Carr was again re-elected in the provincial election of 1999, defeating Liberal Kevin Flynn by over 13,000 votes.[6] He was chosen as Speaker of the legislature on October 20, 1999, and held this position for the entirety of the parliament which followed.
Like his predecessor Chris Stockwell, Carr was known as an impartial Speaker who was willing to criticize his own government. In 2003, he alienated several members of the Progressive Conservative Party by ruling that the government of Ernie Eves had committed a prima facie act of contempt against the legislature by holding its budget announcement at the headquarters of Magna International, rather than in the legislature itself. He was critical of the direction taken by the Progressive Conservative Party in this period, and did not seek re-election in 2003. He left politics and briefly coached the London Racers hockey team in London, UK.
Federal politics
In 2004 Carr was recruited to run as a Liberal in the riding of Halton, which bordered his old provincial riding. He defeated Conservative candidate Dean Martin in the election.[7] Carr was defeated in the 2006 election by Conservative challenger Garth Turner.[8]
Halton regional chair
Gary Carr was elected as Chair of Halton Region on November 13, 2006. Carr overwhelmingly defeated former Halton Region CAO Brent Marshall, who resigned from his position as CAO to run against Carr. Carr was sworn in as the Regional Chairman on December 6, 2006.