It is an honour to rise on behalf of the official opposition and pay tribute to the late Monte Kwinter. We are fortunate to be joined today by members of his family: Richard and Robert Kwinter, Lisa Rotenberg, Marlene Yip, Joni Kwinter, Matthew Rotenberg, Hy Shore—as well as many friends, other former parliamentarians and, of course, many more watching from afar.

I never had the pleasure to meet Monte, but I knew his name well, growing up in the neighbouring riding that I now represent, Humber River–Black Creek. As an everyday youth, I had no concept of political ridings, so he was a larger-than-life persona who represented part of the greater community I thought myself a part of.

To those who knew and loved him, his history and accomplishments are well known. Born in Toronto on March 22, 1931, Monte was a man of many talents and interests. He pursued education in many post-secondary institutions, both here in Canada and the United States. And prior to entering the political arena, he was the successful owner of his own real estate firm, also serving as the vice-president of the Ontario College of Art.

Monte was first elected as a Liberal member of provincial Parliament in 1985 for the riding of Wilson Heights, which later became York Centre. Beginning his new political life at the age of 54, he went on to win a stunning nine successive elections spanning 33 years and including multiple cabinet posts—a true testament to his local popularity and approval, regardless of the times. During that three-decade tenure, Monte achieved an incredible record of his time, becoming the oldest person to ever serve in the Ontario Legislature at the age of 81 years and 310 days, showing his enduring commitment and dedication.

He accomplished many things as an MPP, including a bill that allowed greater access to naturopathic medicine; strong advocacy for the creation of the all-digital, local Humber River Hospital that continues to serve and treat countless individuals in their time of need; and he brought long-overdue Holocaust remembrance and Jewish observances here in Ontario’s Parliament. And, of course, much, much more.

Never having had the privilege to serve with Monte, I reached out to a common friend, well-respected former MPP Percy Hatfield, who was a contemporary to Monte here in the Legislature, to personalize this in a way I cannot, having never met him myself. He was kind enough to share a few words and was honoured to speak about Monte. Here is an excerpt of what he said:

“I first met Monte during the 1985 provincial election campaign. I was the CBC TV reporter assigned to Liberal leader David Peterson’s media bus, covering the election for all CBC stations in the province. One of our Toronto stops was when the campaign team pulled over to join Monte where they made his brother Jack’s gourmet hot dogs, and yes, as you already know—the Kwinter gourmet hot dogs were delicious!

“Of course, Monte won that election, in a Liberal minority government, and had several cabinet assignments in the following years and terms in office ... as a parliamentary assistant.”

Percy goes on to say, “I was elected in a by-election in Windsor–Tecumseh, in 2013” and “that’s when I got to know Mr. Kwinter” better. “I always thought of him as the elder statesman of the Liberal caucus at that point. We would chat from time to time, I reminded him” many times “of our first meeting with the gourmet hot dogs ... and I discovered while researching my first attempt to create the position of a Poet Laureate for Ontario, that Monte Kwinter has previously had the same idea but even though his party was in power at the time, his private member’s bill didn’t lead to the creation of the office, demonstrating the difficulty of success in the adoption of private member bills, regardless of party affiliation.”

Speaker, as you know, Percy took up Monte’s torch in the establishment of this worthy endeavour, the Poet Laureate, until it finally passed. Percy further said, “I paid tribute to Monte’s” great “efforts at that” time “during my first attempt ... and I didn’t get the Poet Laureate position, in memory of the late Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip through the House until my third try ... but I knew Monte always had my back on that private member’s bill, even after he had retired.”

Percy concluded by saying, “Monte Kwinter was a nice man, a quiet man, not one to heckle across the aisle from his seat in the front row. He was highly regarded in the House. When he spoke”—and we’re hearing it again—“people listened.

“His favourite part of the job was meeting his constituents. He served them well over his many years in office, and I hold the opinion, that despite his health challenges in his final years, the people of Wilson Heights and” later “York Centre would have re-elected him again had he allowed his name to stand one final time.”

Speaker, I regret never having met the late Monte Kwinter, and I feel honoured and privileged to remember him here today. May he rest in peace after a well-lived, well-accomplished, well-respected and well-remembered life—the kind of life we can all hope to achieve. Thank you.