Monique Smith is a consultant providing strategic advice through a variety of international NGOs on strengthening democratic institutions in various parts of the world, including Myanmar, Malaysia, Benin and Bangsamoro, Philippines. She also advises Canadian clients on Canada/US relations and the cultural sector.

Monique has a wealth of parliamentary and diplomatic experience. She was appointed Ontario’s first Representative in Washington, DC, in September 2013. Prior to serving in Washington, Monique led Premier Kathleen Wynne’s transition team in Ontario and successfully assisted the new Wynne government through its first six months in office at Queen’s Park. As an elected Member of Provincial Parliament, she had previously served as Ontario’s Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Government House Leader, Minister of Tourism and Minister of Revenue. During her first four years of elected office, she served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, with particular responsibility for Long-Term Care.

Before being elected in 2003, Monique served as Executive Director of the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) and as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Ontario Legislature, Dalton McGuinty. Monique began her professional career practicing labour and employment law at McCarthy Tétrault, a national law firm, in their Toronto office.