Thomas Mulcair

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Thomas J. Mulcair
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Outremont
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 17, 2007
Preceded by Jean Lapierre
MNA for Chomedey
In office
1994–2007
Preceded by Lise Bacon
Succeeded by Guy Ouellette
Quebec Minister of the Environment
In office
2003–2006
Preceded by André Boisclair
Succeeded by Claude Béchard
Personal details
Born October 24, 1954 (1954-10-24) (age 57)
Ottawa, Ontario
Political party New Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Catherine Pinhas
Residence Beaconsfield, Quebec, Canada
Profession Attorney, professor, politician

Thomas J. "Tom" Mulcair (born October 24, 1954) is a Canadian lawyer, university professor, and politician. He is the federal Member of Parliament for Outremont, Quebec, Canada, and currently holds a seat in the New Democratic Party of Canada. Mulcair is a candidate for the 2012 NDP leadership election, to be determined in Toronto in March 2012.

He was the provincial Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Chomedey in Laval from 1994 to 2007, holding the seat for the Liberal Party of Quebec. He served as the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks from 2003 until 2006, in the Liberal government of Premier Jean Charest. Elected MP for Outremont in a by-election in 2007, he was named Deputy Leader of the New Democratic Party, jointly with Libby Davies, shortly afterwards, and has won re-election twice. On May 26, 2011 he was named the New Democratic Party's Opposition House Leader. Prior to entering politics, Mulcair was a civil servant in the Quebec provincial government, ran a private law practice, and taught law at the university level.

Contents

[edit] Early life, family, and education

Mulcair was born in 1954 at the Ottawa Civic Hospital to Harry Donnelly Mulcair, an Irish Canadian father, and Jeanne Hurtubise, a French Canadian mother. He is the second-oldest of the couple's ten children, and was raised in Wrightville district in Hull (now Gatineau) and in Laval, just north of Montreal. He graduated from Laval Catholic High School, and in Social Sciences from CEGEP Vanier College.[1]

Mulcair graduated from McGill University in 1977 with degrees in common law and civil law. During his penultimate year, he was elected president of the McGill Law Students Association, and sat on the council of the McGill Student Union. He has been married to Catherine Pinhas since 1976. She is a psychologist with Turkish-Jewish heritage who was born in France, and the couple have two sons.[2]

[edit] Early career

The couple moved to Quebec City in 1978, and Mulcair was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1979.[3] He worked in the Legislative Affairs branch in Quebec's Ministry of Justice and later in the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Superior Council of the French Language.[4]

In 1983 Mulcair became Director of Legal Affairs at Alliance Quebec. In 1985 he began a private law practice, and was named the reviser of the statutes of Manitoba following the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in the Manitoba reference case. Mulcair also taught law courses to non-law students at Concordia University (1984), at the Saint Lawrence Campus of Champlain Regional College in Sainte-Foy, and at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. He served as Commissioner of the Appeals Committee on the Language of Instruction (1986).

Mulcair was President of the Office des professions du Québec (1987 to 1993), where he introduced reforms to make disciplinary hearings more transparent and successfully led a major effort to have cases of alleged sexual abuse of patients decisively dealt with.[5][6] Mulcair was also a board member of the group Conseil de la langue française, and at the time of his appointment to the Office des Professions he had been serving as President of the English speaking Catholic Council.

[edit] Enters provincial politics

He first entered the National Assembly in the 1994 election, winning the riding of Chomedey. He was re-elected in 1998 and 2003. When the Quebec Liberal Party formed a provincial government in 2003, Premier of Quebec Jean Charest named Mulcair Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks. At the time of his appointment to Cabinet he had been serving on several volunteer boards including The Montreal Oral School for the Deaf, Operation Enfant Soleil and the Saint-Patrick's Society.[7] During his tenure he was a supporter of the Kyoto Protocol.

[edit] Advocate for improved environmental rights

On November 25, 2004, Mulcair launched Quebec's Sustainable Development Plan and tabled a draft bill on sustainable development. Also included was a proposed amendment to the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to create a new right, the right to live in a healthy environment that respects biodiversity, in accordance with the guidelines and standards set out in the Act.[8] Mulcair's Sustainable Development Plan was based on the successful European model and was described as one of the most avant-garde in North America.[9] Mulcair followed the proposal by embarking on a 21-city public consultation tour, and the Act was unanimously adopted by the National Assembly of Quebec in April 2006.

Accomplishments related to infrastructure included the completion of Autoroute 30 between Vaudreuil and Brossard, Autoroute 50 between Gatineau and Lachute, the widening of Route 175 between Stoneham and Saguenay, the widening of Route 185 from Rivière-du-Loup to the New Brunswick border and the introduction of a toll bridge which would complete Autoroute 25 between Montreal and Laval,[10] despite some public opposition by environmental groups.

[edit] Departure from cabinet

During a Cabinet shuffle, Charest offered Mulcair the position of Minister of Government Services (Quebec), and Mulcair chose to resign from cabinet rather than accept the apparent demotion.[11] There was speculation that his contrary opinion on a project that would have transferred lands in Mont Orford Provincial park to private condominium developers led to his removal as Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks.[7][12]

On February 20, 2007, he announced that he would not be a Liberal candidate in the 2007 Quebec general election.[13]

[edit] Federal politics

Thomas Mulcair during the 2011 campaign

On April 20, 2007, Mulcair confirmed that he would be running for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the next federal election.[14][15] His presence in the front row during a speech in Montreal by NDP Leader Jack Layton in March 2007 had already led to speculations to that effect.[16] He had previously given a speech at the Federal NDP Convention in Quebec City in September 2006.

Mulcair's maternal great-grandfather was former Quebec Premier Honoré Mercier, to whom he referred when he announced his return to politics in 2007: "My great grandfather was Honoré Mercier, so what else could you expect from me." [17] Mulcair identified former Quebec Liberal Party leader Claude Ryan as his political mentor.[18]

[edit] By-election win

Mulcair also became Layton's Quebec lieutenant. On June 21, 2007, in an uncontested nomination, Mulcair became the NDP's candidate in the riding of Outremont for a by-election on September 17. Mulcair won the by-election, defeating Liberal candidate Jocelyn Coulon 48% to 29%; the seat had been a Liberal stronghold since 1935 (except for the 1988 election). Jean Lapierre suggested that Mulcair was likely aided by defecting Bloc Quebecois supporters (the Bloc candidate had finished second in the 2006 federal election). In addition, Coulon's writings had been condemned by B'nai Brith Canada, and the local Jewish community in Outremont makes up 10% of the riding demographics.[19][20] The Conservatives focused their attacks on the leadership skills of Stéphane Dion, and there were allegations that Michael Ignatieff's supporters tried to sabotage the race for the Liberals to undermine Dion's leadership.[21][22][23]

Mulcair was only the second NDP Member of Parliament ever elected from Quebec, following Phil Edmonston in 1990 (one previous MP, Robert Toupin of Terrebonne, had crossed the floor to the NDP in 1986). Mulcair is also only the second non-Liberal ever to win Outremont, following Progressive Conservative Jean-Pierre Hogue in 1988.

[edit] Deputy leader

He and colleague Libby Davies were jointly appointed deputy leaders of the party.[24] Mulcair was sworn in on October 12, 2007.[25]

On October 14, 2008, Mulcair was re-elected the Member of Parliament for Outremont, making him the first New Democrat to win a riding in Quebec during a federal general election. He defeated the federal Liberal candidate, Sébastien Dhavernas, by 14,348 votes to 12,005 (a margin of 6.4%).[26]

In the 2011 federal election, despite facing a strong challenge from Liberal Martin Cauchon, a former federal justice minister, Mulcair was re-elected once more with 56.4% of the popular vote, 21,916 to 9,204.

[edit] Controversy over Osama bin Laden

In a May 2011 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television interview following Osama bin Laden's capture and killing in Pakistan, Mulcair was asked whether the U.S. should "release pictures of Osama bin Laden". Mulcair answered "I don't think from what I've heard that those pictures exist, and if they do I'll leave that up to the American military."[27] Mulcair's answer was initially interpreted as casting doubt on the existence of photos of bin Laden's corpse.[28][29] It received attention from American media outlets[30] and was criticized by Canadian politicians including Paul Dewar,[31] Chris Alexander,[28][29] and Marc Garneau.[30] Mulcair later clarified that he had actually been referring to the question of whether any pictures exist showing bin Laden reaching for a gun before he was killed.[32] He added that he never doubted American forces had killed bin Laden nor that the U.S. had photographs proving bin Laden was dead.[32][33] Paul Wells of Maclean's, noted that the CBC interviewer, Evan Solomon failed to pose a clear question, thus leading to the miscommunication.[34]

[edit] Federal NDP leadership bid

Thomas Mulcair during a candidates debate on February 12, 2012 in Québec

Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton passed away on August 22, 2011, following a battle with cancer, and was honoured with a state funeral. Mulcair stated that Layton's death had hit him exceptionally hard, and that while he was considering a federal NDP leadership bid, he would need several weeks to make up his mind on that decision.[35]

Mulcair declared his candidacy for the federal NDP leadership at a press conference in suburban Montreal on October 13, 2011. He has attracted the support of over 30 MPs.[36]

[edit] Leadership bid supporters

[edit] Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±pp Expenditures
New Democratic Thomas Mulcair 21,906 56.37 +16.84
Liberal Martin Cauchon 9,204 23.69 -9.39
Conservative Rodolphe Husny 3,408 8.77 -1.76
Bloc Québécois Élise Daoust 3,199 8.23 -4.32
Green François Pilon 838 2.16 -2.15
Rhinoceros Tommy Gaudet 160 0.41 –
Communist Johan Boyden 143 0.37 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 38,858 100.00
Total rejected ballots 291 0.74 +0.05
Turnout 39,149 60.46 +4.35
2008 federal election : Outremont edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Thomas Mulcair 14,348 39.53 +22.33 $69,072
     Liberal Sébastien Dhavernas 12,005 33.08 -2.10 $45,118
     Bloc Québécois Marcella Valdivia 4,554 12.55 -16.46 $48,279
     Conservative Lulzim Laloshi 3,820 10.53 -2.20 $24,421
     Green F. Monsieur Corde à Linge Pilon 1,566 4.31 -0.51 not listed
Total valid votes 36,293 100.00
Total rejected ballots 253 0.69 -
Turnout 36,546 56.11 -4.67
Electors on the lists 64,556
     New Democratic Party hold Swing -6.05

Source: Official Voting Results, 40th General Election 2008, Elections Canada. Percentage change figures refer to a comparison with the 2006 general election, not the 2007 by-election.

Canadian federal by-election, September 17, 2007: Outremont    [edit]
Party Candidate Votes % ±pp Expenditures
     New Democratic Party Thomas Mulcair 11,374 47.50 +30.03 $76,194
     Liberal Jocelyn Coulon 6,933 28.96 -6.22 $72,539
     Bloc Québécois Jean-Paul Gilson 2,618 10.93 -18.08 $57,717
     Conservative Gilles Duguay 2,052 8.57 -4.16 $66,401
     Green François Pilon 529 2.21 -2.61 $169
     Neorhino.ca François Yo Gourd 145 0.61 $1,774
     Independent Mahmood Raza Baig 78 0.33 $45
     Independent Jocelyne Leduc 61 0.25 $6
     Independent Romain Angeles 46 0.19 $157
     Canadian Action Party Alexandre Amirizian 45 0.19 $0
     Independent Régent Millette 32 0.13 +0.08 none listed
     Independent John C. Turmel 30 0.13 none listed
Total valid votes 23,943 100.00
Total rejected ballots 175 0.73 +0.03
Turnout 24,118 37.43 -23.35
Electors on the lists 64,438
     New Democratic Party gain from Liberal Swing -18.3
Quebec general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Thomas J. Mulcair 25,363 71.10 +1.23
     Parti Québécois Coline Chhay 6,568 18.41 -3.49
     Action démocratique Vicken Darakdjian 3,384 9.49 +2.65
     Marxist-Leninist Polyvios Tsakanikas 210 0.59 -
     Equality Robert Tamilia 148 0.41 -0.50
Quebec general election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Thomas J. Mulcair 28,293 69.87 +2.17
     Parti Québécois Monia Prévost 8,869 21.90 -2.26
     Action démocratique Vicken Darakdjian 2,768 6.84 +1.62
     Equality Pierre Fortier 368 0.91 -0.01
     Socialist Democracy Jean-Pierre Roy 195 0.48 -
Quebec general election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Thomas J. Mulcair 25,885 67.70 +14.31
     Parti Québécois Lidi Costache 9,239 24.16 -0.44
     Action démocratique Gaétane Piché 1,997 5.22 -
     Equality Gary Brown 353 0.92 -17.69
     Economic Richard Gagné 243 0.64 -
     CANADA! Benjamin Simhon 212 0.55 -
     Commonwealth John Ajemian 154 0.40 -
     Natural law John Wolter 150 0.39 -

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Thomas Mulcair". Thomasmulcair.ca. http://thomasmulcair.ca/site?about/?lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  2. ^ "Thomas Mulcair". Thomasmulcair.ca. http://thomasmulcair.ca/site?/about/?lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  3. ^ "À propos de Thomas". Thomasmulcair.ca. 1977-07-26. http://thomasmulcair.ca/site/about/?lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  4. ^ Gibb-Clark, Margo, Quebec's 'others': Life in a French world, The Globe and Mail, June 22, 1983, page A1
  5. ^ "Professional Code of Quebec". publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca. http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_26/C26_A.HTM. Retrieved 2011-09-01. 
  6. ^ Lévesque, Kathleen, La Corporation professionnelle des médecins serait incapable de protéger le public, Le Devoir, August 5, 1993, page A2
  7. ^ a b "About Tom « Thomas Mulcair". Thomasmulcair.ca. http://www.thomasmulcair.ca/site/about/?lang=en. Retrieved 2011-12-26. 
  8. ^ "Sustainable Development: Because Quality of Life Counts!, Press Release, November 25, 2004". Mddep.gouv.qc.ca. 2004-11-25. http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/communiques_en/c20041125-dd.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  9. ^ "Ch13-10.indd" (PDF). http://www.lavalnews.ca/papers/Ch13-10.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-05. [dead link]
  10. ^ Meunier, Hugo, Prolongement de l'autoroute 25 : Les environnementalistes s'adressent à la Cour supérieure, La Presse, April 1, 2006, page A6
  11. ^ Gazette, The (2006-02-28). "Mulcair quits in a huff, The Gazette, February 28, 2006". Canada.com. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=c5ad812f-0622-47de-959c-b4d36eab096c&k=76257. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  12. ^ Corbeil, Michel, Mulcair règle ses comptes: Malgré ses flèches à Charest, il reste député Le Soleil, Quebec, March 7, 2006, page A1
  13. ^ "Mulcair will not be a Liberal candidate in the next election (press release distributed by Canada NewsWire), February 20, 2007". Newswire.ca. 2010-05-28. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2007/20/c2531.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  14. ^ NDP recruits ex-Quebec environment minister Thomas Mulcair for next election, EarthEast, April 20, 2007
  15. ^ Mulcair sera candidat pour le NPD, La Presse, April 20, 2007
  16. ^ Mulcair courtisé par quatre partis fédéraux, La Presse, March 12, 2007
  17. ^ "Mulcair is back, Courrier Laval, April 20, 2007". Courrierlaval.com. 2009-06-10. http://www.courrierlaval.com/article-97345-Mulcair-is-back.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  18. ^ "À propos de Thomas « Thomas Mulcair". Thomasmulcair.ca. 1977-07-26. http://thomasmulcair.ca/site/about/?lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  19. ^ "Jocelyn Coulon est contesté par le B'nai Brith - LCN - National". Lcn.canoe.ca. 2007-07-23. http://lcn.canoe.ca/lcn/infos/national/archives/2007/07/20070723-112515.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  20. ^ "B'nai Brith has many reasons to doubt Jocelyn Coulon". Vigile.net. http://www.vigile.net/B-nai-Brith-has-many-reasons-to. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  21. ^ "Coup dur pour Stéphane Dion, ''Le Devoir'', September 18, 2007". Ledevoir.com. http://www.ledevoir.com/2007/09/18/157319.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  22. ^ "NDP grabs seat, Tories vindicated in byelections". CBC. 2007-09-18. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/09/18/byelections-reaction.html. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  23. ^ "National". Toronto: globeandmail.com. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070917.wbyelectionmain17/BNStory/National/home. Retrieved 2010-06-05. 
  24. ^ Mulcair monte en grade, Gilles Toupin, September 27, 2007
  25. ^ Mulcair assermenté comme nouveau député d'Outremont, La Presse, October 12, 2007
  26. ^ "Elections Canada - Electoral Districts". Enr.elections.ca. http://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts_e.aspx?type=1&criteria=h3g1a7. Retrieved 2011-05-02. 
