John Duncan (Canadian politician)
| The Honourable John Duncan PC | |
|---|---|
| Chief Government Whip | |
|
In office July 15, 2013 – October 19, 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Preceded by | Gordon O'Connor |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Leslie |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Vancouver Island North | |
|
In office October 14, 2008 – October 19, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Catherine J. Bell |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Blaney |
|
In office June 2, 1997 – January 23, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Skelly |
| Succeeded by | Catherine J. Bell |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for North Island—Powell River | |
|
In office October 25, 1993 – June 2, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Ray Skelly |
| Succeeded by | Riding Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Morris Duncan December 19, 1948 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence | Courtenay, British Columbia |
| Profession | Forestry |
John Morris Duncan, PC, MP, (born December 19, 1948) is a Canadian politician. He served as a Member of the Canadian Parliament from 1993 to January 2006 and again from October 2008 until August 2015. On August 6, 2010, he was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency until his resignation on February 15, 2013 over his inappropriate written communication to the Tax Court of Canada.[1] He later returned to Cabinet as Chief Government Whip, and served in that capacity until the 2015 election, which saw both Duncan's own defeat and the defeat of the government.
Education
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in British Columbia, Duncan attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a B.Sc. F from their Faculty of Forestry in 1972. Duncan's first experience as an elected official was as an alderman in Ucluelet, British Columbia from 1982-83.[2]
Entrance to politics
In the 1993 election, Duncan was elected as a member of the Reform Party. He has served in all that party's incarnations up until the 2006 federal election, when he lost his seat to Catherine J. Bell of the New Democratic Party by 630 votes.
Duncan was the Conservative Party's Official Opposition Critic for Natural Resources. During that time he served on the Natural Resources Committee. He helped shape Conservative Party policy on west coast offshore oil and gas, softwood lumber trade and the pine beetle epidemic.
While in parliament, he was a member of the "Restaurant Caucus" in the House of Commons, a group of MPs who have interests in the restaurant industry.
Duncan's Private Member's Bill C - 259 passed the 38th Parliament to receive Royal Assent to eliminate the excise tax on jewelry. Duncan made parliamentary history as the first MP to have a Private Member's bill related to cutting taxation pass.
He won the Vancouver Island North Conservative Party nomination for the 2008 federal election and was elected with 45.78% of the vote.
On December 2, 2008, the New Democratic Party asked the RCMP to investigate John Duncan's alleged secret recording of a private NDP conference. He had apparently received the invitation to participate by mistake, in place of NDP MP Linda Duncan who had "a similar email address".[3][4] This happened within the context of the 2008–09 Canadian parliamentary dispute.
On August 6, 2010, in a minor cabinet shuffle, he joined cabinet as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.[5][6][7]
Under the Harper government, several key bills with a direct effect on aboriginal communities have stalled. As a result, First Nations across Canada have embarked on a widespread and prolonged series of demonstrations under the banner of "Idle No More." In addition, Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence began a fast in December 2012 to demand a meeting with Harper and a Crown representative. In response, Duncan wrote to Spence requesting she give up her hunger strike and meet with him. "I didn’t ask for Minister Duncan," Spence replied. "And I have dealt with him before. When I observe him, he doesn't have a mind of his own because, before he would answer a question, he would always look at his people. He's not the Prime Minister."[8]
On February 15, 2013, he resigned from his cabinet position as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development after improperly advocating to a tax court on behalf of a constituent in June 2011,[9] and was replaced by James Moore.[10] He returned to cabinet in the more junior role as Minister of State and Chief Government Whip in July 2013.[11][12]
In the Canadian federal election, 2015, Duncan sought reelection in the newly created riding of Courtenay—Alberni, but was defeated by Gord Johns of the NDP.
