Gar Knutson

The Honourable Gar Knutson PC,LLB,MBA
Secretary of State for Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East
In office 2002–2003
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Minister of State for New and Emerging Markets
In office 2003–2004
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	position abolished
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
In office 1998–2000
Preceded by	Rey Pagtakhan
Succeeded by	Joe Jordan
Member of Parliament forElgin—Norfolk
In office 1993–1996
Preceded by	Ken Monteith
Succeeded by	Riding abolished
Member of Parliament forElgin—Middlesex—London
In office 1996–2004
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Joe Preston
Personal details
Born	(1956-05-04)May 4, 1956 Toronto,Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Profession	lawyer

Thomas Garfield "Gar" Knutson,PC(born May 4, 1956) is a lawyer and former member of theParliament of Canada,as well as a formerCabinet Ministerin the Government of Canada.

Gar Knutson holds aMaster of Business Administration(MBA) degree from theRichard Ivey School of Businessat theUniversity of Western Ontario,as well as a B.A. in history. Following University, Gar graduated with aBachelor of Laws(LL.B) degree from theUniversity of Windsor.He attended high school at theJesuitBrebeuf College Schoolin Toronto.

In the1993 federal election,he was elected to theHouse of Commons of Canadaas theMember of Parliament(MP) forElgin—Norfolkriding as a candidate representing theLiberal Party.He was re-elected in the1997and2000 electionsto the re-organized riding ofElgin—Middlesex—London.

He served as Parliamentary Secretary toPrime MinisterJean Chrétienfrom 2000 to 2002. In 2002, he was named Secretary of State for Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and served as Minister of State for International Trade from 2003 to 2004 under Prime Minister Paul Martin. Gar was defeated by theElgin-Middlesex-London ConservativecandidateJoe Prestonin the2004 election.Shortly afterwards, Knutson joinedBorden Ladner GervaisLLP, Canada's largest law firm, practicing in the area of government relations and public policy. Knutson spent 13 years at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, from 2005 to 2018, leaving to start his own boutique law firm,Knutson Law.

Knutson attempted to stage a political comeback in the 2007 Federal Liberal nomination in the riding ofOttawa—Orléans,but lost to former MPMarc Godbout.

External links

• Gar Knutson – Parliament of Canada biography