He was a senior member in the government of Dalton McGuinty who served in several cabinet roles including Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.
He has been a member of the Liberal Party since the early 1970s, and skipped class in 1972 to attend a rally for his political hero, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
[citation needed] Duncan's first full-time job after graduating from university was in the office of federal Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Herb Gray.
A damning report into systemic mismanagement at OPG was issued shortly after the new government assumed power, and several high-level executives were forced to submit their resignations.
Duncan appointed a new interim board led by former federal Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Jake Epp to lead the organization's renewal.
[9] Reports in early 2004 indicated that Tory advisers with close ties to Mike Harris and Ernie Eves had received untendered contracts worth $5.6 million in 1999, when the Progressive Conservatives were still in government.
The report called for Ontario to emphasize energy conservation, while also ensuring "reliability, diversity and affordability", and consumer protection.
[12] Two months later, Duncan brought forward a conservation plan highlighted by the use of "smart" electricity meters to discourage overuse during peak hours.
[16] The Globe and Mail raised concerns over the authority's expanding budget in late 2006, but Duncan argued that its expenses are necessary to create a planning regime for the future.
The Liberal Party had campaigned on a pledge to keep energy rates frozen until 2006, but reconsidered their options after discovering a $5.6 billion deficit left by the previous government.
Premier McGuinty described this situation as "completely unsustainable" in light of the deficit,[18] and Duncan announced that the rate would increase to 4.7 cents per kilowatt on 1 April 2004.
In April 2005, Duncan granted approval for four private companies to create new energy projects to replace the coal plants.
[25] In a speech to the Canadian Club on 2 May 2005, Duncan announced that it was time for an "open and public debate" on the future of nuclear power.
"[26] Shortly after assuming office, he cancelled the previous government's plans to privatize the Nuclear Inspection Services Division of Ontario Power Generation.
In 2005, Duncan concluded a deal with Bruce Power to provide the province with nuclear energy at a cost above the market rate.
[32] He outlined his support for the policy in a speech before power company executives in Toronto in February 2007, arguing that the grid would significantly reduce Canada's rate of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara unexpectedly resigned from office on 11 October 2005, after he was named on a Royal Canadian Mounted Police warrant issued in an investigation of his former real estate development firm.
[39] Greg Sorbara's returned to cabinet as Minister of Finance on 23 May 2006, after a judge ruled that there was no cause for including his name on the RCMP search warrant.
Duncan announced his government's long-term strategic energy plan in June 2006, calling for an increased investment in nuclear power and the construction of two new reactors in the next ten years.
The government will also promote a series of wind energy and conservation projects, including a plan to build dozens of windmills by 2025.
[41] In July 2006, Duncan directed the Ontario Power Authority to provide $400 million over three years to assist local electricity distribution utilities in conservation and demand-side management projects.
Opposition parties have argued that these reduced figures reflect a decline in the manufacturing sector, a charge that Duncan has rejected.
[58][59][60] He resigned from the legislature effective 14 February 2013 in order to accept a job as a Senior Strategic Advisor at McMillan LLP, a Bay Street law firm.
[63] Duncan supported Paul Martin's bid to succeed Jean Chrétien as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada during the 1990s and early 2000s.
[65] Duncan supported Justin Trudeau's candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada,[66] and in December 2012 he announced he was considering running in the 42nd Canadian federal election, currently scheduled for October 2015.
The figures cited are the Total Candidate's Campaign Expenses Subject to Limitation, and include transfers from constituency associations.