MPP Niagara West-Glanbrook, Critic for Finance
Tim Hudak, MPP Niagara West-GlanbrookTim Hudak was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in June 1995 as the Member for Niagara South, and was re-elected in June 1999 to represent the new riding of Erie-Lincoln.
During his second term in office, Hudak was appointed to the PC Cabinet by Premier Mike Harris to head up the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, followed by the newly formed Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation with responsibility for the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission. Later, under Premier Ernie Eves, he was appointed Minister of Consumer and Business Services.
In September 2003, Hudak was again elected to represent the riding of Erie-Lincoln. He was appointed as PC Caucus Chair and critic responsible for Public Infrastructure Renewal, and later elevated to the role of critic for both Municipal Affairs and Housing and Public Infrastructure Renewal. In August 2005, PC leader John Tory appointed Hudak to the lead role of Official Opposition Finance Critic, which he remains to this day.
In October 2007, Hudak was re-elected once again, this time in the new riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook. Despite the fact that the new riding (which includes Lincoln, West Lincoln, Grimsby, Pelham, Upper Stoney Creek and Glanbrook) was two-thirds new territory for Hudak, he saw his best election results to date, winning by more than 10,000 votes and earning 51 per cent support from local voters. In January 2008, Hudak was reappointed as Finance Critic for the Official Opposition.
A lifelong Niagara resident, Hudak was born and raised in Fort Erie and educated at Notre Dame College School in Welland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in economics in 1990 at the University of Western Ontario and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the University of Washington where he obtained his Masters of Arts in economics three years later. Before entering politics, Hudak worked in the tourism and economic development business.
Hudak lives in Wellandport with his wife Debbie Hutton, a communications executive with a leading Canadian media company, and their first born daughter, Miller Olive Hudak.
Long Version
Tim Hudak was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in June 1995 as the Member for Niagara South. In April 1997, he was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health. The move acknowledged Hudak's extensive work on behalf of local seniors and small community hospitals.
Hudak was re-elected in June 1999 to represent the new riding of Erie-Lincoln. During his second term, he was appointed to the PC Cabinet by Premier Mike Harris to serve as Minister of Northern Development and Mines in June 1999. As Minister, Hudak visited more than 55 communities across Northern Ontario. During his tenure, the government cut mining taxes to the lowest in Canada and doubled the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, spurring economic development and creating jobs.
In February 2001, Hudak was appointed as Minister of the newly formed Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation with responsibility for the Ontario Lottery & Gaming Commission.
As Tourism Minister, Hudak actively promoted all that Ontario has to offer, visiting 101 festivals and events across Ontario in the summer of 2001 on his More to Discover Tour. Immediately following the Sept.11th tragedy, Hudak called together leaders in the tourism industry and executed a plan that provided $14 million for marketing to help the industry recover. During his time in the Ministry, he awarded nearly $300 million to rebuild ageing infrastructure in communities across the province through SuperBuild's Sports, Culture and Tourism Partnership fund.
In April 2002, Premier Ernie Eves appointed Hudak Minister of Consumer and Business Services. In May 2002, Eves appointed Hudak to be Caucus' liaison to PC youth associations and campus organizations across the province, a position that he still holds to this day.
Hudak was again elected to represent the riding of Erie-Lincoln in September 2003. PC Leader Ernie Eves appointed Hudak to the role of critic responsible for Public Infrastructure Renewal and PC Caucus Chair. In October 2004, under the leadership of John Tory, Hudak was elevated to the role of critic for both Municipal Affairs and Housing and Public Infrastructure Renewal. In August 2005, Tory appointed Hudak to the lead role of Official Opposition Finance Critic.
In October 2007, Hudak was re-elected once again, this time in the new riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook. Despite the fact that the new riding (which includes Lincoln, West Lincoln, Grimsby, Pelham, Upper Stoney Creek and Glanbrook) was two-thirds new territory for Hudak, he saw his best election results to date, winning by more than 10,000 votes and earning 51 per cent support from local voters. In January 2008, Hudak was reappointed as Finance Critic for the Official Opposition.
A lifelong Niagara resident, Hudak was born and raised in Fort Erie and educated at Notre Dame College School in Welland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in economics in 1990 at the University of Western Ontario and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the University of Washington where he obtained his Masters of Arts in economics three years later. Before entering politics, Hudak worked in the tourism and economic development business.
Hudak lives in Wellandport with his wife Debbie Hutton, a communications executive with a leading Canadian media company, and their first born daughter, Miller Olive Hudak.