About Panels

Before Politics

Life before politics for Ted included work:

in science research
as a finance executive
as the executive director of a sustainable energy association.

Politics

From 2011-2015 Ted was the federal MP for Kingston and the Islands. When former MP and Speaker of the House Peter Milliken stepped down, Ted won a highly contested local nomination race among five community leaders. During the 2011 election, Ted was one of only two new Liberals elected across Canada.

Market

Protest

During his term as MP, Ted revived and led a national campaign from 2014-2015 to restore the long-form census because of the vital information it delivers to our society. That restoration became the first act of the newly elected Liberal government in 2015. Public Health is a critical beneficiary of this information.

Two additional highlights of his term included his role as chair of the Ontario Liberal Caucus from 2012-2015, as well as being awarded a Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year (2013) as the MP who "Best Represents Constituents" for his work for the people of Kingston and the Islands.

Critical Issues

In 2019, Ted was asked by Kingston's Mayor Bryan Paterson to co-chair the Mayor's Task Force on Housing. He stepped up to the invitation, worked with an amazing group of community members, and then co-wrote the final report with recommendations to City Council. Over a year of work, the task force identified solutions to providing more housing and making housing more affordable.

Family

Growing up in Kingston

Ted's family immigrated to Canada when he was six months old. He grew up in Kingston, and he and his wife have raised their girls there, the older one having graduated from high school and the younger one currently in middle school. He and the family enjoy activities like watching Marvel 🦝 🎧 movies, veggie gardening, taking hikes in local conservation areas and walks along the Kingston waterfront with their family dog. Ted's hobbies include coaching elementary and high school robotics 🤖 teams and playing competitive ♟️ chess.