NDP Cabinet - mike54martin



NDP Cabinet

Jack Layton

Linda Duncan



• Internationally recognized leader in the development and enforcement of environmental law

• Former Chief of Enforcement for Environment Canada

• Served as Assistant Deputy Minister for Renewable Resources with the Yukon government

• Founded the Environmental Law Centre of Alberta

• Served as an Executive member of the Environment Section of the Canadian Bar Association and on the Canadian Council of Environment

Peter Julian



• First elected Member of Parliament for Burnaby-New Westminster in 2004, and re-elected in 2006 and again in 2008.

• Served as Critic on International Trade, Gateways and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in 39th Parliament; Critic on Globalization, the Treasury Board, Natural Resources, Transportation and Persons with Disabilities in 38th Parliament.

• Ranked third of 308 MPs in crafting of Private Member’s legislation in 40th Parliament including tougher drunk driving laws and eliminating toxic substances found in fire retardants.

• Prominent critic of Harper Conservatives’ softwood lumber sellout. Called "the Iron Man" by CTV’s David Akin for determination to stop the sellout.

• Previously a financial administrator, community activist and manual labourer. Served as Executive Director of Council of Canadians ¬(founding member) and former Executive Director of the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WIDHH).

• Instrumental in building the British Columbia Disability Employment Network

• Former National Policy Coordinator and Assistant and Acting Federal Secretary of the New Democratic Party of Canada.

Jean Crowder



• Elected Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Cowichan in 2004, re-elected in 2006 and 2008

• Has been the NDP Critic for Health, Community Economic Development, the Status of Women, Western Critic for Forestry, Deputy Critic for Western Fisheries and is currently the Critic for Aboriginal Affairs

• Since being elected to Parliament, has had her motion on Jordan’s Principle to protect the rights of children in care pass unanimously — which has been adopted in Manitoba

• Former Municipal Councillor for North Cowichan

Nathan Cullen



• Elected the Member of Parliament for Skeena—Bulkley Valley in 2004, re-elected in 2006, and again in 2008

• Served as the New Democrat Environment and National Parks Critic where he helped overhaul the Clean Air Act to fight Climate Change

• Since 2008 has worked as Energy and Natural Resources Critic leading the charge for more sustainable use of our resources

• Worked across party lines to pass significant legislative initiatives to restrict toxic phthalates in Children's toys and calling for a ban on oil tanker traffic off the North Coast

Libby Davies



• First elected the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East in 1997, re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008

• Elected to the Vancouver City Council in 1982 and served five consecutive terms

• From 1994 to 1997 worked with the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU), serving as Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Complaints Investigator, and Coordinator of Human Resources

• An outspoken advocate for drug policy reforms to stop the criminalization of drug users and the harm caused by Canada's prohibitionist policies

Denise Savoie



On January 23, 2006, Denise Savoie became the first woman elected as Member of Parliament for Victoria. She was re-elected in the October 14, 2008 general election.

During her first term, she served as critic for post-secondary education, skills training and literacy in Jack Layton's NDP caucus, and as co-chair of the party's environment caucus. In her role as post-secondary education critic, she successfully pushed the government to establish a grant program, making post-secondary education more affordable and reducing student debt. On November 21, 2008, Denise was named Assistant Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chair of the Committees of the Whole by all-party consent. She was elected Chair of the all-party Parliamentary Arts Caucus and is a member of the executive of the Inter-Parliamentary Association.

In 2010, Denise introduced Bill C-466 (the “Green Commuter Bill”), which would allow Canadian employers to offer green commuter benefits to their employees, free of tax at the federal level. It has garnered support from Canadian mayors, municipalities, transit authorities and transportation experts from Halifax to Saanich. Denise has initiated legislation to re-direct $2 billion in annual CMHC unused revenues into affordable housing and to stimulate investment in affordable housing through deferred capital gains taxes.

In our community, Denise led the fight at the federal level to stop the fast-tracked approval of the mega-yacht marina for the Inner Harbour and open the process to public input and scrutiny, pushed for fair treatment for veterans and their families, and secured unprecedented infrastructure investments for Victoria, including a federal commitment to sewage treatment and $21 million in federal funding for the new Johnson Street Bridge.

As a former Victoria City Councillor and Capital Regional District Director from 1999 to 2005, Denise helped to establish a regional housing trust, brought leadership to the harbour cleanup and heritage preservation, and received two national awards for her work on the environment. As a community activist, Denise was a pioneer in alternative transportation. She spearheaded development of the Galloping Goose Trail and the Selkirk Trestle. Denise lives in Victoria West and has three children and six grandchildren. An educator by profession, she is fluently bilingual.

