Former Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter dead at age 92
Posted July 21, 2023 10:12 pm.
Last Updated July 22, 2023 5:13 pm.
Former Liberal MPP Monte Kwinter has died at the age of 92.
The longtime Liberal politician represented York Centre for more than three decades. When he left political office in 2018 he was the oldest MPP to ever serve at Queen’s Park at the age of 87.
The Canadian Jewish News was among the first to report Kwinter’s passing and several of his friends and colleagues took to social media to express their condolences.
“His lifetime of service to others is his legacy,” tweeted MPP Monte McNaughton, the current Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development in the Ford government. “I remember meeting Monte while he was an opposition MPP, when I served as a legislative page. Then I got to know him, and his kindness, while we both served as MPPs together.”
“His legacy of service will long endure,” said Michael Levitt, the former Liberal MP for York Centre and current President and CEO of the Canadian regional office of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. “On a personal note, Monte was the 1st person to support me, when I knocked on his door in 2013 while seeking the York Centre nomination. I will never forget that.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet that Kwinter’s commitment to and passion for serving others could not be overstated.
“He had an undeniable impact on people throughout his community. To those who are mourning his passing: You are in my thoughts.”
Ya’ara Saks, the current Liberal MP for York Centre, called Kwinter a “beloved community leader whose smile and ‘wave’ was a warm welcome to all who met and worked with him.”
Kwinter served as Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Minister of Financial Institutions and Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology under Premier David Peterson’s government and was Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Solicitor General under Premier Dalton McGuinty.
