Laurel Broten - Definition and Overview

Laurel C. Broten is politician in Ontario, Canada. She is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore for the Ontario Liberal Party.

Prior to entering politics, she was a lawyer, community activist and volunteer. Broten attended McMaster University from 1986 to 1990, and has both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree from the institution. She also received an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario in 1993. She was a law clerk to Madam Justice Claire L'Heureux-Dubé at the Supreme Court of Canada from 1993 to 1994, and later had a practice in civil and commercial litigation. She has also served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Gatehouse, a community centre for survivors of child abuse.

Broten first ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1999, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative Morley Kells in Etobicoke-Lakeshore by close to 5,000 votes. She ran again in the the 2003 election, and defeated Kells by almost the same margin amid a provincial shift to the Liberals.

On October 23, 2003, she was named as the Parliamentary Assistant to Premier Dalton McGuinty.