Electoral record
| Canadian federal election, 2015: Courtenay—Alberni | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Gord Johns | 26,595 | 38.15 | -2.57 | – | |||
| Conservative | John Duncan | 19,631 | 28.16 | -16.73 | – | |||
| Liberal | Carrie Powell-Davidson | 15,166 | 21.75 | +15.03 | – | |||
| Green | Glenn Sollitt | 8,190 | 11.75 | +5.03 | – | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Barbara Biley | 137 | 0.27 | – | – | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | – | 100.0 | $229,341.97 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | – | – | – | |||||
| Turnout | – | – | – | |||||
| Eligible voters | 88,673 | |||||||
| New Democratic notional gain from Conservative | Swing | -9.65 | ||||||
| This riding was created from Nanaimo—Alberni and Vancouver Island North, both of which elected a Conservative candidate in the last election. John Duncan was the incumbent from Vancouver Island North. | ||||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[13][14] | ||||||||
| Canadian federal election, 2011: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| Conservative | John Duncan | 27,206 | 46.11 | +0.33 | ||||
| New Democratic | Ronna-Rae Leonard | 25,379 | 43.01 | +1.58 | ||||
| Liberal | Mike Holland | 3,018 | 5.11 | +0.93 | ||||
| Green | Sue Moen | 2,995 | 5.08 | -2.90 | ||||
| Independent | Jason Draper | 304 | 0.52 | -0.11 | ||||
| Marxist–Leninist | Frank Martin | 57 | 0.10 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 59,003 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 187 | 0.32 | ||||||
| Turnout | 59,190 | 66.39 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 89,150 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -0.62 | ||||||
| Canadian federal election, 2008: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | John Duncan | 26,166 | 45.78 | +5.17 | $76,173 | |||
| New Democratic | Catherine J. Bell | 23,681 | 41.43 | -0.29 | $80,622 | |||
| Green | Philip Stone | 4,563 | 7.98 | +3.14 | $12,309 | |||
| Liberal | Geoff Fleischer | 2,391 | 4.18 | -8.65 | $2,026 | |||
| Independent | Jason Draper | 361 | 0.63 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 57,162 | 100.0 | $171,130 | |||||
| Conservative gain from New Democratic | Swing | +2.73 | ||||||
| Canadian federal election, 2006: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Catherine J. Bell | 23,561 | 41.72 | +7.23 | $80,265 | |||
| Conservative | John Duncan | 22,931 | 40.61 | +5.20 | $91,651 | |||
| Liberal | Jim Mitchell | 7,243 | 12.83 | -8.62 | $28,226 | |||
| Green | Michael Mascall | 2,735 | 4.84 | -3.58 | $8,685 | |||
| Total valid votes | 56,470 | 100.0 | ||||||
| New Democratic gain from Conservative | Swing | +1.02 | ||||||
| Canadian federal election, 2004: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | John Duncan | 18,733 | 35.41 | -15.62 | $47,274 | |||
| New Democratic | Catherine J. Bell | 18,250 | 34.49 | +22.78 | $43,372 | |||
| Liberal | Noor Ahmed | 11,352 | 21.45 | -3.39 | $78,890 | |||
| Green | Pam Munroe | 4,456 | 8.42 | +3.22 | $26,376 | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Jack East | 111 | 0.20 | +0.02 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 52,902 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 136 | 0.26 | +0.01 | |||||
| Turnout | 53,038 | 65.79 | +1.31 | |||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -19.20 | ||||||
| Change for the Conservatives is based on the combined total of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives. | ||||||||
| Canadian federal election, 2000: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures | |||
| Alliance | John Duncan | 24,844 | 51.03 | +3.49 | $42,203 | |||
| Liberal | Daniel P. Smith | 12,092 | 24.84 | +3.92 | $52,728 | |||
| New Democratic | Alex Turner | 5,701 | 11.71 | -11.57 | $10,377 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | David R. Tingley | 2,997 | 6.15 | +2.71 | $33 | |||
| Green | Pam Munroe | 2,532 | 5.20 | +1.95 | $6,295 | |||
| Independent | John Krell | 216 | 0.44 | – | ||||
| Natural Law | Nancy More | 205 | 0.42 | -0.03 | ||||
| Marxist–Leninist | Jack East | 92 | 0.18 | – | $90 | |||
| Total valid votes | 48,679 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 131 | 0.27 | -0.07 | |||||
| Turnout | 48,810 | 64.48 | +0.12 | |||||
