Harinder Takhar

Hon. Harinder Takhar
MPP for Mississauga—Erindale
Incumbent
Assumed office 2007
Preceded by	new district
Minister of Government Services
Incumbent
Assumed office 2009
Preceded by	Ted McMeekin
Personal details
Born	Punjab, India
Political party	Ontario Liberal Party
Residence	Mississauga, Ontario
Occupation	businessman
Religion	Sikh
Website	Harinder Takhar

Harinder Jeet Singh Takhar is a politician in Ontario, Canada. Takhar was born to a Sikh family in the Indian state of Punjab, with a background in farming and civil service work. He moved to Canada in 1974, and arrived in Mississauga, Ontario in 1977. He lives with his family in Mississauga.

Political career

Harinder Takhar was elected to the Ontario Legislature as a Liberal in the 2003 provincial election, and 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.

In May 2006, Takhar was sworn in as the first Minister of the newly-created Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Takhar was re-elected to the Ontario Legislature in October 2007 for the redistributed riding of Mississauga-Erindale for a second term. In July 2008, Takhar was appointed as Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services. In June 2009, Takhar‘s mandate was again changed and he was sworn in as the Minister of Government Services.

Scandal

In June 2005, Takhar faced criticism after the Toronto Sun caught him visiting his company despite its 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 refused to bow to opposition demands for Takhar's resignation but conceded that the minister had shown poor judgement [1]. Takhar insisted he was visiting the company only to speak with his wife, who is the company's CEO. 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. Takhar was reassigned to the new position of Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship on May 23, 2006. Donna Cansfield was assigned Takhar's Transportation portfolio.

Business background

Takhar has held leadership positions with several Canadian companies, including 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.

In 1995, the Financial Post recognized the company among Canada's top 100 best-managed private companies. In 1999, Chalmers received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Award of Excellence from the Mississauga Board of Trade.

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."

Takhar holds a Master's degree in economics and political science, and an undergraduate degree in English, economics and political science. Takhar has been designated a Certified Management Accountant and professional administrator. He has also taken a number of leadership courses at the University of Toronto and York University, and taught CMA and CGA accredited courses at Sheridan College for thirteen years. He is also a Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada.

Political offices

Provincial Government of Dalton McGuinty
Cabinet Posts (3)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Ted McMeekin	Minister of Government Services 2009–present	incumbent
new post	Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services 2006–2009	Ted McMeekin(Consumer Services) & Sandra Pupatello(Small Business)
Frank Klees	Minister of Transportation 2003-2006	Donna Cansfield
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Preceded by Riding created in 2007	M.P.P. for Mississauga—Erindale 2007-	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Rob Sampson	M.P.P. for Mississauga Centre 2003-2007	Succeeded by riding dissolved

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2007
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Harinder Takhar	21,294	47.6%	N/A
	Progressive Conservative	David Brown	14,838	33.2%	N/A
	New Democrat	Shaila Kibria	5,117	11.4%	N/A
	Green	Richard Pietro	3,495	7.8%	N/A

Ontario general election, 2003
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Harinder Takhar	18,466	47.45	+7.19
	Progressive Conservative	Rob Sampson	15,846	40.72	-10.91
	New Democrat	Michael Miller	3,237	8.32	+3.29
	Green	Jeffrey Scott Smith	776	1.99
	Family Coalition	John R. Lyall	588	1.51

External links

• Harinder Takhar's official MPP Site
• Harinder Takhar's Ontario Liberal Party biography
• Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography