John McCallum

For other people named John McCallum, see John McCallum (disambiguation).
The Honourable
John McCallum
PC MP
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Chris Alexander
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
2003–2004
Prime Minister Paul Martin
Preceded by Rey Pagtakhan
Succeeded by Albina Guarnieri
Minister of National Defence
In office
2002–2003
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Preceded by Art Eggleton
Succeeded by David Pratt
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Markham—Thornhill
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Riding Established
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Markham—Unionville
Markham (2000-2004)
In office
June 28, 2004 – October 19, 2015
Preceded by Jim Jones
Succeeded by Bob Saroya
Personal details
Born ( 1950-04-09) April 9, 1950
Montreal, Quebec
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Nancy Lim
Children 3
Residence Oakville, Ontario
Alma mater Queens' College, Cambridge
Université de Paris
McGill University
Profession Author, Economist, Academic

John McCallum PC MP (born April 9, 1950) is a Canadian politician, economist and university professor. A Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) since the 2000 election, he currently represents Markham—Thornhill, and has previously represented Markham—Unionville and Markham. He is a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and is currently the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

McCallum has previously been Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions), Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs in the Cabinets of prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, respectively.

Overview

McCallum was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Joan (Patteson) and Alexander Campbell McCallum.[1] He received his secondary education at Selwyn House School and Trinity College School.[2] He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens' College, Cambridge University, a diplôme d'études supérieures from Université de Paris and a Doctorate in economics from McGill University. He was a professor of economics at the University of Manitoba from 1976 until 1978, Simon Fraser University from 1978 until 1982, the Université du Québec à Montréal from 1982 until 1987, and McGill University from 1987 until 1994. He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada, student #S139. He was also Dean of the Faculty of Arts at McGill University. He then became Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Royal Bank of Canada.

Academic career (1976-94)

One of his most influential academic contributions was an article in The American Economic Review,[3] which introduced the concept of the home bias in trade puzzle. It has spawned an ongoing international debate on whether trade within a nation state is greater than trade among nations, as compared with the predictions of standard economic models.

As McGill University’s Dean of Arts, McCallum secured a $10 million contribution from Charles Bronfman for the establishment of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada.[4]

He also participated in the national unity debates of the early 1990s, editing the Canada Round Series of the C. D. Howe Institute and engaging in debate with then Opposition Leader Jacques Parizeau at Quebec's National Assembly.[5]

Private sector career (1994-2000)

McCallum was the Royal Bank of Canada’s chief economist for six years. He consistently achieved the highest media coverage of bank chief economists, making regular appearances on CBC's The National as an economics panelist. He also engaged in social issues, notably a 1997 Royal Bank conference designed to align the business community with the recommendations of the 1996 Report on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. His paper at that conference, "The Cost of Doing Nothing," was highlighted ten years later in Aboriginal Times Magazine.[6]

Political career

Backbencher and social issues

McCallum successfully nominated Nelson Mandela as the second honorary citizen in Canadian history.[7]

McCallum was quite vocal in Canada's debate on Same-Sex marriage. He told the Edmonton Sun in August 2003, "If people want to do something and it doesn’t hurt other people, doesn’t reduce other people’s rights, we should let them do it. Why not?"[8] He also significantly contributed to the final debate before the vote on same-sex marriage on 21 March 2005[9] saying:

I believe we should always seek to expand the rights of our fellow citizens as long as we do not thereby reduce the rights of others. We should seek to ensure that no group is denied full participation in society. As members of Parliament, we should not ask the question, why should we extend this right? Rather our question should be, why should we not extend the right? Let the burden of proof be on those who wish to limit fundamental rights.

...

Many Canadians will want to accept both of these principles: protect the traditional definition of marriage and protect the rights of minorities. The essence of my message today is that we cannot do both. We cannot have it both ways. We must make a choice between traditional marriage and the protection of minority rights.

