Bill Blaikie

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Hon. Rev. William Alexander Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
Dean of the House of Commons
Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
Incumbent
Riding Elmwood—Transcona
In office since 1979
Born June 19, 1951 (age 55)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Political party

New Democratic Party
Profession(s) Clergyman
Religion United Church of Canada

William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC, BA, M.Div. (born June 19, 1951 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is the deputy leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Since 1979, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona in the Canadian House of Commons. On April 5, 2006 he was elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. He is the longest serving member of the House of Commons,[1] and in this capacity serves as the Dean of the House. He is a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and thus has the right to the title The Honourable for life. Blaikie will retire from parliament at the next federal election.[2]

Contents

[edit] Early life and career

Blaikie's father was employed by Canadian National for over forty years, originally as a machinist and later in management. Blaikie served in The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada from 1967 to 1972. He was strongly opposed to Transcona becoming part of the City of Winnipeg in 1972. He was employed as a labourer on and off with the Canadian National Railway from 1969 to 1974, while going to University. During his university years he was a prominent member of the Young Progressive Conservatives. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Winnipeg in 1973, and a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College Toronto School of Theology in 1977. He was ordained a minister in the United Church of Canada on June 4, 1978, and is considered as a politician in the social gospel tradition of other prominent ministers in the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (the NDP's predecessor) and NDP such as Tommy Douglas, J.S. Woodsworth and Stanley Knowles.[3] Before his election, he worked at an inner-city church project in Winnipeg.[4][5]

[edit] Parliamentarian

The New Democratic Party has never won a federal election in Canada, and Blaikie has spent his entire parliamentary career as an opposition member.

Clark and Trudeau governments

Blaikie was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1979 election, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative MP Dean Whiteway. He has been re-elected in his Winnipeg riding in every election since then.

Blaikie was appointed as the NDP's social policy critic in 1979,[6] and was promoted to Health Critic in 1980.[7] He also served as caucus chair.[8] He was instrumental in forcing then Minister of Health, Monique Bégin, to bring in the Canada Health Act in 1984 to deal with the crisis that extra-billing by physicians and user fees were causing for medicare.[9] Bégin, in a memoir, noted that Blaikie waged "guerilla warfare" against her in the Commons and forced her to act.[10]

As early as 1980, Blaikie expressed concern that Canada's media becoming concentrated in increasingly fewer hands. When the Southam newspaper chain shut down its Winnipeg Tribune and left the city's newspaper market to the rival Free Press, he commented that Winnipeggers were now being forced to look at the world "through one eye rather than two", and recommended increased government scrutiny of the industry.[11]

Mulroney government

Blaikie was appointed as NDP environment critic after the 1984 election.[12] He criticized the new Progressive Conservative government's budget cuts, and said of its first Environment Minister, Suzanne Blais-Grenier, "It is clear she does not think about the environment. She thinks about the deficit."[13] He called for Blais-Grenier's resignation in June 1985, after she commented that national parks could be opened to mining and logging.[14] In the same year, he brought forward a private member's bill calling for a three-year moratorium on the construction and export of nuclear power stations, to be followed by a national referendum on further development.[15]

Also in 1985, Blaikie served as second vice-chairman of an all-party committee on parliamentary reform.[16] Among other things, the committee's findings made it easier for private member's bills to come to a vote.[17]

Blaikie spoke against a bill that proposed the return of capital punishment in 1987, saying that it would "be a step toward not a less violent society, but a more violent society".[18] He was also an opponent of Sunday shopping law reform, arguing that it interfered with a community's right to determine its common rest times.[19]

He was promoted to external affairs critic in September 1987.[20] One of his first major policy statements was to call for Canada to stop allowing American cruise missile tests over its territory.[21] He also served as co-chairman of the NDP's international affairs committee, and held consultation meetings on whether or not the party would continue to support Canada's withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.[22] In February 1988, Blaikie and fellow MP Steven Langdon released A Time To Choose Canada, the New Democrats' Trade Option.[23]

Blaikie considered running for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba in 1988, following the surprise resignation of Howard Pawley. He eventually chose not to run, and did not endorse any other candidate.[24] He was retained as external affairs critic after the 1988 federal election, and became his party's spokesman for federal-provincial relations and the Constitution.[25] He was an international observer during Namibia's transformation to independence in 1989, and for Lithuania's first multi-party elections in early 1990.[26]

Blaikie was the only New Democrat elected in Winnipeg in the 1988 federal election. He retained his position as external affairs critic.[27] He was initially rumoured as a candidate in the New Democratic Party's 1989 leadership convention, but he declined to run and instead supported Simon de Jong's bid.[28] When de Jong was eliminated on the second ballot at a delegated convention, Blaikie moved to the camp of Audrey McLaughlin, the eventual winner.[29]

He was appointed NDP critic for finance prior to the first sitting of parliament in 1991.[30] He criticized the Mulroney government for cutting social programs to pay down the deficit, and called for a tightening of tax loopholes instead.[31] He had further responsibilities as transport critic, and was a vocal critic of proposed job cuts in the Canadian National Railway.[32] He also took part in another all-party committee for parliamentary reform, which issued a thirty-page report calling for more free votes, reforms to the parliamentary Question Period, and a streamlined process for passing legislation.[33]

Chrétien and Martin governments

Blaikie's closest election victory was in the 1993 federal election, when he defeated Liberal candidate Art Miki by only 219 votes, as the NDP fell to only nine seats nationally. Between 1993 and 1997, Blaikie was the only New Democratic Member of Parliament to represent a riding east of Saskatchewan.

