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Micheal O'Brien (Canadian politician)

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Micheal John O'Brien
Micheal John O'Brien October 2, 2014, in Toronto
Born
Micheal John O'Brien

(1950-08-21)August 21, 1950
Toronto, Canada
Spouse(s)Elaine Olive McCarty (1972–1993)
Jennifer Alaga-O'Brien (2016–present)
ChildrenMicheal O'Brien Jr.
Shane O'Brien
Diana Rose O'Brien
Justin Micheal O'Brien
Websitemobrien.com

Micheal John O'Brien (born August 21, 1950) is a Canadian commercial pilot,[1][2] humanitarian leader, journalist,[3][4] musician,[5][6][7] and politician,[8][9] who was declared a winner on election night, November 21, 1988, and despite recounts that went back and forth, he was sworn into office as elected[10] and made his Maiden Speech[11] in the House of Commons of Canada on December 23, 1988.[12][13][14]

Personal life

[edit]

O'Brien, a Canadian and also citizen of Ireland (European Union)[15] was born on August 21, 1950, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto, Canada to Barbara O'Brien, an artist, and Edward O'Brien, an engineer and executive of Spar Aerospace's predecessor company. O'Brien's studies include human behaviour and public health including postgraduate studies in the United States.

Career

[edit]

After graduating with a University of Toronto BSc and a commercial pilot's license from Maple Flying School (established by Marion Alice Orr, one of Canada's first women pilots) in Vaughan (now a city) in York Region, Ontario, O'Brien in his early 20s became the chief pilot for Specialty Air Services Limited from 1972 to 1979, flying out of what was then called Maple Airport and the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport which is still in operation today.

From 1979 through 1989 O'Brien was a publisher, writer and editor with Maclean Hunter Limited's Business Publishing Division and in 1989 acquired some of the publishing properties including "The Wednesday Report",[16][17][18] "The Canadian Yong Astronaut" (terminated in 1992[19]), and "Canadian Aerospace and Defence Technology"[20]) he published for Maclean Hunter and merged them into MPRM Group Limited and continued publishing from 1989 to 2004. O'Brien worked for a time as the Director of Operations for the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Center[21] which he left in 2014 to both work in several Asian countries with The RINJ Foundation while completing postgraduate studies. Currently O'Brien is the editor-in-chief of the global edition of Feminine-Perspective Magazine.[22]

Humanitarian work

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O'Brien was the Vice President of the Southern Alberta office of the Canadian Cancer Society in Medicine Hat, Alberta (Now defunct.) in 1970 under Dr. Paul Racine. Returning to Ontario in 1972 O'Brien undertook an extensive life of Community involvement in Richmond Hill, Ontario[23] as a hockey coach, member of the Civic Improvement Committee of town council as well as the Canada Day Committee. At some point he became involved in helping community members locate missing children and troubled teens. This led to his and his associates forming a global civil society group, the RINJ Foundation, for which he is the chief executive officer.[24]

As the RINJ Foundation co-founder, O'Brien publicly accused Facebook[25] of ignoring the RINJ Rape Is No Joke Campaign for the rights of women and several online petitions to remove pro-rape Facebook pages[broken anchor] in May 2010. O'Brien also claimed that the pages were maintained and supported by Australian college students and British teenage boys with links to the anonymous English-language imageboard website 4chan.[26] The RINJ campaign urged advertisers to cancel their advertising on the Facebook platform to avoid it being displayed on pages next to rape jokes and other pro-rape content.[27]

From 2009 through 2013, O'Brien led the RINJ campaign argument to Facebook executives that removing "pro-rape" pages from Facebook and other social media was not a violation of free speech in the context of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the concepts recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[28][29]

In 2017 O’Brien slammed the HipHop / Rap Music sector for its sexism and misogyny having widely accused rappers Eminem and Big Sean of “encouraging rape & physical violence against American author Ann Coulter”,[30] and claimed it was “symbolic of the direction America appears to be headed”.[31] O'Brien issued a statement strongly urging the boycott of rape rappers and their labels. O'Brien, on behalf of RINJ, claimed that "In a poorly mastered rap recording by rape rappers Marshall Bruce Mathers (Eminem) and Sean Michael Anderson (Big Sean), America’s most popular and most vulgar heroes demonstrate why and how America became a global misogyny pariah."[32][33]

Political career

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On September 1, 1988, in a five-hour contest in a packed Richmond Hill Lion's Hall on Center Street, Progressive Conservatives chose O'Brien as their candidate in York North, over Martin Peterson and Peter Philips.[34] O'Brien won the nomination in a second ballot decision late in the night. "This is a winnable riding, although I think it will be a very tough riding," he was quoted as saying to the Toronto Star's Andrew Duffy.[35]

In the 1988 Canadian federal election, O'Brien "was declared the winner by 99 votes, was sworn in, and participated in the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement debate in the short-lived First Session of the Thirty-Fourth Parliament". [36] He made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on December 23, 1988.[37]

