Michael Mantha Explained

Michael Mantha
Honorific-Suffix:MPP
Office1:Deputy Whip of the Ontario New Democratic Party
Alongside1:Monique Taylor
Term Start1:February 1, 2021
Term End1:March 29, 2023
Leader1:Peter Tabuns (interim)
Office2:Critic, Natural Resources, Mines, and the Ring of Fire
Term Start2:July 13, 2022
Term End2:March 31, 2023
Leader2:Peter Tabuns (interim)
Marit Stiles
Office3:Critic, Northern Development and Mines
Term Start3:June 25, 2014
Term End3:June 2, 2022
Leader3:Andrea Horwath
Parliament4:Ontario Provincial
Term Start4:October 6, 2011
Predecessor4:Mike Brown
Riding4:Algoma—Manitoulin
Party:Independent (2023-present)
Otherparty:New Democratic (2011-2023)
Residence:Elliot Lake, Ontario
Occupation:Administrative assistant
Spouse:Pauline
Children:2

Michael E. Mantha[1] is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was elected as New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario until his removal from the Ontario NDP caucus on March 31, 2023, after which he sat as an independent. He was first elected in 2011. He represents the riding of Algoma—Manitoulin.

Background

Prior to his election, Mantha was a staffer in the riding office of Carol Hughes, the federal Member of Parliament for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. He lives in Elliot Lake, Ontario with his wife Pauline and their two sons.[2]

Politics

Mantha ran in the 2011 provincial election as the New Democratic candidate in the riding of Algoma—Manitoulin. He defeated Liberal incumbent Mike Brown by 4,188 votes.[3] [4] He was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election defeating Liberal candidate Craig Hughson by 7,668 votes.[5] Mantha was re-elected in the 2022 Ontario general election.[6]

He served the party's critic for a number of portfolios, including Northern Development and Mines, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation[7] and Northern Development and Tourism.[8]

Mantha has introduced several pieces of legislation, including a motion that was unanimously passed to create a lyme disease strategy in Ontario.[9] [10]

On April 1, 2023, Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles removed Mantha from the caucus pending the results of an investigation into alleged misconduct involving a staffer. The decision was made after Stiles received an interim report on the allegations.[11]

On August 15, 2023, Mantha was permanently removed from the NDP caucus after a third-party investigation found that the allegations of workplace misconduct levied against him were substantiated.[12]

Notes and References

  1. ONPARLeducation. 1547261235305058304. 13 July 2022 . Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867. The names for the 42nd Parliament were recently added. For the first time a Member's name was inscribed in Oji-Cree syllabics .
  2. News: Provincial Election this Thursday - time to vote . Rosalind . Russell . Mid-North Monitor . October 4, 2011.
  3. Web site: Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate . https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf . dead . March 30, 2013 . Elections Ontario . October 6, 2011 . 2014-03-02 . 1 .
  4. News: NDP's Mantha wins Algoma-Manitoulin . Elliot Lake Standard . October 6, 2011.
  5. Web site: General Election by District: Algoma-Manitoulin . Elections Ontario . June 12, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140702071254/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=002 . July 2, 2014 .
  6. News: 2022-06-02 . NDP Michael Mantha is re-elected in Algoma—Manitoulin . en-CA . The Toronto Star . 2022-06-03 . 0319-0781.
  7. News: Horwath sticks around, names NDP shadow cabinet . David . Reevely . June 25, 2014 .
  8. Web site: June 26, 2022 . Michael Mantha .
  9. Web site: Committee Transcript 2015-Jun-01 Legislative Assembly of Ontario . 2022-06-27 . www.ola.org . en.
  10. Web site: Ontario urged to do more to diagnose, treat Lyme disease . June 27, 2022 . CBC.
  11. News: D'Mello . Colin . April 1, 2023 . Ontario NDP ejects Michael Mantha from caucus over 'misconduct' allegations . . April 1, 2023.
  12. Web site: 2023-08-15 . Ontario MPP permanently removed from party after misconduct allegations substantiated . 2023-08-15 . Toronto . en.