Monte McNaughton

Monte Gary McNaughton (born March 11, 1977) is a former Canadian politician who served as the minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development in Ontario from June 20, 2019 to September 22, 2023.

He was elected to that office three times, then running for the legislative assembly In the 2007 provincial election where he was the PC candidate in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ultimately losing to the incumbent, Maria Van Bommel of the Ontario Liberal Party.

From 2009 to 2010, he served as the president of the local chamber of commerce in Strathroy.

McNaughton and his wife Kate have a daughter and live in Mt. Brydges.

Monte McNaughton began his career in Newbury, Ontario at the age of twenty, as a town councillor.

A Progressive Conservative (PC), McNaughton sat as a member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and represented the riding Lambton—Kent—Middlesex in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since the 2011 provincial election.

He ran again in the 2011 election, this time winning.

He was re-elected in the 2014 election, and again in the 2018 election where his Progressive Conservatives formed government and he was named to newly-elected Premier Doug Ford's Cabinet.

On September 17, 2014, McNaughton announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

During his campaign McNaughton received endorsements from Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto, who called McNaughton a "family man" and "the conservative in the PC leadership race."

Ford added, "he will help the little guy and defend the taxpayer."

McNaughton criticized the Liberal government for not consulting with parents when they implemented a new sex education curriculum.

He also supported a move to private liquor sales and opposed the LCBO retail model.

He said, "If we were to build Ontario again, we wouldn’t be building the same communist-style liquor system that we have here in the province."

In September 2015, McNaughton proposed legislation to reform the estate administration tax, also known as the death tax.

The proposal would exempt low-income earners and charitable donations from the tax, as well as eliminating the related audit and verification authority the Ministry of Finance had recently taken on.

In February 2016, McNaughton proposed a private member’s bill that would implement a debt cap.

The debt cap would stop the government from taking on debt exceeding 45 per cent of the province's gross domestic product (GDP) without the approval of the Legislature.

In June 2017, in response to concerns about undisclosed taxation, McNaughton proposed a private member’s bill which would mandate that the cost of the province's cap and trade program be disclosed to consumers as a separate line item on natural gas bills.

McNaughton first joined the provincial Cabinet in 2018 as the minister of infrastructure.

McNaughton was born in Newbury, Ontario, where his family owned and operated a local shopping centre.

McNaughton was inspired to pursue public service at a young age by his grandfather, Jack McNaughton, who successfully advocated for the construction of a local hospital.

He graduated from Westervelt College and completed executive programs at the Ivey Business School at Western University.

In the fall of 2018, McNaughton announced that the province would support infrastructure investments to renovate and expand Massey Hall, Canada’s oldest concert hall.

McNaughton and tourism minister Michael Tibollo announced a full restoration of the exterior and interior of the building, including 100 original stained-glass windows.

As well, a new seven-storey tower addition will feature a live-music stage and performance studio.

The second phase of the revitalization has a budget of up to $113 million.

The renovations were completed in 2021.

In the fall of 2018, McNaughton introduced Bill 32, the Access to Natural Gas Act.

The legislation makes it possible to expand access to natural gas to more parts of rural and northern Ontario, as well as First Nations communities.

During the winter of 2019, McNaughton announced that Ontario will provide $27 million towards the Nipigon Natural Gas plant, which would convert natural gas into a liquid form, so it could be safely and economically trucked to customers.

It would replace costlier fuel sources to more than 550 businesses and 5,000 homes – saving residents an estimated $181.3 million and businesses $65.3 million on energy bills over 40 years.

The project will create between 700 and 2,800 jobs in the region.

Premier Ford named McNaughton as the minister of labour on June 20, 2019.

On October 21, 2019, the training and skills development role was transferred to McNaughton's portfolio from the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

McNaughton's new title became Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

The province faced a labour shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic.

McNaughton sought to address the issue by increasing the number of people immigrating to Ontario, calling on the federal government to double the number of immigrants allowed in the province under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program from 9,000 to 18,000 a year.

In October 2021, the provincial general minimum wage increased ten cents to $14.35 per hour, and the student and server minimum increased to $13.50 and $12.55 respectively.

Amid rising inflation and cost of living, critics dismissed the ten cent increase as being so little, that it was meaningless.