O'Brien (seated) being sworn in as an MP by Robert Marleau, Clerk of the House of Commons (1988)

O'Brien, had been endorsed by MP Tony Roman---for whom O'Brien had been one of the community leaders who convinced Roman to run as a "Coalition" independent in 1984—became the candidate[38] for the Canadian federal Progressive Conservative Party. O’Brien, had initially been declared the winner[39] in the riding of York North in the 1988 federal election. Three days later, as a result of a recount supervised by a contingent of the Liberal opponent,[40] candidate Maurizio Bevilacqua, the latter was declared the winner. O'Brien sought a judicial recount, was declared the winner by 99 votes, was sworn in, and participated in the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement debate[41] in the short-lived First Session of the Thirty-Fourth Parliament. Maurizio Bevilacqua appealed the recount and was subsequently declared the sitting Member by 77 votes (see Journals, April 3, 1989, pp. 2–3[42]). (According to House of Commons of Canada records, both men represented the Federal Riding of York North, O'Brien for the 1st Session and Maurizio Bevilacqua for the subsequent sessions.[43]) O'Brien consulted extensively with the Honourable Erik Nielsen who had encountered a similar situation in 1957. With that precedent O'Brien and his riding association mounted a successful Controverted Election Act Petition to the Ontario Supreme Court. Two Ontario supreme court judges found that the number of irregularly cast ballots in the 1988 election had exceeded Bevilacqua's 77-vote plurality over O'Brien. The election was subsequently voided and the cases of O'Brien and Erik Nielsen have been cited as significant Supreme Court precedents in election law. (O'Brien v. Hamel (1990), 73 O.R. (2d) 87 (H.C.J.))[44]

See also: 1990 York North federal by-election and 1990 Beauséjour federal by-election

The Brian Mulroney Government eventually declared a by-election for O'Brien and Jean Chrétien.[45][46] The by-election which took place December 10, 1990, in the Federal Riding of York North saw the election of Maurizio Bevilacqua (Lib York North, Ontario) and Jean Chrétien (Lib) in Beauséjour, New Brunswick as Brian Mulroney introduced the General Sales Tax. The by-election became the "GST by-election" and the key winner became Jean Chrétien who had become the leader of the Liberal Party and Her Majesty's Official Leader of the Opposition.[47][48][49]