He was appointed as his party's critic for foreign affairs and trade after the election, and also served as caucus chairman.[34] He called for Canada to withdraw from the newly-signed North American Free Trade Agreement.[35] In 1994, he wrote an editorial calling for the Bank of Canada to hold a larger portion of the national debt at low interest rates, as it did until the mid-1970s, in order to reduce the national deficit while maintaining social programs.[36] He wrote in 1996 that new rules governing the World Trade Organization would shift control of public policy from elected governments to unelected trade bureaucrats,[37] and later expressed similar concerns about the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, arguing that it put the rights of investors ahead of workers, environments, societies, and cultures.[38] In 1998, he led a national campaign against the proposed mergers of Canada's major banks.[39]

In early 1994, the House of Commons gave unanimous approval to Blaikie's Private Member's Bill calling for the government to recognize Canadians who served in the Dieppe Raid in World War II. He had originally called for a special medal to be struck, but accepted a Liberal amendement for a "distinctive decoration".[40] He later indicated his disappointment with the final result, a simple silver bar to be attached to a ribbon that was awarded to all service personnel in the 1939-43 period.[41]

Blaikie voted against the Chrétien government's gun registry in 1995, arguing that it did not address the real problems of gun-related violence.[42] He strongly opposed the government's decision to sell off CN Rail in the same year.[43]

There were again rumours that he would run for the NDP leadership in 1995, but he declined and instead supported Lorne Nystrom.[44] When Nystrom was eliminated, he shifted his support to the winner, Alexa McDonough.[45] The duties of MPs were shuffled after the leadership convention, and Blaikie was named as the party's House Leader.[46] He was retained in this position after the 1997 election, and continued in his capacity as trade critic while adding responsibility for intergovernmental affairs.[47]

Blaikie was re-elected in the 2000 federal election, as the NDP caucus was reduced to 13 members. He retained his position as house leader, and was also appointed as critic for parliamentary reform, justice, the solicitor-general and intergovernmental affairs issues.[48] He brought forward a motion in February 2001 to prohibit talking on a cellphone while driving, except in cases of emergency. He argued that the use of cellphones by drivers was causing a public safety hazard.[49] He took part in yet another committee on parliamentary reform later in the year, although he later announced that he was disappointed with the committee's results.[50]

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the New Democratic Party was divided into two camps concerning its role on the Canadian political spectrum. Some wanted to take the party into a more centrist direction, similar to Tony Blair's "Third Way" in Britain, while others sought to move in a radical left-wing direction. Blaikie was not strongly affiliated with either camp. He supported modernization, but opposed Blair's approach on the grounds that it was too close to corporate interests.[51] He was also critical of the extra-parliamentary left in Canada, arguing that anti-globalization protestors would be unable to bring about effective economic change without mobilizing in the political sphere.[52] He opposed the New Politics Initiative at the party's 2001 convention, saying that he was tired of hearing the NDP misrepresented as a bland, centrist force, and calling for a renewal of the existing party organization.[53]

Blaikie was a candidate in the 2003 leadership election, and placed second to Jack Layton, who appointed him the party's deputy leader. As Layton did not have a seat in the Commons, Blaikie served as the NDP's parliamentary leader until the 2004 election. This appointment led to his being sworn in as a member of the Privy Council. Since 2006, Blaikie has been the NDP's Labour Critic, as well as the Critic for Democratic Reform.

As Deputy Leader and as NDP Defence Critic, Blaikie was front and centre for the NDP in pushing the Liberals to not participate in the Iraq War, in opposing Canadian participation in ballistic missile defence, and in asking critical questions about the rules of engagement and changing role of Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

In 2000 Blaikie played a key role in getting the NDP Caucus to support the Clarity Act after securing amendments to the legislation that were important to First Nations in Quebec. This put him at odds with many in his own Party including Layton, during the 2004 election, but by the federal election of 2006, there was no more talk of rescinding the Clarity Act.

Blaikie is also known to be concerned about the prominent role given to "identity politics" in the modern Canadian left. He holds socially liberal views on most issues, and indeed voted for same-sex marriage in Canada. However, he takes the position that the economic needs of working-class and low-income Canadians should be the party's primary concern, and some have described him as a "lunch bucket social democrat". Layton on the other hand supports both "identity politics" and progressive economic policies.

