# David McGuinty

David Joseph McGuinty (born February 25, 1960) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has been the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness since March 2025. A member of the Liberal Party, McGuinty has served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Ottawa South since 2004. From 2017 to 2024, McGuinty was the first chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), an agency which oversees Canadian intelligence services.

## Early life

David McGuinty was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario in a family of twelve. His parents are politician and professor Dalton McGuinty Sr. and full-time nurse Elizabeth McGuinty (née Pexton). Being the son of a Francophone mother and an Anglophone father, McGuinty is bilingual. He earned a Diploma in Agriculture from the Kemptville College of Agriculture, a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of Ottawa, specialized diplomas in Civil and Comparative Law at Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Ottawa, and finally a Master of Laws at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
An environmental lawyer by profession, he has long been closely involved in Liberal politics. He was chosen to serve as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Prime Minister's National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, a government think-tank concerned with sustainable development.

## Political career
### In government (2004-2006)

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

### In opposition (2006-2015)

On May 30, 2006, interim Liberal leader Bill Graham appointed McGuinty as the Official Opposition critic for Transport.
In the 2006 Liberal leadership contest, McGuinty endorsed the candidacy of Michael Ignatieff.
With the election of Stephane Dion as leader of the Liberal Party McGuinty became the critic for Environment in January 2007.
With the appointment of Michael Ignatieff as leader of the party, McGuinty was named Environment and Energy critic when Ignatieff announced his shadow cabinet on January 22, 2009. In September 2010, McGuinty was promoted to the role of Opposition House Leader.
Following the resignation of Michael Ignatieff, Interim leader Bob Rae named McGuinty as the Liberal Party's Critic for Natural Resources in June 2011, a demotion from his previous position as Opposition House Leader.

#### Leadership aspirations

In 2008, following the failed leadership of Stephane Dion and his pending resignation, McGuinty was considered a potential candidate to succeed him but announced in November 2008, that he would not seek the leader and instead endorsed Michael Ignatieff, Dion later appointed him as the critic for International Trade.
In 2011, when Ignatieff led the Liberal Party to their worst result in its history, McGuinty's name was again mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed Ignatieff.
At the Liberal Party's biennial convention in January 2012, McGuinty announced he was considering a bid for the leadership of the party and that he would make his decision over the coming months. However, on November 15, 2012, McGuinty confirmed he would not be seeking the Liberal leadership.

#### International work

In 2012 McGuinty was elected to head the Canadian chapter of an international alliance of lawmakers, Globe International, that presses governments to address global environment and economy challenges. He received all-party support to become the president of Globe Canada on June 12.
In 2012 McGuinty was invited by the National Democratic Institute to join their Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Ukraine.

#### Oil and gas criticism

On November 20, 2012, following a meeting of the Natural Resources Committee, McGuinty stated, among other things, that Conservative MPs were "shilling" for the oil and gas industry, did not belong in the national legislature, and should "go back to Alberta."
The Conservative response was critical, as exemplified by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who said: "I find it shameful, I guess not surprising, but shameful, that 30 years after the National Energy Program, these anti-Alberta attitudes are so close to the surface in the Liberal party." Interim leader Bob Rae apologized on behalf of the Liberal Party and said McGuinty was away on family business for the following week.
The following day McGuinty resigned as natural resources critic. He apologized saying, "As member of Parliament for Ottawa South, I would like to unreservedly and unequivocally apologize for comments which I made with respect to parliamentary colleagues from the province of Alberta. My words in no way reflect the views of my party or leader, and I offer my apology to them as well as my colleagues from Alberta. I hold all parliamentarians in high esteem, and I regret my choice of words, as I can understand the offence they have caused."

#### Attendance record

In early 2014, McGuinty was accused of being a "part-time" Member of Parliament by the Conservative Riding Association, who were subsequently unable to explain how they calculated McGuinty's time in the House of Commons, given that the House does not keep attendance records.

### Back in government (2015-)
#### NSICOP Chair

In 2017, McGuinty was appointed as the first chair to the new established National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP). In 2024, as the chair of NSICOP, a report was released on foreign interference in Canada's elections and society. It stated that the interference came from foreign governments such as China, India and Iran. McGuinty stated that he welcomed Canadians having discussions on foreign interference. However, he took issue that much of the attention was focused on the revelations that some MPs worked with foreign governments and not other aspects of interference like the media. McGuinty, also stated that political party leaders should not be partisan on the topic of foreign interference.

#### Minister of Public Safety

Following a cabinet shuffle, McGuinty was appointed Minister of Public Safety in the 29th Canadian Ministry on December 20, 2024.

## Personal life

McGuinty is the brother of former premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty (born 1955) and the son of former member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Dalton McGuinty Sr. (1926–1990). He is married to Brigitte Bélanger and has four children.