Niki Ashton



First elected MP for Churchill in 2008, Niki Ashton is a strong voice for Northern Manitoba. She is speaking out on the third-world conditions facing Northern and Aboriginal people. She is fighting to maintain value-added jobs from our resources across the North, including at the Vale nickel operation in Thompson.

Niki is demanding federal action to improve Northern healthcare, housing, infrastructure and transportation, education, child care, and support for residential school survivors.

She has visited throughout the Churchill riding on a regular basis since she was elected, including on the North's many winter roads.

She is the NDP Critic for Youth, Post-Secondary Education, and Rural and Community Development. As Post-Secondary Critic, she introduced legislation to ensure the affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education.

Niki is a former Instructor with University College of the North. She has a Masters in International Affairs from Carleton University and a BA in Global PoliticalEconomy from the University of Manitoba.

She was born and raised and lives in Thompson, Manitoba, and is a former Chair of the Thompson Crisis Centre.

She has been active in the Greek community in Manitoba, and speaks eight languages.

Jim Maloway



• First elected as the MLA for Elmwood constituency in 1986 and re-elected six times

• Owner of Maloway and Eliason Insurance and Travel Centre

• Led legislative effort to force credit card companies to reimburse clients who purchase online and don’t receive their products

• As Vice Chair of the Public Accounts Committee worked to adopt the best ideas from other jurisdictions to make government more efficient and reduce costs

• Fighting to stop the closure of the Disraeli Bridge

• Holds a degree in political science from the University of Manitoba

Pat Martin



• Elected the MP for Winnipeg Centre in 1997; re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008

• As Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, Pat helped strengthen the Federal Accountability Act, adding tough new measures to fight patronage

• A leader in the NDP fight against government waste and corruption, Pat is also a founding member of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption

• Has worked successfully on such issues as eliminating trans fats from manufactured foods, raising awareness about the danger of asbestos-laden Zonolite insulation, and fighting against the outrageous interest rates and fees charged by ‘fringe’ banks and payday lenders

• The Assembly of First Nations honoured him with the spiritual name ‘Soong-Wi-Wi-Itong’ (‘Strong Eagle Speaking Spirit’) for his work for Aboriginal rights in Ottawa, including fighting for compensation for survivors of Canada's Residential Schools

• A former miner, carpenter and unionist, Pat is an ardent defender of workers’ rights and he achieved bankruptcy protection for workers’ wages with his Workers First Bill

Yvon Godin



• Elected the Member of Parliament for Acadie—Bathurst in 1997 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008

• Vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages and member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

• Whip for the NDP

• A former miner, he was President of the United Steelworkers of America, Brunswick Mine Local 5385; later, he represented nearly 2,500 members of the United Steelworkers, negotiating 37 collective agreements in New Brunswick

• Represented workers on the Minimum Wage Board for seven years

• In 1998-99, undertook a tour of Canada to assess the impact of changes to the EI program, the findings of which were made public in a report that describes the disastrous effects of the changes to EI

• En 2003, was granted the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Pléiade, Ordre de la Francophonie et du Dialogue des cultures for his contribution to la Francophonie in Canada

Jack Harris



• Member of Parliament since 2008, previously 1987-1988

• NDP Defence Critic and Member of the House of Commons Defence Committee; NDP Critic for ACOA and Atlantic Energy.

• Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly from 1990 to 2006 and provincial party leader for 14 years

• Practiced law for 30 years; appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997

Dennis Bevington



• Elected the Member of Parliament for Western Arctic in 2006

• President of Stand Alone Energy Systems Ltd.

• Served as Special Advisor on Energy to the Premier of the Northwest Territories

• Mayor of Fort Smith from 1988 to 1997 and served on the Green Funds Council of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

• Served as a board member on the Northern River Basin Study and as a federal government representative on the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board

• Former co-chair of the Constitutional Development Steering Committee for the Western Arctic

Dave Christopherson



• Elected the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre in 2004, re-elected in 2006

• Member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts

• Chair of the NDP's Ontario Caucus

• Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Steel Caucus

• Served as Solicitor General in the Ontario government

• In 1999 appointed NDP House Leader in the Ontario Legislature

• In 2001 elected Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature

Paul Dewar



Paul is a community leader committed to getting results for Ottawa Centre.

Since his first election in 2006, Paul has worked tirelessly for our priorities. He reaches out to the community on a regular basis to find solutions for the challenges facing Ottawa Centre.