Defence Minister (2002-2003)

As Defence Minister, McCallum achieved what was then the largest increase in the annual defence budget ($1 billion) in more than a decade in return for offering up $200 million in savings from reducing low priority spending.[10] He also retroactively reversed an inequity which awarded up to $250,000 to military personnel who lost their eyesight or a limb while on active service - but only to those with the rank of colonel or above. Now all Canadian Forces members are covered by the plan regardless of rank.[11] Working with Germany, he successfully persuaded NATO to take control over the security mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, while also ensuring that the mission was led by Canada.[12] He also determined that the army, rather than the navy or air force, was to be the top priority in budget allocations.[13]

He became widely known and criticized in 2002 when he admitted, while serving as the Minister of National Defence, that he had never heard of the 1942 Dieppe raid, a fateful and nationally significant operation for Canadian Forces during the Second World War.[14] Ironically, he wrote a letter to the editor of the National Post in response, but committed a further gaffe, confusing Canadian participation in the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge in France with Vichy France from 1940 to 1944. Response at the continued historical ignorance prompted outrage and humour among the press.

In November 2002, while still serving as Defence Minister, McCallum encountered further controversy when officials refused to allow him to board an Air Canada flight because his breath smelt heavily of alcohol. McCallum announced soon thereafter that the incident prompted him to abstain completely from alcohol consumption. He reportedly also intended to lose weight and give up smoking.[15]

In January 2003, McCallum suggested Canadian troops could avoid so-called "friendly fire" incidents by wearing some of female Conservative MP Elsie Wayne's clothes.[16] McCallum later apologized both inside and outside the House of Commons for using inappropriate language, blaming the excitement of the moment, and had his apologies accepted by Wayne.[16]

Veterans Affairs Minister (2003-2004)

McCallum introduced a new charter for younger, postwar veterans who have been physically or mentally injured while serving in the Canadian Forces. This charter, which became law in 2005, is modeled on the range of services provided for returning veterans after World War II. This "new model" stripped veterans of a monthly pension opting for a lump sum payment.

Expenditure Review Committee

As Chair of Expenditure Review Committee, McCallum achieved expenditure reductions of $11 billion over five years.[17]

Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees (2015 to present)

On November 4, 2015, he was appointed the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Justin Trudeau's cabinet.[18] As a senior cabinet minister, McCallum is fourth in line to succeed Justin Trudeau.[19]

Personal life

He is married to Nancy Lim and has three sons.

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Markham—Thornhill
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJohn McCallum 23,878 55.7 +18.59 –
ConservativeJobson Easow 13,849 32.3 -4.09 –
New DemocraticSenthi Chelliah 4,595 10.7 -12.69 –
GreenJoshua Russell 535 1.2 -1.42 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 42,857100.0   $203,521.96
Total rejected ballots 240––
Turnout 43,097––
Eligible voters 70,484
Liberal hold Swing +11.34
Source: Elections Canada[20][21]
Canadian federal election, 2011: Markham—Unionville
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJohn McCallum 19,429 38.9 -16.0
ConservativeBob Saroya 17,734 35.5 +5.3
New DemocraticNadine Hawkins 10,897 21.8 +11.6
GreenAdam Poon 1,597 3.2 -1.0
LibertarianAllen Small 231 0.5 –
Total valid votes 49,888100.0
Total rejected ballots 290 0.6–
Turnout 50,178 55.1 +2.8
Eligible voters 91,057 ––
Liberal hold Swing -10.65
Canadian federal election, 2008: Markham—Unionville
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJohn McCallum 25,195 54.9 -6.7 $58,875
ConservativeDuncan Fletcher 13,855 30.2 +3.2 $58,523
New DemocraticNadine Hawkins 4,682 10.2 +2.2 $4,250
GreenLeonard Aitken 1,931 4.2 +2.0 $2,524
LibertarianAllen Small 229 0.5 N/A $348
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,892 100.0$90,945
Turnout – 52.31
Liberal hold Swing -4.95
Canadian federal election, 2006: Markham—Unionville
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalJohn McCallum 32,797 61.6 -4.7
ConservativeJoe Li 14,357 27.0 +4.5
New DemocraticJanice Hagan 4,266 8.0 -0.7
GreenWesley Weese 1,151 2.2 -0.3
Progressive CanadianFayaz Choudhary 363 0.7
IndependentPartap Dua 297 0.6
Total valid votes 53,231100.0
Liberal hold Swing -4.6
Canadian federal election, 2004: Markham—Unionville
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalJohn McCallum 30,442 66.3
ConservativeJoe Li 10,325 22.5
New DemocraticJanice Hagan 3,993 8.7
GreenEd Wong 1,148 2.5
Total valid votes 45,908100.0
Canadian federal election, 2000: Markham
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalJohn McCallum 32,104 66.6 +29.9
AllianceJim Jones 9,015 18.7 +7.9
Progressive ConservativeDavid Scrymgeour 5,085 10.6 -34.1
New DemocraticJanice Hagan 1,129 2.3 -0.9
GreenBernadette Manning 493 1.0 –
IndependentAkber Choudhry 222 0.5 –
Canadian ActionJim Conrad 130 0.3 -0.2
Total valid votes 48,178100.0
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +32.0

