006). "Premier stands by Takhar despite ruling he violated Integrity Act". Canadian Press NewsWire.
- ^ Erwin, Steve (May 24, 2006). "Sorbara back in cabinet: McGuinty shuffles deck after former minister cleared in RCMP probe". Kingston Whig - Standard. pp. 1, 11.
- ^ "The new-look Ontario cabinet". The Hamilton Spectator. September 19, 2008. p. A9.
- ^ Werner, Kevin (June 26, 2009). "McMeekin gets new portfolio". Flamborough Review. Waterdown, Ont. p. 1.
- ^ Cohn, Martin (November 25, 2012). "Takhar candidacy a sad throwback". Toronto Star. p. A12.
- ^ Benzie, Robert; Ferguson, Rob; Brennan, Richard (January 27, 2013). "Wynne triumphs, makes history: Opponents deliver victory for 'spectacular' candidate". Toronto Star. p. A1.
- ^ "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. February 12, 2013. p. A3.
- ^ Stewart, John (May 8, 2013). "Harinder Takhar resigns cabinet post, citing health issues". Mississauga News. p. 1.
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