David Pratt (politician)

For other people named David Pratt, see David Pratt (disambiguation).

The Honourable David Pratt, P.C. , BA (Honours) Carleton University (born January 3, 1955) is a former Canadian politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Nepean—Carleton from 1997 until 2004.

As Minister of National Defence, Pratt was directly involved in several major procurement projects totaling $7 billion including the Maritime Helicopter Program to replace the aging Sea King fleet, the Mobile Gun System and a new fixed wing search and rescue aircraft. He also obtained federal cabinet approval for the Joint Support Ship program to provide new supply ships for the Canadian Navy. As the local Ottawa cabinet minister, he was instrumental in working with provincial and municipal officials to assemble $600 million in funding for a proposed light rail transit system – a project that was subsequently cancelled by the City of Ottawa. As Chair of the Commons Defence Committee, he was a strong advocate for increased military spending both before and after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Under his leadership, the defence committee released a report entitled: “Facing Our Responsibilities: The state of readiness of the Canadian Forces” which called for substantial new investments in Canada’s military capabilities. As committee chair, Pratt also argued strongly for a more bi-partisan approach to defence issues and for regular reviews of Canadian foreign and defence policy. He successfully sponsored a resolution in Parliament to declare the first Sunday in June “Canadian Forces Day” and contributed to policy debates on defence and security matters with two papers: “Fostering Human Security: A Joint Canada-US Brigade,” (October, 2000) and “Does Canada Need A Foreign Intelligence Agency?” (March, 2003).

In 1999, Pratt served as a Special Envoy for the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs to Sierra Leone and performed the same role for Axworthy’s successor, the Honourable John Manley. He visited the war torn country on several occasions. He met and held talks with the former Sierra Leonean President {{Ahmed Tejan Kabbah]], and former President Charles Taylor of Liberia, President Lansana Conte of Guinea, and other senior officials and diplomatic representatives including RUF leader Foday Sankoh. He wrote two reports - “The Forgotten Crisis” (April, 1999) and “Sierra Leone: Danger and Opportunity in a Regional Conflict” (July, 2001). His recommendations called for more Canadian aid to Sierra Leone and more direct Canadian involvement to bring peace to the region. He also suggested that Liberian President Charles Taylor be investigated by the Special Court for Sierra Leone for war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in prolonging the regional conflict. Pratt also introduced the first legislation in Canada to certify diamonds under the UN sanctioned Kimberley Process to stop the trade in blood diamonds and to protect the integrity of the Canadian diamond industry. Similar government sponsored legislation was eventually passed by Parliament.

A strong advocate of physical fitness, in July, 2003 he completed the grueling four-day 160 kilometer International Four Days Marches Nijmegen with members of the Canadian Forces – the first Canadian Member of Parliament to do so.

In the 2004 Canadian federal election, he lost his seat to the Conservative candidate, forcing his departure as Defence Minister three weeks later. Following his electoral loss, Pratt joined the Canadian Red Cross as a Special Advisor in November, 2004. He has worked in the area of conflict prevention, small arms and light weapons and international humanitarian law. In 2006, he helped initiate the Canadian Red Cross’s Auxiliary to Government project. The project sought to improve the cooperation between the Canadian Red Cross and governments at all levels in Canada especially in the area of emergency management. It emphasized the special and distinct role that Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have under domestic and international law and the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The project also sought to obtain new legislation to replace the outdated The Canadian Red Cross Society Act, 1909. As the project leader, Pratt authored a discussion paper entitled: "Toward a Renewed Canadian Red Cross – Forging Stronger Partnerships In Support of a Humanitarian Agenda", and the project’s interim report entitled: "Revitalizing the Framework of Cooperation with Public Authorities." In July, 2008, Pratt left the Canadian Red Cross and is currently working as a consultant.

He is a Director of the Conference of Defence Associations of Canada, a Fellow and Member of the Advisory Board of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute and a Member of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. He is also an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada student # S145. He also serves on the board of directors of two health related organizations: Serenity House, a residential substance abuse treatment centre in Ottawa and the Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.

He has authored several papers and lectures including: “Re-tooling for New Challenges: Parliaments as Peace-builders,” Parliamentary Centre Working Paper, (June, 2005), “[Is There a Grand Strategy in Canadian Foreign Policy Is There a Grand Strategy in Canadian Foreign Policy?]” Ellis Lectures, University of Calgary, Centre for Military and Strategic Studies, (June 12-14, 2007) and “Canadian Grand Strategy and Lessons Learned” April, 2008, Journal for Transatlantic Studies, United Kingdom).

Before federal politics

Before Pratt was elected federally, he served in public office municipally. In 1988 he won a seat on Nepean City Council. His re-election in 1991 also gave him a seat on the Ottawa Carleton Regional Council. In the municipal election of 1994, his candidacy was uncontested and he was acclaimed. On Nepean Council, Pratt served a term as Deputy Mayor and chaired the committees of Public Works and Parks and Recreation. On Regional Council, he worked on transportation and environment issues and was a member of the Ottawa-Carleton Police Services Board and the OC Transpo Commission. He served for five years on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities where he was involved in community safety and crime prevention issues as well as district energy.

External links

• David Pratt's Parliamentary Biography
• Announcement of his appointment
• David Pratt's Red Cross Biography

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Preceded by: riding created in 1996; see Carleton—Gloucester and Nepean

Members of Parliament from Nepean—Carleton

Succeeded by: Pierre Poilievre, Conservative