As NDP International Trade Critic from 1993 to 2000, Blaikie was an outspoken critic of the corporate model of globalization, opposing the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and calling for reform of the World Trade Organization to include enforceable core labour standards for member countries. He wrote the NDP Minority Report on the MAI, which was published in Dismantling Democracy, ed. Andrew Jackson and Matthew Sanger.

Blaikie's daughter Rebecca Blaikie stood for the NDP against then-Prime Minister Paul Martin in his constituency of LaSalle—Émard in Montreal in the 2004 election.

On March 15, 2007 it was announced that Blaikie will not be running in the next federal election.[2]

[edit] Trivia

[edit] References

  1. ^ Members of the House of Commons -- Current List -- Years of Service. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved on 6 December 2006.
  2. ^ a b Bill Blaikie not seeking re-election, Press Release, NDP website, March 15, 2007.
  3. ^ Blaikie wrote the following in late 2000: "As a Christian on the left I would want to argue, for instance, that there is a vast realm called "the economy," and all the values and practices that it explicitly and implicitly reinforces, that should be judged, in the Christian mind, by whether or not it conforms to the teachings of Jesus Christ, whether any false gods, like the market, are worshipped therein, whether the poor and the oppressed are given priority, and whether, environmentally speaking, creation is being looked after." See Bill Blaikie, "Day's politics versus his faith --- Opposition leader argues from conservative, not biblical principles", Toronto Star, 2 December 2000, 1. He delivered the eulogy at Knowles's funeral in 1997. See "Knowles bid fond farewell", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 June 1997, A10.
  4. ^ Mary Trueman, "Critics call it an excuse for cutbacks", Globe and Mail, 3 November 1979, P13.
  5. ^ Dan Lett, "Voice in the wilderness", Winnipeg Free Press, 9 June 1996, B1.
  6. ^ Mary Trueman, "Retired judge is appointed to review medicare system", Globe and Mail, 18 September 1979, P1.
  7. ^ Ross Laver, "Restrict MDs' fees, scrap premiums, Ottawa told", Globe and Mail, 4 September 1980, P1.
  8. ^ "The Ottawa Scene", Globe and Mail, 23 June 1984, P5.
  9. ^ James Rusk, "Report pleases Conservatives, NDP", Globe and Mail, 4 September 1980, P10; "Begin may pressure provinces to cut out MDs' extra-billing", Globe and Mail, 18 March 1981, P1; Charlotte Montgomery, "Begin assails tactics of CMA over new laws for medicare", Globe and Mail, 18 March 1983, P10; Jean Gray, "Begin fears chain reaction on user fees", Globe and Mail, 12 May 1983, P8; Charlotte Montgomery, "Ottawa threatens cutbacks in funds over extra-billing", Globe and Mail, 26 July 1983, P1; Charlotte Montgomery, "NDP plans meeting on medicare issue", Globe and Mail, 19 August 1983, P3; Charlotte Montgomery, "MDs to seek right to strike if extra-billing banned", Globe and Mail, 17 February 1984, P3; Jeff Sallot, "Alberta intimidating patients about premiums, Begin says", Globe and Mail, 30 May 1984, N12.
  10. ^ Monique Bégin, L'Assurance Santé, (Montréal: Boréal, 1987), p. 167.
  11. ^ Ross Laver, "Papers should be licenced, inquiry told", Globe and Mail, 10 December 1980, P10. He expressed the same concern in 2000, when Thompson Corp. announced that it would sell off all of its holdings except the Globe and Mail. Blaikie called for limits on the number of newspapers that any chain could own. See Susanne Craig, "Thomson and Globe shift gears: Flagship publication will be centre of information powerhouse", Globe and Mail, 16 February 2000, A1.
  12. ^ "New Tory minister stands firm on cut to wildlife service", Globe and Mail, 20 November 1984, P5.
  13. ^ Michael Keating, "Environment budget cuts called a possible danger", Globe and Mail, 21 December 1984, M5; Michael Keating, "Deficit 'paranoia' is blamed for cut in research financing", Globe and Mail, 1 February 1985, M4.
  14. ^ "NDP environment critic adds voice to calls for Blais-Grenier to resign", Globe and Mail, 12 June 1985, P8.
  15. ^ "Referendum urged", Globe and Mail, 3 April 1985, M5. Blaikie later called for Canada to stop marketing its nuclear technology abroad, after the government of India conducted successful nuclear weapons tests in 1998. Canada had inadvertently provided India with the technology used in its first nuclear test in 1974. See Allan Thompson, "Ottawa bears responsibility, critics say", Toronto Star, 13 May 1998, A17.
  16. ^ George Bain, [editorial], Globe and Mail, 27 January 1986, A6.
  17. ^ Richard Cleroux, "Backbenchers get chance to present views", Globe and Mail, 29 March 1986, A3.
  18. ^ Graham Fraser and Hugh Winsor, "Return of death penalty retrograde step, Hnatyshyn says", Globe and Mail, 26 June 1987, A12. The bill was defeated.
  19. ^ "121 stores charged in Sunday opening", Globe and Mail, 9 December 1986, A19. Blaikie added "To my mind, Sunday shopping is one of the final victories of capitalism, of Mammon, and the idolatry of commodity fetishism. Our Constitution says that we recognize the supremacy of God. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Sunday shopping, why do we not drop the pretense and rewrite it to read supremacy of the market place?"
  20. ^ Graham Fraser, "Jewett replaced by NDP as external affairs critic", Globe and Mail, 14 September 1987, A4.
  21. ^ "Stop testing cruise, opposition MPs urge", Globe and Mail, 27 October 1987, A5.
  22. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Few changes expected in NDP's NATO stand after weekend meeting", Globe and Mail, 1 February 1998, A8.
  23. ^ Peter Cook, "The visionaries of the NDP go backward into the future", Globe and Mail, 5 February 1988, B2. As may be evident from the article title, Cook was critical of the NDP document.