| Alliance hold | Swing | -0.22 | ||||||
| Change for the Canadian Alliance is based on the 1997 results of the Reform Party. | ||||||||
| Canadian federal election, 1997: Vancouver Island North | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures | ||||
| Reform | John Duncan | 22,769 | 47.54 | $31,625 | ||||
| New Democratic | Gilbert Popovich | 11,152 | 23.28 | $60,126 | ||||
| Liberal | David Durrant | 10,024 | 20.92 | $14,397 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Dave Tingley | 1,650 | 3.44 | $3,659 | ||||
| Green | Hazel Lennox | 1,559 | 3.25 | |||||
| Christian Heritage | John Krell | 522 | 1.08 | $2,001 | ||||
| Natural Law | Nancy More | 218 | 0.45 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 47,894 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 161 | 0.34 | ||||||
| Turnout | 48,055 | 64.36 | ||||||
| This riding was created from Comox—Alberni and North Island—Powell River, both of which elected a Reform candidate in the previous election. John Duncan was the incumbent from North Island—Powell River. | ||||||||
| Canadian federal election, 1993: North Island—Powell River | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | ||||
| Reform | John Duncan | 18,255 | 39.31 | +37.63 | ||||
| Liberal | Al Huddlestan | 11,877 | 25.57 | +9.46 | ||||
| New Democratic | Raymond Skelly | 7,794 | 16.78 | −35.24 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Mark von Schellwitz | 3,682 | 7.93 | −16.49 | ||||
| National | Mark A. Grenier | 3,408 | 7.34 | – | ||||
| Green | Michael Mascall | 1,015 | 2.19 | +0.97 | ||||
| Natural Law | Wayne A. Melvin | 254 | 0.55 | – | ||||
| Canada Party | James Peter Turner | 159 | 0.34 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes | 46,444 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Reform gain from New Democratic | Swing | +14.08 | ||||||
References
- ↑ "Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan resigns from cabinet". CBC News. February 15, 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "Canada Votes 2008 – Vancouver Island North". CBC News. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "North Vancouver Island MP John Duncan accused of taping NDP caucus call". CanWest News. December 2, 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ Duncan accused by NDP. BCLocalNews. December 2, 2008. Archived December 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "B.C.'s Duncan named Indian Affairs minister". CBC News. August 6, 2010. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "Indigenous leaders, activists raise concerns about John Duncan's track record".
- ↑ "John Baird says he'll be a 'pussycat' in new post". CTV News. August 6, 2010. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "As protests swell, Attawapiskat chief stands firm on hunger strike". The Globe and Mail. December 26, 2012. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "John Duncan resigns as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs over 2011 reference letter". Global News. February 15, 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "James Moore the right man for the job as aboriginal affairs minister, fellow MP says". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ↑ "Stephen Harper's new cabinet features new blood, more women and maintains economic team". Ottawa Citizen. July 15, 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ "Harper adds 8 new faces in major cabinet shakeup". CBC News. July 15, 2013. Retrieved 2015-06-29.
- ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Courtenay—Alberni, 30 September 2015
- ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
External links
- Official site
- Profile at Parliament of Canada
- John Duncan – Parliament of Canada biography
- Speeches, votes and activity at OpenParliament.ca
| 28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper | ||
| Cabinet Posts (2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| ' | Minister of State 2013–2015 (NB: no portfolio specified - while Chief Government Whip) |
' |
| Chuck Strahl | Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development 2010–2013 |
James Moore |
| Special Parliamentary Responsibilities | ||
| Predecessor | Title | Successor |
| Gordon O'Connor | Chief Government Whip (2013–2015) |
Andrew Leslie |