Lord, we thank you for the four years of experience that Michael Harris, MPP [Kitchener – Conestoga], brings to the 41st Parliament, which began June 12, 2014. I pray that you will continue to lead and guide him and increase his ability and wisdom to fill his role as Member of the Standing Committee on Estimates Critic and Transportation. Keep your caring hand on his family and all his constituents. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
BIOGRAPHYMichael was elected to the Ontario Legislature on Oct. 6, 2011, as the MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga – a diverse riding that includes the townships of Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich, as well as the southern section of Kitchener bordered by Highway 7/8.
Over the last year, Michael has been a tireless advocate of Waterloo Region, working with local officials to improve regional emergency dispatching; successfully calling for the Highway 7 expansion between Kitchener and Guelph and advocating for roundabout testing on G2 and G road exams in Waterloo Region as a way to equip the next generation of drivers for our changing roads.
Michael also serves as the PC Party Vice Chair of Community Outreach and the Progressive Conservative Environment Critic. In this role, Michael has fought for greater environmental protection using a market-based approach that empowers individuals, not government bureaucracy. He has called for bold reforms to overhaul the province’s recycling programs, which would unleash private-sector ingenuity and divert more hazardous materials and old electronics from Ontario’s landfills.
Grounding Michael’s politics is a strong belief that government should remain accountable to the people it serves. Michael took a major step toward improving accountability in the Ontario government last year when he introduced his private member’s bill, Transparency in Government Bills Act, which would require the government to assess the financial, social and environmental implications of its proposed laws and post its findings online for all Ontarians to view.
Born and raised on the family farm, Michael is a proud graduate of Conestoga College’s Business Management program and the Leadership Waterloo Region program. Prior to his election, Michael was a business development manager at Honeywell helping local businesses improve their sustainability and energy efficiency.
Michael has applied the same solutions-driven approach to his life-long interest in good government and public policy, including through his service on the Greater Kitchener Chamber of Commerce’s Energy and Environment Committee. Michael also spearheaded Kitchener City Council’s drive to expand public access to life-saving defibrillator technology throughout the community.
Michael enjoys volunteering in the community and has met many of his closest friends through volunteer service with local organizations including Compass Kitchener, the Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Anselma House, the Canadian Cancer Society, the United Way, the Juvenile Diabetes Walk to Cure Campaign, and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.
Michael, Sarah, Brayden, Murphy, Lincoln and their dog Eliot live in Kitchener’s Doon South.
