When Prime Minister Stephen Harper was looking for a replacement for the contentious post of Environment Minister in January 2007, he turned to his most assertive communicator — John Baird.
Baird is known as a combative speaker and fierce partisan, who often points and shouts during Question Period. Even Harper will admit, euphemistically, that he "has his own communication style."
Baird was born in Ottawa and was involved in politics at a young age. He became the president of the Ontario Progressive Conservative youth wing before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in political studies from Queen's University in 1992. He worked for the PC's Perrin Beatty and as a lobbyist in Ottawa in the early 90s.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in 1995 in the Nepean riding and was named parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance in 1997.
With Mike Harris' repeat provincial victory of 1999, Baird was named Minister of Community and Social Services and later Minister of Energy and Government House Leader.
He entered federal politics in 2006 when he won the Ottawa West-Nepean seat. Baird quickly inserted himself into Harper's inner circle. He became a personal friend of Laureen Harper, and the 39-year-old bachelor was seen escorting her to social events around Ottawa when her husband was away.
Baird was appointed President of the Treasury Board where he oversaw the Federal Accountability Act, a cornerstone of the Conservatives' election platform, which passed in December 2006. Baird called it the "biggest reform" in the history of Canadian government.
One month later, he was moved to the environment portfolio to replace the embattled Rona Ambrose while the government acknowledged that it needed to make the issue a priority. But a recent poll for Canwest News Service suggests the issue is being put on the back-burner while the electorate focuses on the floundering economy.
Meanwhile, Baird is facing a tough battle in Ottawa West-Nepean since former Liberal defense minister David Pratt entered the race. The Liberals held the seat for 16 years before 2006, and have been plotting to defeat Baird ever since.