Father, we pray today for Michael Harris, MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga.
May Michael sense your presence today and depend on your wisdom and guidance.
You’ve always been generous in gifting people with insight and understanding
for the difficult task of governing. Bless him as he advocates for the people
of Ontario on issues of transparency and fair hydro prices. Keep him in good
physical health. Watch over his family and his staff as they assist him with
his duties. We pray he finds joy in the work he does for the province of
Ontario. Amen.
Michael 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.
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 has served as the PC Party Vice Chair of Community Outreach and the Progressive Conservative Environment Critic. In this role, Michael 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. He currently serves as the Transportation Critic.
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 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.
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