Carolyn Bennett

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett PC MP
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Incumbent
Assumed office November 4, 2015
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Bernard Valcourt
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Toronto—St. Paul's St. Paul's (1997-2015)
Incumbent
Assumed office June 2, 1997
Preceded by	Barry Campbell
Minister of State (Public Health)
In office December 12, 2003 – February 5, 2006
Prime Minister	Paul Martin
Personal details
Born	Carolyn Ann Bennett (1950-12-20) December 20, 1950 Toronto, Ontario
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Peter O'Brian
Children	2
Residence	Toronto, Ontario
Alma mater	Havergal College, University of Toronto
Profession	Physician

Carolyn Ann Bennett PC MP (born December 20, 1950) is a Canadian physician and politician. She has served as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Toronto—St. Paul's, a constituency located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, since 1997. She is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and was formerly a candidate for its leadership. During the Paul Martin government, Bennett, who was a family physician before entering politics, was Minister of State for Public Health and established the Public Health Agency of Canada. She was appointed Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 29th Canadian Ministry, and retained the position after it was renamed Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.

Background

Bennett was born in Toronto on December 20, 1950, and attended Havergal College.^[1][2] She obtained a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1974.^[3] Bennett received her certification in family medicine in 1976. Bennett worked as a family physician at Wellesley Hospital and Women's College Hospital in Toronto from 1977 to 1997 and was a founding partner in Bedford Medical Associates. She was also president of the medical staff association of Women's College Hospital and has a clinical adjunct appointment as an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto.^[3] Bennett served on the boards of Havergal College, Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

In 1986, Bennett received the Royal Life Saving Society Service Cross, a Commonwealth award recognizing her more than twenty years of distinguished service. In 1990, she was named as one of Simpson's "Women Who Make a Difference". She was the recipient of the inaugural EVE Award for contributing to the advancement of women in politics in 2002, and in 2003 received the first ever CAMIMH Mental Health Champion Award.^[4][5] Bennett is also author of Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System, published in October 2000. In 2004, she was awarded an honorary fellowship from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada for her contributions to medicine, especially women's health.^[6]

She is married to Canadian film producer Peter O'Brian. They have two sons.

Early political career

Bennett ran for public office in the 1995 Ontario provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party.^[7] Running in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick, she lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Isabel Bassett by about 3,500 votes.^[8]

Bennett was more successful in the 1997 federal election, defeating her closest opponent in St. Paul's by almost 15,000 votes.^[9] She was re-elected by increased margins in the elections of 2000 and 2004.^[10][11]

On December 12, 2003, after Paul Martin became Prime Minister, he appointed Bennett as his Minister of State for Public Health. The Minister of State (Public Health) assists the Minister of Health. In this role, Bennett oversaw the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada.^[3]

She was chair of the Canada-Israel Friendship Group from 1999 to 2003 and is a member of Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel.

In opposition

In the 2006 election, Bennett defeated two main challengers who were both touted as star candidates, Peter Kent of the Conservatives and Paul Summerville of the New Democratic Party.^[12][13] Bennett was re-elected, but lost her cabinet position as the Liberals were defeated.^[14] She became only the third opposition MP in the history of St. Paul's. The riding had once been a noted bellwether, but swung heavily to the Liberals along with most other central Toronto ridings.

She announced on April 24, 2006 that she would pursue the leadership of the party.^[15] On September 15, 2006, she withdrew from the leadership race and threw her support behind former Ontario Premier Bob Rae.^[16]

In the 39th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for social development, social economy, seniors, persons with disabilities, and public health.^[1]

She was re-elected in 2008.^[17] In the 40th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for health.^[1]

She was re-elected in 2011.^[18] In the 41st Parliament, Bennett was the Liberal critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.^[1]

Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs

On November 4, 2015, Bennett was appointed the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the present Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau.^[19] As a senior cabinet minister, Bennett is fifth in the order of succession after Justin Trudeau.^[20]

Electoral record

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carolyn Bennett.

• Official website
• Carolyn Bennett – Parliament of Canada biography