He has led successful campaigns on preserving the Ottawa River, protecting Gatineau Park and improving transit in Ottawa. By advocating our community’s ideas for a better and stronger economy, Paul secured much-needed funding for many projects across Ottawa Centre. He has been a voice for the community’s progressive values on human rights and women's rights. He has been committed to fairness for new Canadians, opposed cuts to immigrant settlement programs and proposed legislation on foreign credentials recognition.

On numerous occasions Paul has brought the community together to develop policy solutions which he has taken to Parliament. His successful Cycling Summit mobilized the community and led to the introduction of legislation in support of dedicated federal funds for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. His Arts Summit gave birth to an all-party parliamentary Arts Caucus. He sought the advice of the community in the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats by the NCC. And at the outset of the recession, he brought the community together to draft a blueprint for a new economy that is fair and green. When former Nortel employees battled for their pension and long-term disability rights, Paul took their concerns to parliament and worked in support of legislation that would protect workers’ pension against company bankruptcies.

Paul has been an outspoken defender of our public service employees. He has warned that the Harper government’s treatment of public service employees has contributed to low morale and high rates of depression-related sick leaves. He has been a critic of the government’s increasing reliance on temporary workers, instead of hiring full-time staff. He is the only MP in our region to have spoken out against the fire-sale of public assets in our region.

Paul has proposed over 20 pieces of legislation in Parliament. Thanks to his persistent work, four of these ideas were adopted by the government: phasing out inefficient light-bulbs in order to cut back on carbon emissions, banning the toxin Bisphenol A in order to protect children’s health, protecting Gatineau Park, and bringing transparency to the operations of the National Capital Commission.

As the New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic, Paul Dewar has been a leading voice for peace in Afghanistan, the rights of Canadian citizens abroad, nuclear disarmament, peace in the Middle East and women’s meaningful engagement in peace building. Paul has pressured the government to meet its commitments to the global community including our commitments on aid and peacekeeping. He has worked on improving corporate social responsibility to ensure that Canadian companies abroad are held to the same environmental, human rights and labour standards as they are in Canada. He has been a strong advocate of Canada's responsibility to fight climate change. He has held the government to account on the treatment of detainees, cuts to Canadian NGOs and the government's meddling in the respected Canadian organization Rights and Democracy.

On March 9, 2011 Paul Dewar celebrated a major victory in Parliament: the passage of New Democrats’ “Medicine for All” bill, C-393. The legislation removes the red tape on the way of exporting Canadian generic drugs to the developing world. It will make life-saving medicine accessible to the world’s poorest countries.

The final push for in the campaign for C-393 was bolstered by K’naan, Stephen Lewis, James Orbinski and Fanta Ongoiba. In less than a week, 42,000 Canadians signed petitions in support of the bill. And in the end, despite all the negative lobbying by big pharma, the bill was adopted with the support of MPs from all parties in the House.

Peggy Nash



• NDP Member of Parliament for Parkdale – High Park (2006 – 2008)

• Canadian election monitor in the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa in 1994 and during the 2004 and 2007 Ukrainian elections

• Senior Canadian Auto Workers negotiator and first woman union representative responsible for major auto negotiations in North America

• Recipient of two awards from the Sierra Club of Canada for the NDP Green Car Strategy with Greenpeace and the CAW

• Certificate of Honour for contributing to women's equality from the City of Toronto for work to end violence against women

• Recipient of the 2009 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award

• Currently sits on the board of directors for Invest Toronto

Tony Martin



Now in his twentieth year of public service, Tony Martin has a distinguished record of being a champion for Sault Ste. Marie Algoma and Northern Ontario. Throughout his career, Tony has made a point of reaching out to all residents in the riding, working with diverse groups and individuals, listening to their concerns, and forcefully representing the communities' values in government.

Tony was given several important critic portfolios in the last term of Parliament, with responsibilities including persons with disabilities, poverty, and HRSDC senior social policy. He was also a member of the all-party Border Caucus, the Steel Caucus, and the Outdoors Caucus, as well as the NDP’s social policy, aboriginal, and agricultural committees.

In the most recent term, Tony introduced Bill C-545, An Act to Eliminate Poverty in Canada. This legislation, which will be the foundation for future policies addressing poverty, is the result of his life-long work on social issues and was created with leading national non-government poverty organizations. Tony also tabled in Parliament recommendations coming out of a landmark three-year study that grew into a national poverty strategy.

