TORONTO, (Oct. 27, 2003) — The former president and CEO of Chalmers Group of Companies — parent company of Mississauga, Ont.-based Chalmers Suspensions — was appointed by new Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to take over the province’s Transportation portfolio.

Rookie MPP Harinder Takhar (Mississauga Centre) was named Minister of Transportation last week when McGuinty formally assumed power by swearing in his new cabinet.

Prior to his election earlier this month, Takhar was president of the Chalmers Group, which consists of five manufacturing companies with operations in both Canada and the U.S. He has also held senior positions with AGRA Industries, Linear Technology Inc./Gennum Corp. and Timex Canada. He was also recently appointed Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada, and for 13 years has taught business and CMA/CGA accredited courses at Sheridan College.

Premier McGuinty also announced last week that Takhar’s first order of business will be to tackle the Liberal election pledge to lower toll rates on the 407 highway. Takhar’s assignment will be to try to renegotiate Ontario’s deal with 407 International Inc., a private consortium that bought the 108-km highway from the Conservative government in 1999 for $3.1 billion.

The Liberals have promised to roll back the hikes to 2 per cent a year, plus inflation.