  27. ^ Transcript: Mulcair on Osama bin Laden, CBC
  28. ^ a b Payton, Laura (04-05-11). "NDP deputy leader doubts bin Laden photos exist". CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/04/pol-mulcair-osama.html. 
  29. ^ a b Ibbitson, John (04-05-11). "NDP’s deputy leader doubts existence of bin Laden photos". Globe and Mail (Toronto). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndps-deputy-leader-doubts-existence-of-bin-laden-photos/article2010535/. 
  30. ^ a b Kaszor, Daniel (04-05-11). "NDP MP Thomas Mulcair questions bin Laden pictures". National Post. http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/04/ndp-mp-thomas-mulcair-questions-bin-laden-kill/. 
  31. ^ Press, The Canadian (04-05-11). "Conspiracy theory: NDP deputy leader Mulcair doubts U.S. has bin Laden photos". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/985972--conspiracy-theory-ndp-deputy-leader-mulcair-doubts-u-s-has-bin-laden-photos. 
  32. ^ a b Joanna Smith Ottawa Bureau (May 5, 2011). "MP Mulcair explains skepticism over bin Laden photos". Toronto: Thestar.com. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/986478--mp-mulcair-explains-skepticism-over-bin-laden-photos?bn=1. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  33. ^ Transcript: Mulcair explains, CBC
  34. ^ Wells, Paul (2011-05-05). "Mulcair - Capital Read, Inkless Wells". Macleans.ca. http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/05/05/mulcair/. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  35. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/thomas-mulcair-concedes-hes-thinking-about-ndp-leadership-bid/article 2147211/, Thomas Mulcair concedes he's 'thinking' about NDP leadership bid, by Les Perreaux, August 30, 2011
  36. ^ http://theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/mulcair-launches-NDP-leadership-bid-with-call-to-do-things-differently/article 2199899/, Mulcair launches NDP leadership bid with call to do things differently, by Daniel Leblanc, October 13, 2011
  37. ^ "Mulcair gains support for NDP leadership race". CBC News. September 15, 2011. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/09/15/pol-ndp-caucus-day-2.html. 
  38. ^ "Caucus du NPD - Les pro-Mulcair se manifestent". Le Devoir. September 15, 2011. http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/canada/331433/caucus-du-npd-les-pro-mulcair-se-manifestent. 
  39. ^ "Dubé Appuie Mulcair". L'Oeil Régional. October 8, 2011. http://monteregieweb.com/main+fr+01_300+Dube_appuie_Mulcair.html?JournalID=28&ArticleID=723938. 
  40. ^ Authier, Philip (September 16, 2011). "MPs voice support for Mulcair - Outremont MP has yet to declare candidacy". Montreal Gazette. http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/voice+support+Mulcair/5407200/story.html. Retrieved September 16, 2011. 
  41. ^ "Les députés Dusseault et Rousseau au lancement de Mulcair". La Tribune (Sherbrooke). October 13, 2011. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/la-tribune/sherbrooke/201110/13/01-4456885-les-deputes-dusseault-et-rousseau-au-lancement-de-mulcair.php?utm_categorieinterne=trafficdrivers&utm_contenuinterne=cyberpresse_lire_aussi_4456868_article_POS1. 
  42. ^ "Djaouida Sellah supports Thomas Mulcair for the leadership of the NDP." Djaouida Sellah. 13 October 2011.
  43. ^ "Thomas Mulcair reçoit des appuis dans la grande région de Québec". Radio-Canada. October 13, 2011. http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Quebec/2011/10/13/004-appuis-thomas-mulcair.shtml. 
  44. ^ Posted: Oct 13, 2011 11:49 AM ET (October 13, 2011). "Mulcair kicks off NDP leadership bid with 33 MPs". Cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/13/pol-ndp-mulcair-leadership-launch.html. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
  45. ^ a b Normandin, Pierre-André (October 13, 2011). "Direction du NPD: Mulcair se lance dans la course". La Presse. http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/politique-canadienne/201110/13/01-4456868-direction-du-npd-mulcair-se-lance-dans-la-course.php. 

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