  24. ^ Ross Howard, "'Courageous' move called best hope", Globe and Mail, 10 March 1988, A1; Richard Cleroux and Geoffrey York, "Doer favored to win Manitoba NDP leadership race", Globe and Mail, 15 March 1988, A4.
  25. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Leadership simmers as NDP names critics", Globe and Mail, 17 January 1989, A4.
  26. ^ "Group of MPs to urge aid for free Namibia", Globe and Mail, 14 September 1989, N8; "Rae joins Canadian team to monitor Lithuania's poll", Toronto Star, 16 February 1990, A14; Matthew Fisher, "Europe in Transition", Globe and Mail, 28 February 1990, A4.
  27. ^ Tim Harper, "Ottawa looking at improving links to PLO, Clark says", Toronto Star, 9 March 1989, A1. In this article, Blaikie was quoted as saying, "The sooner Canada catches up on this, the better. Our position is that the PLO should be recognized and anyone who hasn't - Canada, and especially Israel - should come to its senses."
  28. ^ Rosemary Speirs, "NDP hopefuls heading for the post", Toronto Star, 21 January 1989, D5; Tim Harpur, "7 hopefuls emerge as contenders for Ed's job", Toronto Star, 5 March 1989, A1. Sources indicate that Blaikie was holding off from declaring his candidacy, pending a decision by Nelson Riis. See Tim Harper, "Reluctant Riis reconsiders bid for leadership of NDP", Toronto Star, 12 June 1989, A9. After he decided not to run, he argued that de Jong had the greatest awareness of environmental issues of any candidate. See "Six NDP MPs endorse de Jong for leader", Globe and Mail, 7 October 1989, A5.
  29. ^ Alan Freeman, "NDP chooses a leader", Globe and Mail, 4 December 1989, A10.
  30. ^ "Ottawa gave out raises before capping salaries", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 8 March 1991, A1.
  31. ^ "Personal tax load higher, study says", Toronto Star, 20 June 1991, B1; "Grasping the deficit nettle", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 April 1993.
  32. ^ Brian Pardoe, "Ex-CN chief recommends job cuts", Globe and Mail, 6 August 1992, B5.
  33. ^ Carol Goar, "Patient MPs struggle to change rules of the game", Toronto Star, 18 August 1992, A17.
  34. ^ "Uncertainty swirls around McLaughlin's status with NDP", Hamilton Spectator, 5 May 1994, A9.
  35. ^ Barrie McKenna, "Liberals concede NAFTA fight", Globe and Mail, 3 December 1993, A1; Dianne Rinehart, "NAFTA no link to uprising: Chretien", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 1994; Bill Blaikie, "Self-Interest And Free Trade" [letter], Washington Post, 6 November 1994, C06.
  36. ^ Bill Blaikie, "Change monetary policy" [editorial], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 October 1994.
  37. ^ Bill Blaikie, "WTO process a threat to democracy" [letter], Financial Post, 7 December 1996, 24.
  38. ^ Bill Blaikie, "Deal hampers government" [letter], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1998, A15. He criticized the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas for similar reasons in 2000. See Allan Thompson, "Trade minister side-steps labour issues", Toronto Star, 15 June 2000, 1.
  39. ^ Paul Samyn, "NDP hopes to cash in on merger backlash", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 May 1998, B2.
  40. ^ "Dieppe vets to get decoration", Globe and Mail, 12 April 1994, A1.
  41. ^ Nick Martin, "Dieppe vet insulted as feds water down bid for medals", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 August 1994.
  42. ^ Tony Davis, "Gunfight at the Dauphin corral", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 March 1995; Dan Lett, "Outlaw Grits say no to party's gun bill", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 April 1995; Aldo Santin, "Senate seen as final hope", Winnipeg Free Press, 14 June 1995, A9.
  43. ^ Linda Quattrin, "Sale of CN Rail lamented", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 1995.
  44. ^ Susan Delacourt, "NDP plans to redesign the left McLaughlin to give up helm", Globe and Mail, 19 April 1994, A1; "Race to replace McLaughlin off to quiet start", Globe and Mail, 10 April 1995, N9. Some party insiders indicated that Blaikie was the preferred choice of Audrey McLaughlin and Glen Clark. See Doug Fischer, "Remember the federal NDP?", Hamilton Spectator, 17 January 1995, A7.
  45. ^ Shawn McCarthy, "New Democrats pick McDonough", Toronto Star, 15 October 1995, A1.
  46. ^ "McDonough's caucus gets marching orders", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1996, A12.
  47. ^ Terrence Wills, "Costly election campaign: Running 'paper candidates' in Quebec part of party's national commitment, NDP Leader McDonough says", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 4 July 1997, A6; "Marchi tries to sell us on treaty", Toronto Star, 25 October 1997, 1; "Voices", Toronto Star, 21 August 1998, A6.
  48. ^ Valerie Lawton, "Small caucus means NDP members face big workload", Toronto Star, 23 January 2001, 1.
  49. ^ "MP moves to cut off cellphone use in cars", Globe and Mail, 3 February 2001, A7.
  50. ^ Lisa Schmidt, "Report to modernize parliamentary rules misses true reform: critics", Canadian Press, 1 June 2001, 16:09.
  51. ^ Paul Samyn, "NDP wants change, wants to stay the same", Winnipeg Free Press, 29 August 1999, A7.
  52. ^ Frances Russell, "Best of times is worst of times for NDP", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 July 2001, A10.
  53. ^ Valerie Lawton, "NDP rejects demands for new left-wing party", Toronto Star, 25 November 2001, A3.
  54. ^ Rosemary Sexton, "MPs, friends celebrate Robbie Burns' birthday", Globe and Mail, 28 January 1988, A19.
  55. ^ Heather Sokoloff, "MPs pick Clark as most effective legislator", National Post, 14 February 2001, A13.