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ http://www.federationgenealogie.qc.ca/avisdeces/avis/pdf?id=72087
  2. ↑ http://www.selwyn.ca/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=1006021
  3. ↑ McCallum, John (1995). "National Borders Matter: Canada-U.S. Regional Trade Patterns". The American Economic Review. 85 (3): 615–623. JSTOR 2118191.
  4. ↑ McGill gets $10 million for studies on Canada. Montreal Gazette 16 June 1993, pg A4
  5. ↑ Anti-Quebec vitriol aids PQ: economist McGill professor, Pequiste chief Parizeau wage war of charts. Montreal Gazette 5 December 1991 pg A9
  6. ↑ Aboriginal Times Magazine. Vol 12, Issue 4, May–June 2007
  7. ↑ Nelson Mandela, Citizen. Toronto Star, 14 June 2001 pg A32
  8. ↑ Edmonton Sun, 13 August 2003
  9. ↑ Hansard - Civil Marriage Act (C-38) debate - John McCallum (Lib)
  10. ↑ The Budget Plan 2003, page 163
  11. ↑ Bill C-44, An Act to compensate military members injured during service, 37th Parliament, 2nd session
  12. ↑ Canadian troops to be deployed to Afghanistan: 2,000 soldiers to join NATO force in Kabul; National Post 6 May 2003, pg A4
  13. ↑ McCallum sets top priorities; Hill Times, 8 September 2003 pg 1
  14. ↑ "MQUP prank".
  15. ↑ Lunman, Kim (29 November 2002). "McCallum on the wagon after incident at airport". Globe and Mail. Toronto. pp. A13.
  16. 1 2 "Defence minister apologizes twice for insensitive remarks". CBC News. 29 January 2003.
  17. ↑ McCallum on the hunt for $1-billion more in savings. Hill Times 5 March 2005, pg 56
  18. ↑ "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance". CBC News. 2015-11-04.
  19. ↑ McGregor, Janyce (7 November 2015). "Justin Trudeau's cabinet: 6 changes found in the fine print". CBC News. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  20. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Markham—Thornhill, 30 September 2015
  21. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Chris Alexander Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
November 4, 2015-present		 Incumbent
27th Ministry – Cabinet of Paul Martin
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Stan Keyes Minister of National Revenue
2004–2006		 Carol Skelton
Rey Pagtakhan Minister of Veterans Affairs
2003–2004		 Albina Guarnieri
26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Art Eggleton Minister of National Defence
2002–2003		 David Pratt
Sub-Cabinet Post
Predecessor Title Successor
Jim Peterson Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
(2002)		 Maurizio Bevilacqua
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