Canadian politician
Mike Cooper (born July 31, 1951) is a former Canadian politician in Ontario . He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995. He represented the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot .
Background
Cooper was educated at vocational school and was a rubber worker at Uniroyal Goodrich for 17 years.[ 1] He served as steward of United Rubber Workers Local 667.
Politics
Cooper ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1985 , but finished third against Liberal incumbent John Sweeney in the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot . He ran again in the 1987 provincial election , this time finishing second against Sweeney.[ 2]
The NDP won a majority government in the provincial election of 1990 and Cooper defeated Liberal newcomer Carl Zehr by over 5,000 votes.[ 3] In November 1990, he was appointed as Deputy Government Whip where he remained for another four years.[ 4] In November 1992, he was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor General .[ 5] In February 1993, he was reassigned as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Labour .[ 6]
In 1994, Cooper was one of twelve NDP members to vote against Bill 167 , a bill extending financial benefits to same-sex partners. Premier Bob Rae allowed a free vote on the bill which allowed members of his party to vote with their conscience.[ 7]
The NDP was defeated in the 1995 provincial election and Cooper again finished third in the Kitchener—Wilmot riding, placing over 9,000 votes behind Progressive Conservative Gary Leadston .[ 8] He returned to his job making tires after his defeat.[ 9]
Cooper ran for the federal New Democratic Party in the Canadian general election of 1997 in Waterloo—Wellington , but finished a distant fourth against Liberal Lynn Myers .[ 10]
References
^ Thompson, Catherine (November 2, 1990). "Inexperience as legislator not a problem, Cooper says" . Kitchener-Waterloo Record . p. B2. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star . September 11, 1987. p. F2.
^ "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail . September 7, 1990. p. A12.
^ Thompson, Catherine (November 14, 1990). "Cooper appointed deputy whip" . Kitchener-Waterloo Record . p. B2. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
^ "Ferguson, Cooper to be assistants" . Kitchener-Waterloo Record . November 6, 1992. p. B1. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
^ "MPPs reassigned by Premier Rae" . Kitchener-Waterloo Record . February 25, 1993. p. B1. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
^ "How MPPs voted on controversial legislation". The Globe and Mail . June 10, 1994. p. A10.
^ "Out-of-work NDP MPPs pondering their futures" . Kitchener-Waterloo Record . Kitchener, Ontario. June 9, 1995. p. C2. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
^ Goodwin, Carol (September 18, 1995). "Factory life suits former MPP just fine". The Record . Kitchener, Ont. p. A1.
^ "Final Results Riding by Riding" . Calgary Herald . June 4, 1997. p. A5. Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
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