[edit] External links

[edit] Selected published works

  • "World Trade Organization spurns workers' rights", Canadian Dimension, 13 March 1997, Vol. 31, No. 2.</ref>

[edit] Table of offices held

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
formation of electoral district		 Member of Parliament for Winnipeg—Birds Hill
1979–1988		 Succeeded by
abolition of electoral district
Preceded by
formation of electoral district		 Member of Parliament for Winnipeg—Transcona
1988–2003		 Succeeded by
abolition of electoral district
Preceded by
formation of electoral district		 Member of Parliament for Elmwood—Transcona
2003–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Chuck Strahl		 Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
2006–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Charles Caccia		 Dean of the House - Canadian House of Commons
2004–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent


Manitoba Caucus serving in the 39th Canadian Parliament.
Senators Sharon Carstairs (Lib), Maria Chaput (Lib), Janis Gudrun Johnson (Con), Mira Spivak (Ind), Terrance Richard Stratton (Con), Rod Zimmer (Lib)
Members of Parliament Rod Bruinooge (Con), James Bezan (Con), Bill Blaikie (NDP), Tina Keeper (Lib), Steven Fletcher (Con), Inky Mark (Con), Pat Martin (NDP), Anita Neville (Lib), Brian Pallister (Con), Raymond Simard (Lib), Joy Smith (Con), Vic Toews (Con), Merv Tweed (Con), Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP)

[edit] Electoral record

2006 federal election : Elmwood—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 16,967 50.85 -1.14 $40,314.57
     Conservative Linda West 10,720 32.13 +6.02 $67,743.64
     Liberal Tanya Parks 4,108 12.31 -4.50 $13,374.72
     Green Tanja Hutter 1,211 3.63 +1.17 $240.77
     Christian Heritage Robert Scott 363 1.09 -0.23 $706.54
Total valid votes 33,369 100.00
Total rejected ballots 133
Turnout 33,502 58.20 +7.55
Electors on the lists 57,561


2004 federal election : Elmwood—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 15,221 51.99 +3.84 $37,459.54
     Conservative Bryan McLeod 7,644 26.11 -5.58 $33,737.79
     Liberal Tanya Parks 4,923 16.81 -1.56 21,665.52
     Green Elijah Gair 719 2.46 $204.72
     Christian Heritage Robert Scott 386 1.32 $2,599.64
     Marijuana Gavin Whittaker 311 1.06 -
     Communist Paul Sidon 74 0.25 $654.57
Total valid votes 29,278 100.00
Total rejected ballots 80
Turnout 29,358 50.65
Electors on the lists 57,965


2000 federal election : Winnipeg—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 15,680 47.85 -2.42 $35,468.07
     Canadian Alliance Shawn Rattai 8,336 25.44 +8.21 $21,800.25
     Liberal Bret Dobbin 6,041 18.43 -3.03 $17,596.32
     Progressive Conservative Chris Brewer 2,133 6.51 -2.46 -
     Green C. David Nickarz 229 0.70 -
     N/A (Christian Heritage) Robert Scott 146 0.45 -0.83 $3,639.93
     Independent Theresa Ducharme 118 0.36 -0.13 -
     Communist James Hogaboam 87 0.27 $263.77
Total valid votes 32,770 100.00
Total rejected ballots 127
Turnout 32,897 58.38 -1.98
Electors on the lists 56,345