## Electoral record

vte2021 Canadian federal election: Ottawa South :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 29,038 | 48.81 | -3.51 | $90,172.30 |
| | Conservative | Eli Tannis | 15,497 | 26.05 | +1.54 | $109,078.40 |
| | New Democratic | Huda Mukbil | 11,514 | 19.35 | +3.36 | $30,779.59 |
| | People's | Chylow Hall | 1,898 | 3.19 | +2.09 | $5,112.54 |
| | Green | Les Schram | 1,401 | 2.35 | -3.22 | $1,305.45 |
| | Communist | Larry Wasslen | 144 | 0.24 | +0.09 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 59,529 | 99.04 | – | $118,434.85 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 575 | 0.96 | +0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 60,069 | 66.71 | -4.39 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 90,041 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -2.52 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election: Ottawa South :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 34,205 | 52.32 | -7.74 | $80,576.61 |
| | Conservative | Eli Tannis | 16,025 | 24.51 | +0.21 | $106,966.51 |
| | New Democratic | Morgan Gay | 10,457 | 16.00 | +4.42 | none listed |
| | Green | Les Schram | 3,645 | 5.58 | +2.66 | $3,248.53 |
| | People's | Rodrigo André Bolaños | 717 | 1.10 | – | none listed |
| | Independent | Ahmed Bouragba | 141 | 0.22 | – | $0.00 |
| | Communist | Larry Wasslen | 99 | 0.15 | -0.06 | none listed |
| | Independent | Sarmad Laith | 87 | 0.13 | – | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 65,376 | 99.13 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 574 | 0.87 | +0.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,950 | 71.10 | -2.46 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 92,759 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -3.98 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 38,831 | 60.06 | +16.05 | $119,103.32 |
| | Conservative | Dev Balkissoon | 15,711 | 24.30 | -8.98 | $89,467.46 |
| | New Democratic | George Brown | 7,480 | 11.57 | -6.59 | $18,683.33 |
| | Green | John Redins | 1,888 | 2.92 | -0.11 | $3,221.56 |
| | Progressive Canadian | Al Gullon | 366 | 0.57 | – | – |
| | Libertarian | Damien Wilson | 237 | 0.37 | – | $97.29 |
| | Communist | Larry Wasslen | 136 | 0.21 | – | – |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 64,649 | 99.46 | | $225,034.63 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 351 | 0.54 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 65,000 | 73.56 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 88,368 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +12.52 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 25,963 | 44.01 | -5.89 | – |
| | Conservative | Elie Salibi | 19,634 | 33.28 | -0.09 | – |
| | New Democratic | James McLaren | 10,712 | 18.16 | +9.71 | – |
| | Green | Mick Kitor | 1,787 | 3.03 | -3.74 | – |
| | Progressive Canadian | Al Gullon | 513 | 0.87 | -0.19 | – |
| | Pirate | Mike Bleskie | 382 | 0.65 | n.a. | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 58,991 | 100.00 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 279 | 0.47 | -0.12 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,270 | 69.11% |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -5.80 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 29,035 | 49.90 | +5.75 | $82,793 |
| | Conservative | Elie Salibi | 19,417 | 33.37 | -4.06 | $89,808 |
| | New Democratic | Hijal De Sarkar | 4,920 | 8.45 | -4.78 | $5,110 |
| | Green | Qais Ghanem | 3,939 | 6.77 | +2.03 | $20,330 |
| | Progressive Canadian | Al Gullon | 620 | 1.06 | +0.62 | $92 |
| | Libertarian | Jean-Serge Brisson | 244 | 0.41 | – | |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 58,175 | 100.00 | $89,843 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 346 | 0.59 | +0.11 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 58,521 | 66.82 | -4.89 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +4.91 |
2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 27,158 | 44.15 | +0.33 | $78,559 |
| | Conservative | Allan Cutler | 23,028 | 37.43 | +2.62 | $74,021 |
| | New Democratic | Henri Sader | 8,138 | 13.23 | -0.41 | $30,456 |
| | Green | John Ford | 2,913 | 4.74 | -1.00 | $2,095 |
| | Progressive Canadian | Brad Thomson | 273 | 0.44 | -0.2 | $2,743 |
| Difference | Difference | Difference | 4,124 | 6.71 | -2.29 |
| Rejected Ballots | Rejected Ballots | Rejected Ballots | 298 | 0.5 | -0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 61,808 | 71.71 | +2.00 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +2.29 |
2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | David McGuinty | 25,956 | 43.82 | -7.5 | $74,148 |
| | Conservative | Alan Riddell | 20,622 | 34.81 | -5.3 | $57,520 |
| | New Democratic | Monia Mazigh | 8,080 | 13.64 | +6.9 | $73,230 |
| | Green | John Ford | 3,398 | 5.73 | n/a | $2,205 |
| | Marijuana | John Akpata | 495 | 0.83 | -0.5 | |
| | Progressive Canadian | Brad Thomson | 375 | 0.63 | n/a | $2,743 |
| | Independent | Raymond Aubin | 225 | 0.37 | n/a | $988 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Saroj Bains | 79 | 0.13 | -0.1 | |
| Difference | Difference | Difference | 5,334 | 8.95 | -17.9 |
| Rejected Ballots | Rejected Ballots | Rejected Ballots | 361 | 0.61 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,591 | 69.67 | +7.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +2.2 |