Laurel Broten

Laurel C. Broten is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore for the Ontario Liberal Party.

Prior to entering politics, she was a lawyer, community activist and volunteer. Broten attended McMaster University from 1986 to 1990, and has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree from the institution. She also received an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario in 1993. She was a law clerk to Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada from 1993 to 1994, and later had a practice in civil and commercial litigation. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Gatehouse, a community centre for survivors of child abuse.

Broten first ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1999, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative Morley Kells in Etobicoke-Lakeshore by close to 5,000 votes. She ran again in the 2003 election, and defeated Kells by almost the same margin amid a provincial shift to the Liberals.

On October 23, 2003, she was named as the Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Dalton McGuinty. She was promoted to cabinet as Minister of the Environment on June 29, 2005. In October 2005 she gave birth to twins.

As Minister, she legislated the Clean Water Act, a major reform to the laws that protect drinking water. She also introduced the Sustainable and Secure Water Act that - for the first time - makes businesses pay for the water they use. She also brokered a deal with two United States Senators to ensure the US-Canada border stayed open to waste from Ontario being shipped to dumps in Michigan. Broten also announced the phase-out of most inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012.

Broten was the subject of controversy in 2007 when her neighbours complained about her application to build a two story multi-car garage with an elevator at her house for the environment minister and her husband's four automobiles: a hybrid Ford SUV, a Volvo SUV and two sports cars - a Mercedes and a Porsche. ["Broten won't be building her 'garage mahal' after all; Environment minister and husband ditch plans after outcry from Etobicoke neighbours, public" by Rob Ferguson, "Toronto Star", July 4, 2007] Dubbed the "garage Mahal", the incident led to her political judgment being questioned. [" [http://www.thestar.com/News/article/271441 Major shuffle not expected as McGuinty picks cabinet] ", "Toronto Star", October 29, 2007] The proposal was struck down by the Ontario Municipal Board ["Etobicoke-Lakeshore; Race in environment minister's west-end riding a family affair for several of the candidates" by Catherine Porter, "Toronto Star", October 4, 2007]

While she kept her seat in the 2007 provincial election, Broten was dropped from cabinet by Premier McGuinty in his post-election cabinet shuffle a few weeks later.

References

External links

* [http://www.laurelbroten.onmpp.ca/ Laurel Broten MPP] - Broten's webpage.