1997 federal election : Winnipeg—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 16,640 50.27 $37,996
     Liberal Rosemary Broadbent 7,105 21.46 $25,771
     Reform Helen Sterzer 5,703 17.23 $19,506
     Progressive Conservative Glenn Buffie 2,968 8.97 $7,682
     Christian Heritage Robert Scott 423 1.28 $3,633
     Independent Theresa Ducharme 161 0.49 $111
     Marxist-Leninist Ken Kalturnyk 104 0.31 $11
Total valid votes 33,104 100.00
Total rejected ballots 199
Turnout 33,303 60.36
Electors on the lists 55,177


1993 federal election : Winnipeg—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/- Expenditures
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 16,074 38.86 -2.27 $33,353
     Liberal Art Miki 15,855 38.33 +6.45 $45,977
     Reform Helen Sterzer 5,829 14.09 $7,111
     Progressive Conservative Brett Eckstein 2,112 5.11 -20.51 $13,422
     National Marnie Johnston 900 2.18 $14,483
     Christian Heritage Robert Scott 362 0.88 $2,688
     Natural Law Geoff Danyluk 150 0.36 $78
     Marxist-Leninist Ken Kalturnyk 42 0.10 -0.17 $216
     Canada Party Bill Tataryn 39 0.09 $0
Total valid votes 41,363 100.00
Total rejected ballots 144
Turnout 41,507 70.15
Electors on the lists 59,169


1988 federal election : Winnipeg—Transcona edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 17,361 41.13 -7.8
     Liberal Shirley Timm-Rudolph 13,460 31.88 +20.6
     Progressive Conservative Mike Thompson 10,815 25.62 -9.9
     Ind.
(Western Independence)		 Fred Cameron 308 0.73
     Independent Gerry West 156 0.37
     N/A (Marxist-Leninist) Karen Naylor 115 0.27
Total valid votes 42,215 100.00
Total rejected ballots 130
Turnout 42,345 75.47
Electors on the lists 56,110


1984 federal election : Winnipeg—Birds Hill edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 23,903 45.81 -8.46
     Progressive Conservative John Hare 20,644 39.56 +10.12
     Liberal Lil Johnson 5,447 10.44 -5.00
     Confederation of Regions Al MacDonald 1,069 2.05
     Rhinoceros Honest Don Bergen 569 1.09 +0.38
     Independent Edward G. Price 549 1.05
Total valid votes 52,181 100.00
Total rejected ballots 163
Turnout 52,344 76.70 +7.32
Electors on the lists 68,248


1980 federal election : Winnipeg—Birds Hill edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democratic Party (x)Bill Blaikie 24,672 54.27 +4.11
     Progressive Conservative John Froese 13,385 29.44 -9.00
     Liberal Ron Wally 7,020 15.44 +4.28
     Rhinoceros Honest Don Bergen 322 0.71
     Marxist-Leninist Karen Naylor 60 0.13 +0.02
Total valid votes 45,459 100.00
Total rejected ballots 84
Turnout 45,543 69.38 -12.28
Electors on the lists 65,647


1979 federal election : Winnipeg—Birds Hill edit
Party Candidate Votes % +/-
     New Democratic Party Bill Blaikie 25,492 50.16
     Progressive Conservative (x)Dean Whiteway 19,536 38.44
     Liberal Ronald Wally 5,674 11.16
     Communist Harold J. Dyck 62 0.12
     Marxist-Leninist Karen Naylor 56 0.11
Total valid votes 50,820 100.00
Total rejected ballots 107
Turnout 50,927 81.66
Electors on the lists 62,361

