Mathieu Ravignat
| Mathieu Ravignat | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Pontiac | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 2, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Cannon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 18, 1973 Orleans, Ontario |
| Political party | New Democrat |
| Residence | Cantley, Quebec |
| Profession | Policy researcher, leisure time Karate instructor, |
Mathieu Ravignat (born January 18, 1973) is a Canadian federal politician from Cantley, Quebec, Canada, who was elected to the House of Commons of Canada from the riding of Pontiac in the May 2, 2011 federal election. He is a member of the New Democratic Party, which forms the official opposition in the 41st Canadian Parliament.
Early life
Raised in Gracefield, Quebec and Orleans, Ontario, Ravignat received a master's degree in political science. He co-founded Local 2626 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the labour union that represents student employees of the University of Ottawa. At the time of his election to Parliament, Ravignat was a federal government researcher for aboriginal and environmental issues.[1]
Political career
Ravignat first ran for a seat as an independent candidate in the 1997 federal election. He was affiliated with the Communist Party of Canada during the years when it was stricken from the list of registered parties by Elections Canada.[2] Ravignat ran in the riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie finishing in last place out of eight candidates earning 123 votes. He was soundly defeated by Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe.[3]
Ravignat ran for his second time as a New Democratic Party candidate in the 2011 federal election. He was nominated by the party to contest the riding of Pontiac. On election night, he won his first term in office and picked up the seat for his party by defeating Conservative Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, despite the Conservative Party gaining its first majority government in the election.[4][5][6][7]
Martial arts
Ravignat is a sensei at the Wakefield Traditional Karate Association. He is also a member of the Ottawa Medieval Sword Guild, a historical European martial arts organization.[8] In 2008 he won a martial arts tournament at the Royal Ontario Museum.
References
- ↑ "New Democrats: Candidate Mathieu Ravignat". Ottawa Citizen. April 20, 2011.
- ↑ Heather Scoffield (April 30, 2011). "Cannon vs the Karate Kid: the NDP wave threatens cabinet minister". Google News.
- ↑ "Laurier—Sainte-Marie election results". Parliament of Canada. June 2, 1997. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- ↑ "2011 General Election". Elections Canada. May 5, 2011.
- ↑ Lesley Ciarula Taylor (May 3, 2011). "Dryden falls, Trudeau survives: Notable election winners and losers". Toronto Star.
- ↑ Steven Chase (May 4, 2011). "Majority man: Harper gets more ambitious, relaxed and mainstream". The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "Profiles of some new NDP MPs". Ottawa Citizen. May 3, 2011.
- ↑ "As It Happens". CBC News. May 3, 2011.
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