First elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1985, Monte Kwinter was elected for the seventh time in 2007 as the Member of Provincial Parliament for York Centre, formerly known as Wilson Heights.

Monte has served as Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Minister of Financial Institutions, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Solicitor General. He held a number of critic portfolios while in Opposition.

He currently serves as Chair of the Ontario Investment and Trade Advisory Council (OITAC) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade (Investment Attraction and Trade).

His long record of community service has included, Chairman of the Toronto Harbour Commission; Chairman of the Toronto Humane Society; Founding President of the Toronto Regional Council of B’Nai Brith; serving on the Board of Directors for the Canadian National Exhibition; Trustee for the Molson Indy Board; Chair of the International Advisory Board of the Bishkek International School of Management and Business.

Prior to public life, Monte operated a commercial real estate firm. He has also been Vice-President of the Ontario College of Art, Editorial Director of a publishing firm and an Industrial Designer.

Monte was born in Toronto and educated at the Ontario College of Art; Syracuse University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston); and the University of Montreal. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, a Honourary Master of International Business degree and a Honourary Doctor of Laws degree.

He and his late wife, Wilma, have two sons and two daughters and ten grandchildren.