 Andy Mitchell
Secretary of State
(Rural Development)
(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)
Constituency: Parry Sound-Muskoka (Ontario)
E-mail: mitcha@parl.gc.ca
The Honourable Andy Mitchell, P.C., M.P. was elected to the House of Commons on October 25, 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Parry Sound-Muskoka and was re-elected on June 2, 1997.
Mr. Mitchell has long been an advocate for increased economic development opportunities for Canadians, particularly in rural areas. During his first term in the House of Commons, Mr. Mitchell earned a reputation as a hard-working constituency representative and was instrumental in the creation of several key strategic initiatives which have helped shape a number of government policies.
During his first term in office, Mr. Mitchell served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, where he authored the Think Rural report, which was a comprehensive study undertaken across Canada to promote economic development in rural and remote areas of the country. Mr. Mitchell also served as Vice Chair of the Industry Committee, and as Chair of the Federal Ontario Government Caucus Task Force on Access to Capital by Small Business, which led to important changes in federal policies and programs including the Small Business Loans Act. As a member of the Federal Task Force on Disability Issues, Mr. Mitchell advised the federal government on ways to increase the participation of Canadians with disabilities in our society. In addition, he also served as Chair of the Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus during the revitalization of the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor).
Mr. Mitchell was appointed to Cabinet on June 10, 1997 as Secretary of State (Parks) where he proceeded to transform Parks Canada into a separate and more effective and efficient agency through a new operating framework. He also enacted measures to limit commercial growth, introduced important changes in the National Parks Act to protect the ecological integrity of Canada's National Parks and worked hard to create the new Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Conservation Area and Tuktut Nogait National Park.
Prior to his election, Mr. Mitchell had a successful 20-year career in the banking industry where he held a succession of positions including assignments as Supervisor of Banking Operations, Auditor, and Branch Manager in Cornwall, Elliot Lake and Gravenhurst, Ontario. Mr. Mitchell was also active in community economic development, serving in numerous business associations, as President of the Northeastern Ontario, Elliot Lake and Gravenhurst chambers of commerce, and as a Director with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. He has worked with the Children's Aid Society as a foster parent and with summer theatre in Muskoka.
Mr. Mitchell was born in Montreal and is a graduate of Loyola High School in Montreal and Carleton University in Ottawa. He is married to Christine Hodson Mitchell. He has three children and resides in Gravenhurst, Ontario.
Mr. Mitchell was appointed Secretary of State (Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) on August 3, 1999.
Last updated: September 22, 1999
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