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Robert Chisholm (Canadian politician)

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For other people named Robert Chisholm, see Robert Chisholm (disambiguation).

Robert Chisholm
Member of Parliament
for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
In office
May 30, 2011 – August 4, 2015
Preceded byMichael Savage
Succeeded byDarren Fisher
Nova Scotia Leader of the Official Opposition
In office
1998–1999
Preceded byJohn Hamm
Succeeded byJohn MacDonell
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
In office
1996–2000
Preceded byJohn Holm
Succeeded byHelen MacDonald
Member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly
In office
August 27, 1991 – August 5, 2003
Preceded byJohn Buchanan
Succeeded byMichèle Raymond
ConstituencyHalifax Atlantic
Personal details
Born
Robert Lawrence Chisholm

(1957-08-31) August 31, 1957 (age 67)
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Political partyNew Democratic Party
SpousePaula Simon
Alma mater
OccupationTrade Unionist
Consultant
Websiterobertchisholm.ndp.ca

Robert Lawrence Chisholm (born August 31, 1957 in Kentville, Nova Scotia)[1] is a former trade unionist and politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented the Halifax Atlantic riding in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1991 to 2003. He succeeded Alexa McDonough as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1996.[1] He served as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1998 to 1999. He subsequently founded a consulting firm, was co-chair of the 2010–11 United Way of Halifax Region campaign, and sat on the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University. On May 2, 2011, Chisholm was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Dartmouth—Cole Harbour riding in Nova Scotia. As a member of the Official Opposition, he served as the Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and Deputy Critic for Employment Insurance until his defeat in the 2015 election.

Provincial politics

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1998 Nova Scotia general election

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The NDP scored a surprise electoral success in the 1997 federal election, winning six of Nova Scotia's eleven electoral districts.[2] This new-found electoral success boded well for the NDP's provincial party, which was able to take advantage of the new wave of popularity.[2] Prior to 1997, the Nova Scotia NDP had not been considered contenders to form a provincial government.[3]

Chisholm subsequently lead the NDP to a record 19 seats (out of the House of Assembly's 52 seats) in the 1998 provincial election, putting them in a tie with the governing Liberal Party. The Liberals were able to continue ruling, as they received support from the third-place Progressive Conservatives, who held 14 seats.[4] The NDP formed the Official Opposition, marking the first time they attained that position; the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), were the last democratic socialist party to hold that title, back in 1949.

1999 Nova Scotia election

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15 months later, the Liberal government was defeated by a motion of non-confidence from the Conservatives, forcing an election in the summer of 1999. During the campaign, it was revealed that Chisholm had a past criminal record for driving under the influence of alcohol when he was 19 years old. The NDP lost eight seats during the campaign, which saw the third-place Conservatives elected to a majority government.[citation needed]

During this period, the NDP shared official opposition status with the Liberals (as both held 11 seats). The NDP became sole official opposition upon Russell MacLellan's resignation, and the subsequent election of Progressive Conservative Cecil Clark, which gave the NDP 11 seats to the Liberals' 10. Chisholm unexpectedly resigned the leadership after the campaign, at the November 6, 1999 NSNDP provincial council meeting.[5][6] He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family and could not subject them to ten more years of political life. He remained sitting as an MLA in the Legislature and remained as leader until a new one was elected.[5]

He was succeeded by Helen MacDonald in 2000; and after she could not win a seat in the house, Darrell Dexter eventually became the leader in 2001. Chisholm did not run for re-election as an MLA in 2003 provincial election.[citation needed]

Private life

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After the 2003 provincial election, Chisholm returned to the labour movement and worked as researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).[7] Since 2004, he has been a member of Dalhousie University's board of governors. [8] In 2007, he became CUPE's Regional Director for the Atlantic Region.[7] In the spring of 2009, he started a consulting firm with his wife Paula Simon: Simon Chisholm Consulting.[8]

Return to politics

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On January 18, 2011, Chisholm announced that he would seek the New Democratic Party nomination in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour for the 2011 federal election,[9] and was officially nominated on January 25.[10] On May 2, 2011, he was elected, winning 15,661 votes and defeating Liberal Party of Canada incumbent Mike Savage.

Following the death of federal NDP leader Jack Layton, Chisholm was a candidate in the 2012 New Democratic Party leadership election, but after speaking English during a leadership debate in French on account of his lack of fluency in the latter language, he withdrew in December 2011 and subsequently endorsed Thomas Mulcair.[11][12]

In the 2015 federal election, Chisholm was defeated by Liberal Darren Fisher.[13]

Electoral history

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2015 Canadian federal election: Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Darren Fisher 30,407 58.17 +23.45 $64,958.30
New Democratic Robert Chisholm 12,757 24.41 –12.02 $137,358.97
Conservative Jason Cole 7,331 14.03 –11.00 $52,263.31
Green Brynn Nheiley 1,775 3.40 –0.43 $723.31
Total valid votes/expense limit 52,270 99.62   $205,945.13
Total rejected ballots 201 0.38
Turnout 52,471 71.81
Eligible voters 73,066
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +17.73
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]
2011 Canadian federal election: Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Robert Chisholm 15,678 36.27 +4.73 $51,111.67
Liberal Michael Savage 15,181 35.12 -4.37 $70,147.67
Conservative Wanda Webber 10,702 24.76 +2.30 $51,126.57
Green Paul Shreenan 1,662 3.85 -2.11 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,223 99.41   $83,954.73
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 255 0.59 -0.01
Turnout 43,478 61.45 +2.72
Eligible voters 70,756
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +4.55
Sources:[16][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cox, Kevin (November 20, 1999). "Public Lives: Robert Chisholm". The Globe and Mail. CTVglobemedia. p. A22.
  2. ^ a b Bergman, Brian (March 16, 1998). "Canada: 'Peekaboo' Politics: The Nova Scotia campaign is short on fireworks". Maclean's Magazine (eLibrary). Rogers Communications. p. 27.
  3. ^ Bergman, Brian (February 16, 1998). "Canada: Are voters ready for the NDP?". Maclean's Magazine (eLibrary). Rogers Communications. p. 27.
  4. ^ Bergman, Brian (April 6, 1998). "Canada: Fit to Be Tied: The Nova Scotia election ends in a dead heat". Maclean's Magazine (eLibrary). Rogers Communications. p. 36.
  5. ^ a b Carmichael, Kevin (November 8, 1999). "Hamm's foes run for the exits". The Toronto Star. Torstar. p. A07.
  6. ^ "Passages". Maclean's Magazine (eLibrary). Rogers Communications. November 15, 1999. p. 26.
  7. ^ a b "Robert Chisholm named CUPE Atlantic Regional Director". Canadian Union of Public Employees. January 15, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Who We Are". Simon Cihsholm Consulting. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  9. ^ Jackson, David (January 18, 2011). "Robert Chisholm to attempt political comeback". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  10. ^ "Chisholm acclaimed as federal NDP candidate". CBC News. January 26, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  11. ^ McLeod, Paul (March 1, 2012). "Chisholm endorses Mulcair in NDP leadership race". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  12. ^ Fitzpatrick, Meagan (21 December 2011). "NDP's Robert Chisholm quits leadership race". CBC News. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  13. ^ "NDP veterans fall in metro". The Chronicle Herald. October 20, 2015. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  14. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Dartmouth—Cole Harbour (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  15. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Elections Canada – Official voting results, Forty-first general election, 2011
  17. ^ Elections Canada – Candidate's electoral campaign return, 41st general election
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