As a Member of Parliament since 2004, and previously as a Member of Provincial Parliament, Tony has been a passionate fighter for Northern jobs and industries. He worked on the successful restructuring of Algoma Steel and St. Mary’s Paper, has aided area farmers in getting necessary assistance, achieved in guaranteeing wood and tree supplies for local forestry businesses, brought in public infrastructure improvements, and succeeded in bringing in legislation to improve protection for local franchise owners.

Charlie Angus



• Born and raised in Timmins

• Elected as Member of Parliament for Timmins - James Bay in 2004, re-elected in 2006 and 2008

• Named ‘Top Constituency MP in Canada’ by Maclean’s Magazine

• Has a well-earned reputation as one of the hardest-working MPs in Ottawa

• Writer, broadcaster and musician; was a member of the Juno-nominated band Grievous Angels, as well as 1980s punk band L’Étranger.

• Honoured for “Outstanding Contribution to Northern Culture” at the 1999 Festival Boreal in Sudbury

• The Late Peter Gzozski once referred to Charlie as ‘The Bard of the North’

• Has been a regular contributor to CBC, TVO and national newspapers

• Has published five books on Northern Ontario life and culture

Olivia Chow



• Elected the Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina in 2006

• Originally from Hong Kong, Olivia has been a sculptor, a social services worker and a school trustee; she has also taught ESL and Cantonese

• Was the first Asian woman elected as a Metro Toronto Councilor in 1991

• Since Toronto's amalgamation in 1997, was voted best City Councilor seven times by the readers of NOW magazine and best local politician four times by the readers of Eye magazine

• Served as Toronto's first Children and Youth Advocate and spearheaded efforts to create children’s nutrition programs (now feeding over 70,000), free dental care for poor children and expanded pre- and post-natal services

Joe Comartin



• First elected Member of Parliament for Windsor—Tecumseh (previously Windsor-St. Clair) in 2000, re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

• Began his sustained involvement in the environmental movement as a law student, working with Pollution Probe and the Canadian Environmental Law Association, and served in a leadership capacity well as a wide array of voluntary organizations dedicated to social housing, pension protection, womens' emancipation and civil rights.

• First Chairperson of the Children’s Services Committee of the City of Windsor; also served on the City of Windsor’s Emergency and Health Services Inquiry Commission

• In recognition of his commitment to the community and dedicated service to working families, was named an honourary member of the CAW Local 444, the largest private sector union local in Canada.

• In recognition of his work for wildlands and wildlife, named “Rookie MP of the Year” in 2001 by Wild Canada.

• Recognized by fellow MPs from all parties an unprecedented two consecutive years in the Macleans'/Dominion Institute Awards as Canada's Most Knowledgeable Parliamentarian.

• A veteran member of several inter-Parliamentary Associations, led or participated in several public diplomacy initiatives to improve relations between the citizens and legislatures of Canada and countless international partners, including Canada-Poland, Canada-Sri Lanka, Canada-Ireland, Canada-France, Canada-Cuba, Canada-Turkey and, of course, our closest bilateral trading partner and ally, the United States of America.

• In recognition of his sustained service to the Windsor/Essex and broader Polish-Canadian community, was awarded a national honour by the Canadian Polish Congress in Toronto. Has been similarly honoured by the Lebanese, Arabic, Rwandan and Armenian communities for his tireless work in furtherance of diversity, tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue.

• Stood with the expatriate Libyan community in their fight against the tyrant Gaddafi from the earliest days, working to ensure tough sanctions and eventual military intervantion didn't deter the provision of vigorous humanitarian aid to the civilian population.

• Ranks among the most senior members of Parliament's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, having worked for years to both get tough on the most dangerous offenders while ensuring that restitution, judicial discretion and rehabilitation - especially for at-risk youth - remain core principles of Canadian justice. Worked tirelessly to mitigate the worst, most extreme elements of a heavily politicized Tory justice agenda while helping crack down on gang crime, sexual exploitation of children, and offences involving firearms.

• Aggressively pursued legislative solutions directly relevant to Windsor-Tecumseh families, advancing Private Members' Bills or advocating aggressively for single-event sports betting at Caesar's, relaxed visa restrictions for Polish-Canadians and other dual citizens, enhanced family reunification, U Windsor's celebrated Centre for Automotive Engineering Innovation, and elimination of double-taxation on Canada/USA mixed pensions.

• Mounted a widely-celebrated 2008 campaign for Speaker of the House of Commons which drew national attention to the need for greater decorum, respect and civility in Parliament.