Electoral record

[edit]
1988 Canadian federal election: York North
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Maurizio Bevilacqua 37,513
Progressive Conservative Micheal O'Brien 37,436
New Democratic Evelyn Buck 11,583
Libertarian Chris Edwards 1,293
Canadian federal by-election, August 13, 1990: York North
Bevilacqua's 1988 election declared void and invalid on July 6, 1990
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Maurizio Bevilacqua 21,332 49.90%
New Democratic Peter Devita 14,321 33.50%
Progressive Conservative Micheal O'Brien 4,618 10.80%
Christian Heritage William Ubbens 1,399 3.27%
Libertarian Roma Kelembet 424 0.99%
Independent David M. Shelley 239 0.56%
Independent Adelchi Di Palma 163 0.38%
Independent Paul Wizman 156 0.36%
Independent John Turmel 97 0.23%
Total valid votes 42,749 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "Mike O'Brien is Toronto's Only Skywriter". Page E9. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. August 20, 1978. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Mike's Smoke Get's in Your Skies". Page A1. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. June 10, 1979. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  3. ^ The Wednesday Report Staff (August 7, 1987). "Writers". The Wednesday Report – Maclean Hunter. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Sharon Santiago (August 28, 2018). "Authors". Feminine-Perspective Magazine. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Amanda Miles (November 14, 2009). "Biography: Lead Singer, Ruffian Angel of Themis 2009". Themis Music Inc. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Itunes (October 25, 2009). "Your Angel by Ruffian Angel of Themis". Itunes. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  7. ^ WebRadio Canada (December 15, 2020). "Christmas in Toronto's Lockdown". WebRadio Canada Inc. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  8. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Library of Parliament". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  9. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North)". Commons Debates Hansard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  10. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 15, 1988). "Canada House of Commons Votes and Proceedings Members Elected". Commons Debates Hansard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  11. ^ Kaspar Beelen (December 12, 2016). "Canada-United States Free Trade agreement implementation act, measure to enact 1988". University of Toronto. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  12. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North)". Commons Debates Hansard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  13. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North)". Commons Debates Hansard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  14. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North)". Commons Debates Hansard. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  15. ^ Melissa Hemingway (August 19, 2015). "FPMag Authors". The RINJ Foundation. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  16. ^ Peter Howell (July 25, 1991). "Kealey charges prompt defence industry call for confessions". Page10 The Daily News (Halifax). Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Peter Howell (July 26, 1991). "Aerospace Association criticizes kickback accusations of Mike O'Brien, Editor The Wednesday Report". Page A11 Kitchener - Waterloo Record. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  18. ^ Martin Shadwick (January 6, 1988). "The Wednesday Report Index 1988". Maclean Hunter. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Government of Canada (July 18, 2014). "The Canadian Young Astronaut Program". Government of Canada. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Philip Day (July 25, 1991). "The Kealey scare: Fess up, defence magazine editor tells contractor". Page F1 The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  21. ^ BBB (March 12, 2012). "Better Business Bureau". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  22. ^ Melissa Hemingway (August 19, 2015). "Feminine-Perspective Magazine". The RINJ Foundation. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  23. ^ Brian Dexter (November 15, 1988). "New voters will decide two-way contest". Page L6 Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2021. Progressive Conservative O'Brien is publisher of several defence and aerospace magazines for Maclean Hunter. He's been a Richmond Hill Resident and community volunteer since 1956 and has a steady career track record. O'Brien says frankly that it looks like a neck-and-neck race in York North.
  24. ^ Ted McBrien (January 12, 2000). "Biography Founders of Unlimited Investigations". Unlimited Investigations. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Paranjoy Guha Thakurta (October 16, 2011). "Facebook removes "pro-rape" pages". The Unofficial Guide to Social Media Politics. India. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  26. ^ Philip Sherwell and David Harrison (October 16, 2011). "Cyber anarchists blamed for unleashing a series of Facebook 'rape pages'". The Telegram. United Kingdom. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  27. ^ Philip Sherwell (October 17, 2011). "Facebook refuses to shut rape page run by schoolboy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  28. ^ Kathy Schiffer (August 29, 2013). "Dear Facebook If This Isn't Hate Speech, Then What Is?". Seasons of Grace, A woman's Blog. Detroit, Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  29. ^ "Facebook 'rape page' whitelisted and campaign goes global". Womensviewsonnews.org. Meanwhile, campaigns in other countries have begun, most notably in Canada with the Rape is no joke (RINJ) campaign, which has not only campaigned fiercely but has also put together a YouTube video.
  30. ^ Carl Wiser (2017). "No Favors by Big Sean (featuring Eminem)". Page L6 Toronto Star (1971-2009). United States. Retrieved February 15, 2021. During Eminem's verse, he seemingly validates the raping of Ann Coulter. In a post on its website, the Canadian women's rights group RINJ (Rape Is No Joke) Foundation branded Eminem and Big Sean rape rappers and urged fans to boycott the two MCs
  31. ^ E-Radio US (February 7, 2017). "Eminem and Big Sean criticized for 'rape-rap' lyrics in new anti-Trump song". E-Radio USA. Detroit, Michigan. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  32. ^ Kyle Eustice (February 7, 2017). "RINJ Foundation Boycotts "Rape-Rap" Of Big Sean & Eminem ..." Hip Hop DX. United States. Retrieved February 15, 2021. A Canadian women's group, the RINJ Foundation (Rape Is No Joke), is calling for a boycott of "rape rappers," namely Big Sean and Eminem.
  33. ^ Logan Saether (February 7, 2017). "Eminem and Big Sean's Anti-Trump 'No Favors' Criticized for 'Rape-Rap' Lyrics". Song Lyrics Hip Hop, Roundup, Rap. United States. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  34. ^ "Stevens Stronach race in National Eye". Page G5. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. September 6, 1988. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  35. ^ Andrew Duffy (September 2, 1988). "Magazine publisher wins tory race in york north". Page B15 The Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  36. ^ Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit (January 12, 2000). "Canada House of Commons". The House Of Commons And Its Members. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  37. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons". The House Of Commons And Its Members. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  38. ^ Brian Dexter (October 30, 1988). "Forty-year-old Michael O'Brien, a publisher from Aurora, was officially approved by then Prime Minister Brian_Mulroney October 30 1988 as the Progressive Conservative standard bearer". Toronto Public Library. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  39. ^ The Canadian Press (March 1, 2012). "Former Liberal MP in court over vote irregularities". CTV News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  40. ^ Peter Howell (November 23, 1988). "Tory winner may lose seat in york north vote recount". Page A20. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  41. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Canada House of Commons". The House Of Commons. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  42. ^ Marleau, Robert (January 12, 2000). "The House of Commons and Its Members". Our Commons (Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit). Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  43. ^ Hansard Transcript (December 23, 1988). "Library of Parliament". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  44. ^ Court File No. 34845 (May 18, 2012). "Supreme Court of Canada" (PDF). Supreme Court of Canada. Retrieved November 18, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Brian Dexter (November 8, 1990). "NDP Enthusiastic heading into By-election". Page N2. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  46. ^ Glen Allen (December 10, 1990). "Running at Full Tilt". Maclean's. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  47. ^ Marleau, Robert (January 12, 2000). "House Of Commons Procedure And Practice". OurCommons (Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit). Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  48. ^ Laura Payton (May 18, 2012). "Toronto riding's election result tossed by judge". CBC. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  49. ^ CBC Writers (September 22, 2010). "Newmarket – Aurora". CBC. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
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