Margarett R. Best is a former Canadian politician. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario (MPP) from 2007 to 2013 and represented the riding of Scarborough—Guildwood. She was a cabinet minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty.

Margarett Best
Ontario MPP
In office
2007–2013
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byMitzie Hunter
ConstituencyScarborough—Guildwood
Personal details
BornMay Pen, Jamaica
Political partyLiberal
Children3
ResidenceToronto
OccupationLawyer

Background

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Best, an African Canadian, was born in Jamaica. She was educated at the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus and Osgoode Hall Law School of York University.[1]

She was a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada Solicitor's Examination Blueprint Committee, the Board of the Women's Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham, Sheena's Place Breakfast Committee, and the College Compensations and Appointment Council.[citation needed]

Politics

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Best was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2007 Ontario election. She was appointed Minister of Health Promotion and Sport by Dalton McGuinty.[2]

In 2008, she introduced legislation banning smoking in cars when children were present. The Bill called the Smoke-Free Ontario Amendment Act imposed a fine of $250 for transgressors.[3] She was the lead minister in Ontario's successful bid for the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2015 Parapan American Games.[4]

Best was re-elected in the 2011 election. She was the first African-Canadian woman to be re-elected to the Provincial Legislature in the Province of Ontario.[5] Following the election, she was appointed Minister of Consumer Services.[2]

In her capacity as Minister of Consumer Services, she introduced Bill 82, The Wireless Services Agreements Act, 2012, an act to strengthen consumer protection with respect to consumer agreements relating to wireless services accessed from a cellular phone, smartphone or any other similar mobile device. The bill died when McGuinty prorogued the Ontario Legislature in October 2012. Best also did extensive work on reforming the Condominium Act, including developing the framework for legislative reform of the act and leading the consultation process. She worked on the amendments to the Not for Profit Business Corporations Act and the Delegated Administrative Authorities Act, which was introduced as part of the 2012 budget.

She was a member of the Health Education and Social Policy Committee and the Legislation and Regulation Committee of the 39th and 40th Parliament of Ontario, and she sat on the Poverty Reduction Committee of the 39th Parliament of Ontario.

In February 2013, she was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education by the new premier Kathleen Wynne. Her exclusion from Wynne's first cabinet was initially reported as a demotion for political reasons,[6] although it was later revealed that Best had asked to have her duties reduced for undisclosed health reasons.[7]

On June 27, 2013, she announced her resignation as MPP.[7]

Awards and recognition

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In 2006, Best was awarded the African Canadian Achievement Award. She was awarded another African Canadian Achievement Award in 2011 for excellence in politics.[citation needed]

In 2008, she was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Northern Caribbean University. Best has also received the BBPA Women of Distinction Award and, in October 2009, was bestowed with a 2009 National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Award in the Distinguished Services category of Equality/Social Justice.[citation needed] She was named one of Canada's most influential women in Sports and Physical Activity in 2010 and received a City of Toronto Diversity Award in 2011. In 2012, she received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work as a public servant and the 2012 Canadian Association of Black Lawyers(CABL)Pathfinder Award. She was awarded the Jackie Robinson's Fortitude Award, named one of Canada's 100 most Accomplished Black Women in 2016, and named the 2017 Canadian National Laureate for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.[citation needed]

Best has also been recognized by the Women's Multicultural Resource and Counselling Centre of Durham for her commitment to social and gender equality issues. She received a "Reaching Out and Giving Back Award" from the Prospect Primary School Alumni Association of Canada, and a Professional Award of Excellence from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.[citation needed]

Cabinet posts

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Ontario provincial government of Dalton McGuinty
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
John Gerretsen Minister of Consumer Services
2011–2013
Tracy MacCharles
Jim Watson Minister of Health Promotion
2007–2011
Deb Matthews

Electoral record

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2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Margarett Best 15,606
Progressive Conservative Gary Ellis 9,137
New Democratic Lorri Urban 6,193
Green Naoshad Pochkhanawala 413
Libertarian Sam Apelbaum 407
Freedom Matthew Oliver 134
Total valid votes 100.0
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Margarett Best 14,413 42.5
Progressive Conservative Gary Grant 9,484 28.0
New Democratic Neethan Shan 7,442 21.9
Green Glenn Kitchen 1,812 5.3
Libertarian Sam Apelbaum 487 1.4
Family Coalition Daniel Carvalho 290 0.9
Total valid votes 33,928 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "Margarett Best re-elected in Scarborough-Guildwood". Centennial College. October 29, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Morrow, Adrian (June 27, 2013). "By-election looms as Margarett Best resigns". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2024.(subscription required)
  3. ^ "Bill bans smoking in car with children; Legislation proposes fines of $250". National Post. Canwest News Service. May 1, 2008. p. A12. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Aveling, Nick (August 19, 2010). "McGuinty shuffles cabinet; Liberal team set for 2011 election". Windsor Star. Postmedia News. p. A10. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Yang, Jennifer (September 15, 2011). "Tories go with another Gary; Party hopes ex-cop Ellis can oust minister Best". Toronto Star. p. GT5. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Kathleen Wynne picks Charles Sousa as finance minister after Sandra Pupatello declines". Toronto Star, February 10, 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Former minister Margarett Best resigning as MPP". Toronto Star, June 27, 2013.
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