• Founder and Co-Chair of the non-partisan Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care, which has worked cooperatively with health professionals and practitioners across the nation to ensure timely access to quality end of life care for all Canadians, and alleviate the suffering of Canadians with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Françoise Boivin



Born and raised in Gatineau, Françoise Boivin has been a labour specialist in the Outaouais for over 20 years. She is frequently consulted by a wide range of individuals, organizations and businesses. Françoise hosted “Le choc des idées”, a radio call-in show for CJRC-1150, from 1998 to 2002 and was host for “Dossier Boivin”, a public affairs television program on Canal Vox Outaouais in 2003 and 2004.

Her love for Quebec and the Outaouais as well as her fervent desire to build a just and equitable society has led her to federal politics where she excelled following her election as Member of Parliament for Gatineau in June 2004.

Françoise was personally selected personally by the Prime Minister to act as Seconder to the motion in address to the Throne Speech, a rare honour. She was then elected Chair of the Women's Caucus in November 2004, a first for any female Member of Parliament from Quebec. In this capacity, she participated in discussions with the Prime Minister every week, while serving on the Executive Committee.

Françoise was a member of the Standing Committee of Finances, the Standing Committee on Official Languages, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Legislative Committee on Bill C-38 on same-sex marriage. She has also been a member of the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Privilege and the Liberal Committee on Cities and Communities.

In 2005, she was credited as the “Top Backbencher of the Year” by Susan Delacourt of the Toronto Star and the Journal de Montreal acknowledged her perfect attendance in the House of Commons, thereby completing a very rare accomplishment of never missing a vote throughout the entire session of Parliament.

In 2006, Françoise returned to practice at her labour law office. She remained very active in the community and in the media as a commentator on TQS and Couleur-FM Gatineau.

Nycole Turmel



Nycole Turmel worked in a Canada Employment Centre before getting involved with the Union movement.

From 1979 to 2006, she held different Union positions at the local, regional and national levels. Upon retiring, she was National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, the first women to ever hold that position.

Nycole Turmel has continued her involvement in her community. She is a member of two Boards on affordable housing. She represents the workers on the Management Committee of Financial Assets of the QFL Solidarity Fund. From 2007 to 2011, she was Vice-President of the Ombudsman Office of the City of Gatineau. A Research Academic Chair at UQAM on public spaces and political innovations was named in her honor.

Tyrone Benskin



Tyrone is the artistic director of Montreal’s Black Theatre Workshop, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. BTW is the oldest Black theatre company in Canada which provides unique training and leadership programs for youth.

He is currently in his second term as National Vice-president of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA).

Tyrone was recently honoured by the Table Ronde de la Mois histoire des Noir as a 2010 laureate for his artistic contributions and work in the community.

Thomas Mulcair



• He served as Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (2003-2006) and he is the author of Quebec’s Sustainable Development Law;

• He served as Quebec Liberal Party M.N.A. for Chomedey (1994-2007);

• He is an experienced administrator. He worked as a lawyer for the Ministère de la Justice du Québec, Director of Legal Affairs for Alliance Québec, reviser for the translation of Manitoba Statutes, Professor at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and as President of the Office des professions du Québec; (1987-1993)

• He is a lawyer with degrees in Civil Law (B.C.L.) and Common Law (LL.B.) from McGill University and has been a member of the Barreau du Quebec since 1979;

Romeo Saganash



Romeo Saganash originates from Waswanipi. He has been very active politically and in advocacy groups for almost 30 years. In 1985, he founded the Cree Nation Youth Council. His interest in regional economic development got him involved in many Aboriginal businesses such as Creeco Inc. and the Eeyou Society of James Bay.

His commitment and his studies in law have led him to hold important position within the Grand Council of Crees, first as Deputy Grand Chief, and then as Director of Quebec relations and international affairs. Mr. Saganash was vice-chairman of the Cree Regional Authority he also chaired the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment between 1997 and 2000. His duties have allowed him to develop a strong political network in Quebec and Canada.

M. Saganash was also an important part of the negotiations that led to the signing of the Paix des Braves with the Quebec government in 2002. He was also one of the negotiators for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Romeo Saganash is a renowned expert on many issues such as the environment, regional development, the constitution, aboriginal rights, international law and human rights.

M. Saganash wants to pursue his work and represent the people of Abitibi - Baie-James - Nunavik - Eeyou to build bridges between the communities. It is with this idea in mind that he will act as an NDP Member of Parliament. He wants to support the work of political representatives and businessmen that wish to bring new life to the region.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download