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Members of the House of Commons -- Current List -- Years of Service. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved on 6 December 2006.
  2. ^ a b Bill Blaikie not seeking re-election, Press Release, NDP website, March 15, 2007.
  3. ^ Blaikie wrote the following in late 2000: "As a Christian on the left I would want to argue, for instance, that there is a vast realm called "the economy," and all the values and practices that it explicitly and implicitly reinforces, that should be judged, in the Christian mind, by whether or not it conforms to the teachings of Jesus Christ, whether any false gods, like the market, are worshipped therein, whether the poor and the oppressed are given priority, and whether, environmentally speaking, creation is being looked after." See Bill Blaikie, "Day's politics versus his faith --- Opposition leader argues from conservative, not biblical principles", Toronto Star, 2 December 2000, 1. He delivered the eulogy at Knowles's funeral in 1997. See "Knowles bid fond farewell", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 June 1997, A10.
  4. ^ Mary Trueman, "Critics call it an excuse for cutbacks", Globe and Mail, 3 November 1979, P13.
  5. ^ Dan Lett, "Voice in the wilderness", Winnipeg Free Press, 9 June 1996, B1.
  6. ^ Mary Trueman, "Retired judge is appointed to review medicare system", Globe and Mail, 18 September 1979, P1.
  7. ^ Ross Laver, "Restrict MDs' fees, scrap premiums, Ottawa told", Globe and Mail, 4 September 1980, P1.
  8. ^ "The Ottawa Scene", Globe and Mail, 23 June 1984, P5.
  9. ^ James Rusk, "Report pleases Conservatives, NDP", Globe and Mail, 4 September 1980, P10; "Begin may pressure provinces to cut out MDs' extra-billing", Globe and Mail, 18 March 1981, P1; Charlotte Montgomery, "Begin assails tactics of CMA over new laws for medicare", Globe and Mail, 18 March 1983, P10; Jean Gray, "Begin fears chain reaction on user fees", Globe and Mail, 12 May 1983, P8; Charlotte Montgomery, "Ottawa threatens cutbacks in funds over extra-billing", Globe and Mail, 26 July 1983, P1; Charlotte Montgomery, "NDP plans meeting on medicare issue", Globe and Mail, 19 August 1983, P3; Charlotte Montgomery, "MDs to seek right to strike if extra-billing banned", Globe and Mail, 17 February 1984, P3; Jeff Sallot, "Alberta intimidating patients about premiums, Begin says", Globe and Mail, 30 May 1984, N12.
  10. ^ Monique Bégin, L'Assurance Santé, (Montréal: Boréal, 1987), p. 167.
  11. ^ Ross Laver, "Papers should be licenced, inquiry told", Globe and Mail, 10 December 1980, P10. He expressed the same concern in 2000, when Thompson Corp. announced that it would sell off all of its holdings except the Globe and Mail. Blaikie called for limits on the number of newspapers that any chain could own. See Susanne Craig, "Thomson and Globe shift gears: Flagship publication will be centre of information powerhouse", Globe and Mail, 16 February 2000, A1.
  12. ^ "New Tory minister stands firm on cut to wildlife service", Globe and Mail, 20 November 1984, P5.
  13. ^ Michael Keating, "Environment budget cuts called a possible danger", Globe and Mail, 21 December 1984, M5; Michael Keating, "Deficit 'paranoia' is blamed for cut in research financing", Globe and Mail, 1 February 1985, M4.
  14. ^ "NDP environment critic adds voice to calls for Blais-Grenier to resign", Globe and Mail, 12 June 1985, P8.
  15. ^ "Referendum urged", Globe and Mail, 3 April 1985, M5. Blaikie later called for Canada to stop marketing its nuclear technology abroad, after the government of India conducted successful nuclear weapons tests in 1998. Canada had inadvertently provided India with the technology used in its first nuclear test in 1974. See Allan Thompson, "Ottawa bears responsibility, critics say", Toronto Star, 13 May 1998, A17.
  16. ^ George Bain, [editorial], Globe and Mail, 27 January 1986, A6.
  17. ^ Richard Cleroux, "Backbenchers get chance to present views", Globe and Mail, 29 March 1986, A3.
  18. ^ Graham Fraser and Hugh Winsor, "Return of death penalty retrograde step, Hnatyshyn says", Globe and Mail, 26 June 1987, A12. The bill was defeated.
  19. ^ "121 stores charged in Sunday opening", Globe and Mail, 9 December 1986, A19. Blaikie added "To my mind, Sunday shopping is one of the final victories of capitalism, of Mammon, and the idolatry of commodity fetishism. Our Constitution says that we recognize the supremacy of God. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Sunday shopping, why do we not drop the pretense and rewrite it to read supremacy of the market place?"
  20. ^ Graham Fraser, "Jewett replaced by NDP as external affairs critic", Globe and Mail, 14 September 1987, A4.
  21. ^ "Stop testing cruise, opposition MPs urge", Globe and Mail, 27 October 1987, A5.
  22. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Few changes expected in NDP's NATO stand after weekend meeting", Globe and Mail, 1 February 1998, A8.
  23. ^ Peter Cook, "The visionaries of the NDP go backward into the future", Globe and Mail, 5 February 1988, B2. As may be evident from the article title, Cook was critical of the NDP document.
  24. ^ Ross Howard, "'Courageous' move called best hope", Globe and Mail, 10 March 1988, A1; Richard Cleroux and Geoffrey York, "Doer favored to win Manitoba NDP leadership race", Globe and Mail, 15 March 1988, A4.
