Carolyn Bennett

The Honourable
Carolyn Bennett
PC MP
Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Bernard Valcourt
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Toronto—St. Paul's
St. Paul's (1997-2015)
Assumed office
June 2, 1997
Preceded by Barry Campbell
Minister of State (Public Health)
In office
December 12, 2003 – February 5, 2006
Prime Minister Paul Martin
Personal details
Born Carolyn Ann Bennett
(1950-12-20) December 20, 1950
Toronto, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Peter O'Brian
Children 2
Residence Toronto, Ontario
Alma mater Havergal College, University of Toronto
Profession Physician

Carolyn Ann Bennett PC MP (born December 20, 1950) is Canada's Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs and the Member of Parliament for the riding of Toronto—St. Paul's, a constituency located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, and was formerly a candidate for its leadership. During the Paul Martin government, Bennett, who was a family physician before entering politics, was Minister of State for Public Health and set up the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Background

Bennett was born in Toronto on December 20, 1950, and attended Havergal College.[1][2] She obtained a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1974.[3] Bennett received her certification in family medicine in 1976. Bennett worked as a family physician at Wellesley Hospital and Women's College Hospital in Toronto from 1977 to 1997 and was a founding partner in Bedford Medical Associates. She was also president of the medical staff association of Women's College Hospital and has a clinical adjunct appointment as an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto.[3] Bennett served on the boards of Havergal College, Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

In 1986, Bennett received the Royal Life Saving Society Service Cross, a Commonwealth award recognizing her more than twenty years of distinguished service. In 1990, she was named as one of Simpson's "Women Who Make a Difference". She was the recipient of the inaugural EVE Award for contributing to the advancement of women in politics in 2002, and in 2003 received the first ever CAMIMH Mental Health Champion Award.[4][5] Bennett is also author of Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System, published in October 2000. In 2004, she was awarded an honorary fellowship from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada for her contributions to medicine, especially women's health.[6]

She is married to Canadian film producer Peter O'Brian. They have two sons.

Early political career

Bennett ran for public office in the 1995 Ontario provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party.[7] Running in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick, she lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Isabel Bassett by about 3,500 votes.[8]

Bennett was more successful in the 1997 federal election, defeating her closest opponent in St. Paul's by almost 15,000 votes.[9] She was re-elected by increased margins in the elections of 2000 and 2004.[10][11]

On December 12, 2003, after Paul Martin became Prime Minister, he appointed Bennett as his Minister of State for Public Health. The Minister of State (Public Health) assists the Minister of Health. In this role, Bennett oversaw the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada.[3]

She was chair of the Canada-Israel Friendship Group from 1999 to 2003 and is a member of Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel.

In opposition

In the 2006 election, Bennett defeated two main challengers who were both touted as star candidates, Peter Kent of the Conservatives and Paul Summerville of the New Democratic Party.[12][13] Bennett was re-elected, but lost her cabinet position as the Liberals were defeated.[14] She became only the third opposition MP in the history of St. Paul's. The riding had once been a noted bellwether, but swung heavily to the Liberals along with most other central Toronto ridings.

She announced on April 24, 2006 that she would pursue the leadership of the party.[15] On September 15, 2006, she withdrew from the leadership race and threw her support behind former Ontario Premier Bob Rae.[16]

In the 39th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for social development, social economy, seniors, persons with disabilities, and public health.[1]

She was re-elected in 2008.[17] In the 40th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for health.[1]

She was re-elected in 2011.[18] In the 41st Parliament, Bennett was the Liberal critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.[1]

Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

On November 4, 2015, Bennett was appointed the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the present Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau.[19] As a senior cabinet minister, Bennett is fifth in the order of succession after Justin Trudeau.[20]

Electoral record

Toronto—St. Paul's, 2015–present

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 31,481 55.26 +15.34 –
ConservativeMarnie MacDougall 15,376 26.99 -5.43 –
New DemocraticNoah Richler 8,386 14.72 -7.91 –
GreenKevin Farmer 1,729 3.03 -1.45 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 56,972100.0   $208,833.75
Total rejected ballots 252––
Turnout 57,224––
Eligible voters 77,433
Source: Elections Canada[21][22][23]

