Monique Smith was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 2003, but was no stranger to Queen's Park, having worked from 1997 to 1999 as Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Official Opposition, Dalton McGuinty. Prior to her recruitment by McGuinty's team, she practiced labour and employment law at McCarthy Tétrault, a Toronto law firm.

After the 1999 general election, Monique joined the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) as Executive Director. In this role she traveled extensively promoting Canadian publishing and was a bilingual spokesperson for the industry both nationally and internationally.

Since her election in 2003, Monique has been working hard on behalf of the people of Nipissing and ensuring the voices of Northern Ontarians are heard at Queen's Park. She has delivered results for Nipissing with the construction start on two hospitals, the building of a new children's treatment centre and the continued four-laning of Highway 11.

Shortly after her election she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. In May 2004 she completed a province-wide review of long-term care, the results of which were included in her report "A Commitment to Care: A Plan for Long-Term Care in Ontario". This report has served as a springboard for the many reforms the McGuinty Government has undertaken in long-term care.

Following the 2007 election she was appointed Minister of Revenue in the McGuinty Cabinet.

She continues to be a strong, bilingual, Northern advocate, and continues to work hard to deliver results for Nipissing, to advocate forcefully on behalf of the North and to be a strong member of the McGuinty Team as it brings positive change to Nipissing and the Province of Ontario.