  25. ^ Susan Delacourt, "Leadership simmers as NDP names critics", Globe and Mail, 17 January 1989, A4.
  26. ^ "Group of MPs to urge aid for free Namibia", Globe and Mail, 14 September 1989, N8; "Rae joins Canadian team to monitor Lithuania's poll", Toronto Star, 16 February 1990, A14; Matthew Fisher, "Europe in Transition", Globe and Mail, 28 February 1990, A4.
  27. ^ Tim Harper, "Ottawa looking at improving links to PLO, Clark says", Toronto Star, 9 March 1989, A1. In this article, Blaikie was quoted as saying, "The sooner Canada catches up on this, the better. Our position is that the PLO should be recognized and anyone who hasn't - Canada, and especially Israel - should come to its senses."
  28. ^ Rosemary Speirs, "NDP hopefuls heading for the post", Toronto Star, 21 January 1989, D5; Tim Harpur, "7 hopefuls emerge as contenders for Ed's job", Toronto Star, 5 March 1989, A1. Sources indicate that Blaikie was holding off from declaring his candidacy, pending a decision by Nelson Riis. See Tim Harper, "Reluctant Riis reconsiders bid for leadership of NDP", Toronto Star, 12 June 1989, A9. After he decided not to run, he argued that de Jong had the greatest awareness of environmental issues of any candidate. See "Six NDP MPs endorse de Jong for leader", Globe and Mail, 7 October 1989, A5.
  29. ^ Alan Freeman, "NDP chooses a leader", Globe and Mail, 4 December 1989, A10.
  30. ^ "Ottawa gave out raises before capping salaries", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 8 March 1991, A1.
  31. ^ "Personal tax load higher, study says", Toronto Star, 20 June 1991, B1; "Grasping the deficit nettle", Winnipeg Free Press, 2 April 1993.
  32. ^ Brian Pardoe, "Ex-CN chief recommends job cuts", Globe and Mail, 6 August 1992, B5.
  33. ^ Carol Goar, "Patient MPs struggle to change rules of the game", Toronto Star, 18 August 1992, A17.
  34. ^ "Uncertainty swirls around McLaughlin's status with NDP", Hamilton Spectator, 5 May 1994, A9.
  35. ^ Barrie McKenna, "Liberals concede NAFTA fight", Globe and Mail, 3 December 1993, A1; Dianne Rinehart, "NAFTA no link to uprising: Chretien", Winnipeg Free Press, 20 January 1994; Bill Blaikie, "Self-Interest And Free Trade" [letter], Washington Post, 6 November 1994, C06.
  36. ^ Bill Blaikie, "Change monetary policy" [editorial], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 October 1994.
  37. ^ Bill Blaikie, "WTO process a threat to democracy" [letter], Financial Post, 7 December 1996, 24.
  38. ^ Bill Blaikie, "Deal hampers government" [letter], Winnipeg Free Press, 14 February 1998, A15. He criticized the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas for similar reasons in 2000. See Allan Thompson, "Trade minister side-steps labour issues", Toronto Star, 15 June 2000, 1.
  39. ^ Paul Samyn, "NDP hopes to cash in on merger backlash", Winnipeg Free Press, 24 May 1998, B2.
  40. ^ "Dieppe vets to get decoration", Globe and Mail, 12 April 1994, A1.
  41. ^ Nick Martin, "Dieppe vet insulted as feds water down bid for medals", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 August 1994.
  42. ^ Tony Davis, "Gunfight at the Dauphin corral", Winnipeg Free Press, 15 March 1995; Dan Lett, "Outlaw Grits say no to party's gun bill", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 April 1995; Aldo Santin, "Senate seen as final hope", Winnipeg Free Press, 14 June 1995, A9.
  43. ^ Linda Quattrin, "Sale of CN Rail lamented", Winnipeg Free Press, 6 May 1995.
  44. ^ Susan Delacourt, "NDP plans to redesign the left McLaughlin to give up helm", Globe and Mail, 19 April 1994, A1; "Race to replace McLaughlin off to quiet start", Globe and Mail, 10 April 1995, N9. Some party insiders indicated that Blaikie was the preferred choice of Audrey McLaughlin and Glen Clark. See Doug Fischer, "Remember the federal NDP?", Hamilton Spectator, 17 January 1995, A7.
  45. ^ Shawn McCarthy, "New Democrats pick McDonough", Toronto Star, 15 October 1995, A1.
  46. ^ "McDonough's caucus gets marching orders", Winnipeg Free Press, 12 January 1996, A12.
  47. ^ Terrence Wills, "Costly election campaign: Running 'paper candidates' in Quebec part of party's national commitment, NDP Leader McDonough says", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, 4 July 1997, A6; "Marchi tries to sell us on treaty", Toronto Star, 25 October 1997, 1; "Voices", Toronto Star, 21 August 1998, A6.
  48. ^ Valerie Lawton, "Small caucus means NDP members face big workload", Toronto Star, 23 January 2001, 1.
  49. ^ "MP moves to cut off cellphone use in cars", Globe and Mail, 3 February 2001, A7.
  50. ^ Lisa Schmidt, "Report to modernize parliamentary rules misses true reform: critics", Canadian Press, 1 June 2001, 16:09.
  51. ^ Paul Samyn, "NDP wants change, wants to stay the same", Winnipeg Free Press, 29 August 1999, A7.
  52. ^ Frances Russell, "Best of times is worst of times for NDP", Winnipeg Free Press, 13 July 2001, A10.
  53. ^ Valerie Lawton, "NDP rejects demands for new left-wing party", Toronto Star, 25 November 2001, A3.
  54. ^ Rosemary Sexton, "MPs, friends celebrate Robbie Burns' birthday", Globe and Mail, 28 January 1988, A19.
  55. ^ Heather Sokoloff, "MPs pick Clark as most effective legislator", National Post, 14 February 2001, A13.
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