Anita Vandenbeld

Anita Vandenbeld
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Ottawa West—Nepean
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by John Baird
Personal details
Born (1971-12-03) December 3, 1971
Calgary, Alberta, Canada[1]
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Don Dransfield
Alma mater University of Calgary
York University

Anita Vandenbeld MP (born December 3, 1971) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Ottawa West—Nepean for the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada in the Canadian federal election, 2015.[2]

She has a B.A. in history from the University of Calgary and an M.A. from York University in Toronto. She has worked extensively with United Nations organizations and was Senior Parliamentary Advisor with UNDP and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Kosovo.[3]

Education and early life

Vandenbeld was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. She attended the University of Calgary, earning a B.A. (Hon.), History and Political Science, and would later study at York University, receiving an M.A. in Political and Constitutional History.

Career

International development

Vandenbeld worked with the United Nations Development Programme Democratic Governance Group in New York, where she managed a multi-partner international network to promote women's political participation.[4] Vandenbeld was also Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of the Central Assembly and Political Parties Section of the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe Mission in Kosovo. In 2008, she was awarded the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal for her work there. Vandenbeld coordinated an anti-corruption campaign with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and worked on parliamentary development in the Balkans with the Ottawa-based Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-profit, non-partisan organization that provides support to parliaments around the world.[5]

More recently, Vandenbeld counselled the UNDP in Vietnam where she authored a study on women's political participation and provided expertise in Bangladesh as a technical specialist on parliamentary committees. Prior to that Anita was resident director in the National Democratic Institute office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where she established a political party program during the November 2011 Congolese elections.[6]

Anita is a contributing author to the Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements.[7]

Politics

Vandenbeld was previously Director of Parliamentary Affairs in the Office of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform, where she oversaw the development and implementation of the Government of Canada's Democratic Reform Action Plan. She was also a Policy Analyst with the National Liberal Caucus Research Bureau in the Canadian Parliament, Chief of staff to a Canadian Senator, and chapter development chair for Equal Voice, a Canadian multi-partisan organization to promote women in politics.[8]

Federal politics

Vandenbeld won a contested nomination to be the Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean for the Canadian federal election, 2011 on November 28, 2010.[9] Vandenbeld was defeated by incumbent MP and Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird.

Vandenbeld again sought the Ottawa West-Nepean nomination for the 2015 federal election, winning a contested nomination against two other candidates on November 2, 2014.[10] Her campaign was successful, winning the seat with 56% of the vote on October 19, 2015. Her 35,199 votes represented the 5th highest vote total of any Liberal candidate in Ontario and the highest vote count for a female candidate in Ontario.[11]

Roles in the House of Commons

Vandenbeld is the Chair of the National Liberal Women's Caucus.

Currently, Vandenbeld sits on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. In March, 2016, she was elected as Chair of the Special Committee on Pay Equity[12] following the adoption of a motion by the House of Commons from the New Democratic Party to close the gap in pay between men and women which contributes to income inequality and discriminates against women, accept pay equity as a human right, accept the recommendations of the 2004 Pay Equity Task Force Report. The final report, "It's Time to Act[13]" was tabled on June 9, 2016.

Conflict of Interest Allegations

Vandenbeld came under public scrutiny in October 2018, for using her Liberal campaign funds to promote her husband, Don Dransfield, in his campaign for Ottawa City Council. The Conflict of interest code for members of the House of Commons states that an MP "shall not use his or her position as a member to influence a decision of another person so as to further the member's private interests or those of a member of his or her family."[14] Vandenbeld is a member of the House of Commons ethics committee, and denies the allegations.[15]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Ottawa West—Nepean
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalAnita Vandenbeld35,19955.68+24.19–
ConservativeAbdul Abdi18,89329.88-14.81–
New DemocraticMarlene Rivier6,1959.80-9.98–
GreenMark Brooks1,7722.80-1.24–
Christian HeritageRod Taylor7401.17––
Marxist–LeninistSam Heaton1140.18––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 62,913100.0   $218,107.39
Total rejected ballots 3070.49–
Turnout 63,22075.99–
Eligible voters 83,195
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +19.5%
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
Canadian federal election, 2011: Ottawa West—Nepean
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeJohn Baird25,22644.71-0.27–
LiberalAnita Vandenbeld17,79031.53-4.59–
New DemocraticMarlene Rivier11,12819.72+8.20–
GreenMark Mackenzie2,2794.04-2.32–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 56,423100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 2920.51–
Turnout 56,715 69.42–
Eligible voters 81,693 ––
Conservative hold Swing -2.43

References

  1. ↑ Profile, ottawacommunitynews.com; accessed October 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ Don Butler (20 October 2015). "Liberals reclaim Ottawa West-Nepean after nine years as Conservative stronghold". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.liberal.ca/candidates/anita-vandenbeld/
  4. ↑ "Home Page | International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics". www.iknowpolitics.org. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  5. ↑ "Anita Vandenbeld will again carry the flag for the Liberals in Ottawa West-Nepean". 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  6. ↑ "Ottawa West—Nepean profile: Liberal candidate Anita Vandenbeld | Metro News". Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  7. ↑ The Oxford Handbook of Transnational Feminist Movements.
  8. ↑ "Index". avandenbeld.liberal.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  9. ↑ Lindell, Rebecca (2011-04-03). "Locality vs. 'celebrity': Candidates face uphill battle against incumbents". Canada.com. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  10. ↑ "Anita Vandenbeld will again carry the flag for the Liberals in Ottawa West-Nepean". 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  11. ↑ david-akin. "Number crunching: New MP Leslie is king of Ontario's races". Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  12. ↑ "ESPE - Election of Chair". www.parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  13. ↑ "House of Commons Committees - ESPE (42-1) - It's Time to Act - IT'S TIME TO ACT". www.parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  14. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mp-anita-vendenbeld-robocall-husband-election-1.4859361
  15. ↑ https://thenectarine.ca/politics/liberal-mp-used-campaign-funds-to-endorse-husband-in-municipal-election/
  16. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Ottawa West—Nepean, 30 September 2015
  17. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine.
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