St. Paul's, 1997-2015

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 22,409 40.6 -9.9
ConservativeMaureen Harquail 17,864 32.4 +5.8
New DemocraticWilliam Molls 12,124 22.0 +8.7
GreenJim McGarva 2,495 4.5 -4.6
LibertarianJohn Kittredge 303 0.5 -0.1
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,195 100.0
Total rejected ballots 276 0.5–
Turnout 55,471 68.2 –
Eligible voters 81,288 ––
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 26,326 50.5 +0.2 $69,331
ConservativeHeather Jewell 13,800 26.6 +0.8 $53,617
New DemocraticAnita Agrawal 6,880 13.3 -5.9 $13,606
GreenJustin Erdman 4,713 9.1 +4.3 $3,526
LibertarianJohn Kittredge 313 0.6 – $182
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,032100.0$86,488
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 29,295 50.3 -8.1
ConservativePeter Kent 15,021 25.8 +5.4
New DemocraticPaul Summerville 11,189 19.2 +3.5
GreenKevin Farmer 2,785 4.8 -0.7
Total valid votes 58,290100.0
Canadian federal election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 32,171 58.4 +4.1
ConservativeBarry Cline 11,226 20.4 -13.1*
New DemocraticNorman Tobias 8,667 15.7 +6.3
GreenPeter Elgie 3,031 5.5 +3.9
Total valid votes 55,095 100.0

*Comparison to total of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote in 2000.

Canadian federal election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 25,110 54.3 0.0
Progressive ConservativeBarry Cline 10,035 21.7 -2.0
AllianceTheo Caldwell 5,415 11.7 +4.4
New DemocraticGuy Hunter 4,372 9.7 -2.7
GreenDon Roebuck 759 1.6 +0.4
MarijuanaAndrew Potter 221 0.5
Canadian ActionMark Till 125 0.3 -0.1
Marxist–LeninistBarbara Seed 88 0.2 -0.1
Natural LawRon Parker 83 0.2 -0.3
Total valid votes 46,208 100.0

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

Canadian federal election, 1997
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalCarolyn Bennett 26,389 54.3 -0.1
Progressive ConservativePeter Atkins 11,520 23.7 -0.7
New DemocraticMichael Halewood 6,028 12.4 +7.3
ReformFrancis Floszmann 3,564 7.3 -3.8
GreenDon Roebuck 597 1.2 +0.3
Natural LawNeil Dickie 221 0.5 -0.2
Canadian ActionDaniel Widdicombe 182 0.4
Marxist–LeninistFernand Deschamps 135 0.3 +0.1
Total valid votes 48,636 100.0

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "BENNETT, The Hon. Dr. Carolyn, P.C., M.D.". Library of Parliament. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "NOTABLE OLD GIRLS". Havergal College. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Meet the new cabinet ministers from the University of Toronto". University of Toronto. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "EVE Award Recipients". Equal Voice. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "CAMIMH Honours Canadians for Raising Awareness About Mental Illness". Canadian Psychiatric Association. December 2003. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Media Advisory: The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett Receives Honorary Fellowship from the SOGC.". Canadian Corporate News. June 25, 2004.
  7. ↑ "Carolyn Bennett takes your questions on the Liberal leadership race". The Globe and Mail. September 13, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995.
  9. ↑ "Final Results Riding by Riding". Calgary Herald. June 4, 1997. p. A5.
  10. ↑ "Election Results". Star — Phoenix. Saskatoon, SK. November 28, 2000. p. A8.
  11. ↑ "Election results...riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 29, 2004. p. A14.
  12. ↑ Bill Doskoch (September 7, 2008). "Toronto's political landscape unlikely to shift". CTV.
  13. ↑ "NDP won't raise taxes, pledges Jack Layton". CTV. December 5, 2005.
  14. ↑ Justin Skinner (September 4, 2008). "Federal election call expected soon". Inside Toronto. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  15. ↑ "Liberal leadership field grows with Bennett's entry". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 24, 2006. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  16. ↑ Susan Delacourt (September 16, 2006). "Bennett quits contest, backs Rae". Toronto Star.
  17. ↑ "Greater Toronto Area Results". The Toronto Star. October 15, 2008. p. U2.
  18. ↑ "Riding results from across Canada". Edmonton Journal. May 3, 2011. p. A6.
  19. ↑ "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance". CBC News. 2015-11-04.
  20. ↑ McGregor, Janyce (7 November 2015). "Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 6 changes found in the fine print". CBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Toronto—St. Paul's, 30 September 2015
  22. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ↑
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carolyn Bennett.
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Post (1)
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2015-present		 Incumbent
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Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
' Minister of State (Public Health)
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