Garth Turner is known and trusted by millions of Canadians as an MP, author, broadcaster, columnist, speaker, successful entrepreneur and opinion leader. Over the past decade, Turner has authored seven best-selling books on business and finance, hosted the country’s most-watched business television show, and traveled nationally as a much in-demand public speaker.
In addition, six years ago Turner founded Toronto-based Millennium Media Television, which became the country’s largest independent producer of network television programming. In addition, he has owned and operated a string of businesses in the book publishing, commercial real estate, tourism and hospitality sectors.
On January 23, 2006, Garth Turner was elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Halton, Ontario. In previous years, Garth served as the Member of Parliament for the former riding of Halton-Peel from 1988 to 1993. During this time, he held more than 70 Town Hall meetings in all corners of the riding – a tradition he continues today – and went on to be a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party, then federal Minister of National Revenue. As Revenue Minister, he was instrumental in promoting a tax amnesty that allowed tens of thousands of taxpayers to pay their outstanding amounts with no penalty.
Garth is a strong believer in environmental protection, and served as a national director of the Vancouver-based Sierra Legal Defence Fund, which fights to uphold environmental legislation. He has served as national spokesperson for the Alzheimer Society of Canada, and has spoken across Canada on the need for better policies to deal with our aging population.
Turner is the country’s acknowledged leader in “digital democracy,” providing Canadians with the leading interactive political web site, routinely receiving two million hits a month, and featuring daily webcasting through the innovative MPtv, as well as an extremely popular personal weblog.
In October, 2006, Turner was suspended from the Conservative caucus of Stephen Harper over policy and communication differences. He then sat as an independent MP, and distinguished himself as an effective force in Parliament, largely responsible for the government introducing pension-splitting for retired couples.
In February, 2007, he was welcomed into the federal Liberal caucus by leader Stéphane Dion.
Garth Turner is a member of Canada’s Privy Council; was educated at University of Toronto Schools, University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario; and has held positions with the Globe and Mail, Sun Media, Maclean’s, CTV and other major media corporations.