Rob Nicholson

For other people with similar names, see Robert Nicholson (disambiguation) or Bob Nicholson (disambiguation).

The Honourable Robert Nicholson PC QC MP
Minister of Justice
Incumbent
Assumed office January 4, 2007
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Vic Toews
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
In office February 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Tony Valeri
Succeeded by	Peter Van Loan
Minister responsible for Democratic Reform
In office February 6, 2006 – January 4, 2007
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Belinda Stronach (Democratic Renewal)
Succeeded by	Peter Van Loan
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Niagara Falls
Incumbent
Assumed office June 28, 2004
Preceded by	Gary Pillitteri
In office September 4, 1984 – October 25, 1993
Preceded by	Al MacBain
Succeeded by	Gary Pillitteri
Personal details
Born	April 29, 1952 (1952-04-29) Niagara Falls, Ontario
Political party	Conservative Party (2003–present)
Other political affiliations	Progressive Conservative Party (Before 2003)
Spouse(s)	Arlene Nicholson
Residence	Niagara Falls, Ontario
Alma mater	Queen's University University of Windsor
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Robert Douglas "Rob" Nicholson, PC, QC, MP (born April 29, 1952), is the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. He is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Niagara Falls for the Conservative Party and the current Minister of Justice after serving for one year as Government House Leader. He replaced Vic Toews as Justice Minister during a Cabinet shuffle on January 4, 2007. Peter Van Loan replaced him as Government House Leader.

Early life

Nicholson was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University and a law degree from the University of Windsor. He practised law before entering politics, and is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Political career

He was first elected to parliament in the federal election of 1984 as a Progressive Conservative, easily defeating New Democrat Richard Harrington and incumbent Liberal Al MacBain. He was re-elected by a narrower margin in the 1988 election, defeating Liberal Gary Pillitteri by fewer than 2,000 votes.

Nicholson served as parliamentary secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons from 1989 to 1990, and as parliamentary secretary to the Attorney General from 1989 to 1993. On June 25, 1993, he was appointed Minister for Science and Minister responsible for Small Business in the short-lived government of Kim Campbell.

He was defeated in the 1993 election, finishing third against Pillitteri and Reformer Mel Grunstein. He ran again in the 1997 election, but again finished third.

Nicholson was elected as a trustee for the Niagara Catholic District School Board in 1994. He was elected to the Niagara Regional Council later in 1997, and was re-elected in 2000, and 2003. He ran for Chairman of the Regional Municipality of Niagara in late 2003, but lost to St. Catharines Regional Councillor Peter Partington.

The Progressive Conservatives merged with the Canadian Alliance as the Conservative Party of Canada in early 2004, and Nicholson joined the new party. He was narrowly returned to parliament in the 2004 election, defeating Liberal Victor Pietrangelo by more than 1,000 votes.

Nicholson served as Shadow Transportation Critic from July 2004 to January 2005. He was appointed Chief Opposition Whip on January 28, 2005. He had the unique distinction of being the only member of the Conservative Party Caucus during the 38th Parliament who previously served as a cabinet minister at the federal level, and with David Emerson was one of only two Conservative MPs during the 39th Parliament who had previously done so (Garth Turner, who served with Nicholson in the Campbell cabinet, was elected as a Conservative but was removed from caucus after less than a year). He was re-elected in the 2006 election and appointed to the Harper cabinet.

Ministerial career

Nicholson was appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Canadian Afghan detainee issue

On March 13, 2000, Nicholson released the terms of reference for the appointment of Frank Iacobucci as an Independent Adviser. Iacobucci will conduct an independent review of documents related to the transfer of detainees by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

This statement comes after Richard Colvin spoke before a parliamentary committee stating that he warned for a full year that detainees Canadian troops handed over to Afghan forces faced torture before the government began to monitor them. “London, The Hague and Canberra [Australia] are deeply concerned about the absence of solid legal protections for detainees, which – in the age of Gitmo and Abu Ghraib – imperils domestic support for the Afghanistan mission,” said the memo of December 4, 2006, written by diplomat Richard Colvin." Amir Attaran also brought forward testimony in stark contrast to then Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan David Sproule's. Afgan prisoners testified that after capture by Canadians, they were subsequently handed to the custody of the Afghan National Army, claiming they were later been abused by the ANA.

Crime

Nicholson demonstrated the Conservative Party of Canada commitment to tough on crime legislation. This commitment is based on anecdotal support at best. Statistics Canada Crime Statistics which tracks crime shows a continuous drop in all crimes including Violent crimes. Nicholson is quoted as saying “We’re not governing on the basis of the latest statistics... We’re governing on the basis of what’s right to better protect victims and law-abiding Canadians.” effectively dismissing factual evidence of crime rates. This government tact of moving forward on tough on crime legislation regardless of statistical evidence, is considered by some to be pandering to the core conservative voters rather than in the best interests of all Canadians.

Nicholson said the judiciary should not be in a position to circumvent sentences his government has devised in response to public displeasure with crime and criminals. He stated government sentencing guidelines are "reasonable and appropriate".

In contrast to the Ministers position the Canadian Bar Association put forward a resolution requesting a review of mandatory minimum sentencing. The Ministers stance appears to be in direct conflict with Bar Association who have denounced his position as creating inaccessible courts and criminal justice measures that threaten to pack prisons. Crown Lawyer Dan MacRury from Nova Scotia highlighted the concerns of the Bar Association stating without more options judges are forced to incarcerate people such as the mentally ill when they may be better treated in community-based health settings. Others have pointed out the mandatory minimum sentences could have negative unintended consequences for offenders, for victims and for society at large. It creates a perverse incentives for the Crown to reduce charges to avoid inappropriate mandatory minimums, or for juries to acquit the guilty, in effect the ultimate safety valve outside of the governments control.

On August 15, 2011, Nicholson that most provisions of Bill C–2 the Fair and Efficient Criminal Trials Act have come into force. This new legislation will help ensure that so–called "mega-trials," large and complex cases involving illegal activities such as drug trafficking, white–collar crime, terrorism, organized crime or gang–related activity, can be heard more swiftly and effectively. The speed with which this bill has been passed has been criticized by some as a knee jerk reaction by the Minister following the dismissal of proceedings against 31 alleged members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang in Quebec when the judge ruled the trial would take too long.

See also

• List of Knights of Columbus

External links

• Rob Nicholson official site
• Profile at Parliament of Canada
• Parliamentarian profile at ParlInfo
• Speeches, votes and activity at OpenParliament.ca
• Voting history at How'd They Vote?

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Al MacBain	Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls 1984–1993	Succeeded by Gary Pillitteri
Preceded by Gary Pillitteri	Member of Parliament for Niagara Falls 2004–present	Incumbent
25th Ministry – Cabinet of Kim Campbell
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
	Minister of Science 1993
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor	Title	Successor
	Minister responsible for Small Business 1993
28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor	Title	Successor
Tony Valeri	Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2006–2007)	Peter Van Loan
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor	Title	Successor
Belinda Stronach as Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal	Minister responsible for Democratic Reform 2006–2007	Peter Van Loan
Cabinet Posts (1)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Vic Toews	Minister of Justice 2007–present	Incumbent