Ed Fast

The Honourable
Ed Fast
PC QC MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Acting
In office
February 3, 2015 – February 9, 2015
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Preceded by John Baird
Succeeded by Rob Nicholson
Member of Parliament
for Abbotsford
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 23, 2006
Preceded by Randy White
Personal details
Born Edward D. Fast
June 18, 1955
Winnipeg, Canada
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Annette Fast
Alma mater University of British Columbia
Religion Mennonite

Edward D. "Ed" Fast, PC, QC, MP (born June 18, 1955) is a Canadian politician, currently the Member of Parliament for Abbotsford, and serving as the Minister for International Trade and as Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Biography

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ed Fast grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. After graduating from law school at the University of British Columbia in 1982, Fast co-founded the law firm currently known as Linley Welwood. He was elected in 1985 and served two terms as an Abbotsford School Board Trustee. He was elected to Abbotsford City Council in 1996 and served for three 3-year terms. During that time, he served as Deputy Mayor and as Chair of the Parks Recreation & Culture Commission.

Fast was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Abbotsford on January 23, 2006. During his first term, Fast was appointed to the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage and the Standing Committee for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Fast was also the Vice-Chair of the B.C. Conservative caucus. On October 14, 2008, Fast was re-elected to his second term where he served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and as a member of the Copyright Modernization Committee.[1] On May 2, 2011, Fast successfully defended his seat in Parliament with 65% of the vote. He was appointed Minister of International Trade by Prime Minister Harper on May 18, 2011, a position he currently holds today.

Ed and his wife Annette have lived in Abbotsford for over 30 years and have four adult daughters and two grandchildren.[2]

2006, 2008 and 2011 election results

In the 2006 Canadian Federal election Fast was elected with 63.27% of the vote.[3] In the 2008 federal election, Fast received 30,853 votes, 63.3% of the total in Abbotsford.[4] Fast was re-elected in the 2011 federal election with 32,493 votes, representing 65% of the popular vote.

Parliamentary work

International Trade

On May 18, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Ed Fast to Cabinet to serve as Canada’s Minister of International Trade.[5] Fast currently oversees trade negotiations with Japan, India and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, among others. He recently announced the historic Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a free trade agreement with Europe touted as broader in scope and deeper in ambition than the historic North American Free Trade Agreement.[6] Fast also recently announced a landmark Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada’s first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the past year, Fast has assumed responsibility of the Government of Canada's Global Markets Action Plan – a plan focusing on Canada’s core strengths in priority markets through bold trade policy and vigorous trade promotion.[7] He also recently released Canada’s first International Education Strategy, a fundamental element of the Global Markets Action Plan and blueprint to attract international talent.[8]

Bill C-277

In 2006, Fast introduced Private Member's Bill C-277 which doubles from 5 to 10 years in prison the maximum sentence for luring a child over the internet for sexual purposes. The Bill received royal assent on June 22, 2007. Only 2% of private member’s bills are ever passed into law.[9]

Abbotsford-Huntington border crossing

In May 2009, Fast introduced a motion in the House of Commons to rename the Huntingdon border crossing to “Abbotsford-Huntingdon Port of Entry”. The official renaming took place on May 28, 2010, preserving the historical significance of the “Huntingdon” name while at the same time more accurately reflecting the location of the border crossing within the Fraser Valley.[10] The name change represents a “coming of age” for Abbotsford.

Federal infrastructure investments

In 2009, Fast was successful in securing for Abbotsford an unprecedented $35 million in federal infrastructure investments. The projects funded by the federal government as part of its stimulus funding include reconstruction of the McCallum Rd.[11] and Clearbrook Rd. interchanges,[12] improvements to the Abbotsford International Airport,[13] improvements to the Abbotsford-Huntingdon Port of Entry, construction of a new Mill Lake Spray Park,[14] safety improvements to the Mission Bridge,[15] and development of the Matsqui and Discovery Trail systems.[16]

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

In his role as Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights, Fast has worked with committee members to issue a significant report on impaired driving. In addition to reviewing numerous criminal justice bills tabled by the Conservative government, the committee is also completing a comprehensive study on organized crime in Canada.[17]

