Harinder Takhar

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.

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 69–70) Punjab, India
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Balwinder
Children	2
Residence	Mississauga, Ontario
Alma mater	MA Guru Nanak Dev University BA Punjabi University
Occupation	Businessman

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 also served as an Associate Director and Chief Financial Officer of Peel Dtsricy School Board from 1994 to 2003. He also 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 October, 2007 he was appointed as a Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

In September 2008, Takhar was given the added responsibility of The Ministry Of Consumer Services and was appointed to the revised cabinet post of Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services.[10] In June 2009, Takhar's moved to the positions of Minister of Government Services.[11]

He resigned from Cabinet in 2012 in order to stand as a candidate in the 2013 Liberal leadership convention to choose McGuinty's successor. 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.

On February 11, 2013, Wynne reappointed Takhar to position of Minister of Government Services and also made him the Management Board Chair.[12] On May 8, 2013 he resigned from cabinet after being hospitalized with chest pains.[13]

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 based in Mississauga. He previously served as the Chairman of United way of Peel and Chair of the Board of Credit Valley Hospital. He was also the founding member of the International Punjabi of Commerce.

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

2007 Ontario general election

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

2003 Ontario general election

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

1. Minister of Consumer Services
2. Minister of Small Business

Citations

1. "The Candidates: Harinder Takhar". The Gazette. January 18, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
2. Battagello, Dave (November 6, 2003). "Border 'top priority,' new minister vows". The Windsor Star. p. A2.
3. Cooper, John (September 2001). "On their own". CMA Management. 75 (6): 16–21.
4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014.
5. "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.
6. "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.
7. "MPP Frank Klees won't seek re-election". Toronto Star. January 21, 2014.
8. "General Election by District: Mississauga-Erindale". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014.
9. "Premier Dalton McGuinty and his 22-member cabinet were sworn in Thursday". Canadian Press NewsWire. October 23, 2003. p. 1.
10. "The new-look Ontario cabinet". The Hamilton Spectator. September 19, 2008. p. A9.
11. Werner, Kevin (June 26, 2009). "McMeekin gets new portfolio". Flamborough Review. Waterdown, Ont. p. 1.
12. "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. February 12, 2013. p. A3.
13. Stewart, John (May 8, 2013). "Harinder Takhar resigns cabinet post, citing health issues". Mississauga News. p. 1.

External links

• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (archived)