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Howard Hampton is Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario. He has been the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Kenora—Rainy River since 1987.

Hampton has served as NDP Leader for more than a decade. In addition to fulfilling his duties as leader, he has served as Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs critic for the NDP Caucus since 1995. Since becoming leader in June 1996, Hampton has led his party in three provincial election campaigns – in 1999, 2003 and 2007, respectively. The NDP won 10 seats in the provincial election held October 10, 2007, three seats more than in the 2003 Ontario election.

Under Ontario’s first NDP government elected in 1990, he served as Attorney General of Ontario (1990-1993) and as Minister of Natural Resources (1993-95). He joined the NDP as a teenager.

Prior to entering politics, Hampton worked in private practice in Fort Frances and as a labour lawyer for the Canadian Labour Congress. His career also saw him work for the NDP Blakeney government in Saskatchewan, and as a teacher in both southern and northern Ontario.

Hampton was born on May 17, 1952 in Fort Frances, Ontario. He earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and religion from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He earned his law degree from the University of Ottawa. He is married to Shelley Martel, a former NDP MPP. Together, they have two children, Sarah and Jonathan.