David McGuinty

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**David Joseph McGuinty**

Incumbent
Riding	Ottawa South
In office since	2004 election
Preceded by	John Manley
Born	February 25, 1960 Ottawa
Residence	Ottawa
Political party	Liberal
Profession(s)	Businessman, immigration officer, lawyer, professor
Religion	Roman Catholic
Spouse	Brigitte Bélanger

David Joseph McGuinty (born February 25, 1960 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian politician and the brother of Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty. He is also the son of former Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Dalton McGuinty Sr.. He is a Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons representing the riding of Ottawa South. He was first elected in the 2004 federal election and was re-elected in the 2006 federal election.

McGuinty holds degrees from the University of Ottawa, the London School of Economics, and l'Université de Sherbrooke. He is a graduate of Glebe Collegiate Institute. An environmental lawyer by profession, he has long been closely involved in Liberal politics. He has also served as head of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, a government think-tank concerned with sustainable development.

During the 2004 election, McGuinty was the favourite in Ottawa South, which was considered a 'safe' Liberal seat. He defeated Conservative candidate Alan Riddell by a 5,000 vote margin. New Democratic Party star candidate Monia Mazigh also ran in the riding. Ottawa South was held previously by former Finance Minister John Manley, who retired from federal politics after Paul Martin's election as Liberal Party leader in 2003. During the 2004 campaign, Dalton McGuinty's government had brought down an unpopular budget in Ontario, worrying Liberals throughout the province. However, Liberal candidates were generally successful in Ontario despite this setback.

While not invited to join the Paul Martin Cabinet, McGuinty served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development. He also was chairman of the Liberal Party's National Capital Region Caucus.

In the 2006 election, McGuinty faced and defeated another star candidate, Sponsorship Scandal whistleblower Allan Cutler of the Conservative Party of Canada. While his margin of victory shrank slightly, the total number of ballots cast in his name increased, reflecting increased voter turnout in Ottawa South and across Canada.

McGuinty has also considered running in the upcoming Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention, but later declined.

McGuinty lives in the Playfair Park neighbourhood of Ottawa, is married to Brigitte Bélanger and has four children.