Shooting Gesture in Parliament Controversy

On April 9, 2014, rising on a point of order, MP Dan Harris accused Fast of "making a gun with his hand while saying "boom" in the direction of the member for Churchill [Nicki Ashton]" during question period in the House of Commons.[18] Shortly thereafter, Fast denied the claim in the House of Commons, saying "It's completely false. I made no such gesture. I said no such words."[19] Video from the house of commons shows Fast making a pointing gesture.[20] Later that day, after video of the incident became more widely circulated, Minister Fast admitted that he had made a pointing gesture with his hand, contradicting his earlier statement that the accusation was "completely false. Nevertheless, Fast said that his hand gesture was "misconstrued by the opposition" as shaped as a gun and aimed at a member of Parliament. In his defence, Fast did not say why he was pointing his finger towards the front of the House at that time.[21]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 32,493 65.02% +1.70%
New DemocraticDavid Murray 10,089 20.19% +6.97%
LiberalMadeleine Hardin 4,968 9.94% -6.34%
GreenDaniel Bryce 2,138 4.28% -2.17%
Marxist–LeninistDavid MacKay 286 0.57% –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,974100.00%
Total rejected ballots 2250.45%-0.07%
Turnout 50,19959.67%+1%
     Conservative hold Swing -2.6%
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 30,853 63.32% +0.05% $79,097
LiberalLionel Dominique Traverse 7,933 16.28% +3.61% $63,013
New DemocraticBonnie Rai 6,444 13.22% -3.75% $4,907
GreenKaren Durant 3,141 6.45% +0.64% $833
MarijuanaTim Felger 358 0.73 +0.03% --
Total valid votes/Expense limit 48,729100.00%$86,855
Total rejected ballots 2560.52%
Turnout 48,985
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 29,825 63.27% +1.90 $68,269
New DemocraticJeffrey Hansen-Carlson 8,004 16.97% +3.34 $6,955
LiberalDavid Oliver* 5,976 12.67% -7.27 $22,258
GreenStephanie Ashley-Pryce 2,740 5.81% +2.93
MarijuanaTim Felger 334 0.70% -0.13
Canadian ActionRichard Gebert 173 0.36% – $80
Marxist–LeninistDavid S. MacKay 86 0.18% +0.08
Total valid votes 47,138100.00%
Total rejected ballots 1830.39%
Turnout 47,32160.69%
Conservativehold Swing -0.72% –

References

  1. ↑ "Member of Parliament Profile". webinfo.parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  2. ↑ "Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford". edfast.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  3. ↑ "Abbotsford (electoral district)". en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  4. ↑ "Ed Fast, Conservative MP for Abbotsford". openparliament.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  5. ↑ "The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade", www.international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  6. ↑ "Opening New Markets in Europe", actionplan.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  7. ↑ "The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade", www.international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  8. ↑ "Canada's International Education Strategy", international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  9. ↑ "LEGISinfo 39th Parliament - 1st Session". .parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  10. ↑ "Canadian Border Services Agency". cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  11. ↑ "New McCallum Road Interchange for Abbotsford". news.gov.bc.ca/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  12. ↑ "Construction Begins for Clearbrook Road Interchange" (PDF). abbotsford.ca/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  13. ↑ "$30 Airport Project Takes Off". abbotsfordtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  14. ↑ "New Water Park Brings Out the Kid in Everyone". abbotsfordtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  15. ↑ "Mission Bridge rails to be raised for cyclist safety". burnabynow.com/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  16. ↑ "Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford". edfast/ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  17. ↑ "House of Commons: Ending Alcohol-Impaired Driving: A Common Approach". parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  18. ↑ "Tory Minister Ed Fast Accused Of Making 'Gun' Gesture At NDP MP". huffingtonpost.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  19. ↑ "Tory Minister Ed Fast accused of threatening NDP MP after making ‘gun’ gesture in House of Commons". nationalpost.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  20. ↑ "Trade Minister Ed Fast accused of making 'gun' gesture at NDP MP Niki Ashton". cbc.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  21. ↑ "The House of Commons the Smoking Gun Video". youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12.

External links

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Randy White		 Member of Parliament
for Abbotsford
2006–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
John Baird		 Minister of Foreign Affairs
Acting
2015 		Succeeded by
Rob Nicholson