From 2003 to 2014 I served as the member of provincial parliament (MPP) for Kitchener Centre, holding five cabinet portfolios. Prior to that I worked on Parliament Hill as a political adviser to a number of senior cabinet ministers as well as spending five years on the senior staff of former prim...
From 2003 to 2014 I served as the member of provincial parliament (MPP) for Kitchener Centre, holding five cabinet portfolios. Prior to that I worked on Parliament Hill as a political adviser to a number of senior cabinet ministers as well as spending five years on the senior staff of former prime minister Jean Chrétien.
I completed my undergraduate education at Carleton University in Ottawa. I received an MA in International History from the London School of Economics, and a DPhil in Modern History from the University of Oxford.
At Martin Luther University College (formerly Waterloo Lutheran Seminary), I focus on the intersection between politics and religion. I am interested in the field of public ethics — the choices we make for the common good. And I’m particularly interested in how people of faith — as elected officials, advocates and voters — approach the complicated world of politics.
I have a keen interest in parliamentary and political reform especially through greater citizen engagement. I’m also interested in public policy development as it relates to poverty, postsecondary education and innovation. In my work with Laurier’s Political Science department, I bring a behind-the-scenes perspective on the realities of politics and public life to better prepare students for a career in public service.
I write regular columns on politics for Queen's Park Briefing and for the political hub National Newswatch.