Marco Mendicino
Marco Mendicino PC MP (Italian: [ˈmarko mendiˈtʃiːno]; born July 28, 1973) is a Canadian Liberal politician, who has represented the riding of Eglinton—Lawrence in the House of Commons of Canada since 2015.[1] On November 20, 2019, Mendicino became the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.[2][3]
Marco Mendicino PC MP | |
---|---|
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | |
Assumed office November 20, 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
Preceded by | Ahmed Hussen |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities | |
In office August 31, 2018 – November 20, 2019 | |
Minister | François-Philippe Champagne |
Preceded by | Marc Miller |
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada | |
In office January 30, 2017 – August 30, 2018 | |
Minister | Jody Wilson-Raybould |
Preceded by | Bill Blair |
Succeeded by | Arif Virani |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence | |
Assumed office October 19, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Joe Oliver |
Personal details | |
Born | July 28, 1973 |
Political party | Liberal |
Spouse(s) | Diana Iannetta |
Children | Michaela Gemma |
Residence | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Alma mater | Carleton University University of Windsor York University |
Profession | Lawyer |
Background
Mendicino was born to Italian immigrants.[4] Mendicino studied political science at Carleton University prior to attending law school at the University of Windsor. Later in his career he also studied human resources management at York University's Schulich School of Business.[5] He worked as a federal prosecutor for ten years, during which time he was involved in the handling of the Toronto 18 terrorism case.[6] He also worked for the Law Society of Upper Canada, served as the president of the Association of Justice Counsel, and taught as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School.[6]
Politics
An occasional member of the Eglinton—Lawrence Liberal riding executive, and having served as legal counsel to Mike Colle's provincial Liberal campaign in 2014, Mendicino stood for the federal nomination for the 2015 general election. He faced a major battle for the nomination after Eve Adams crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party[7] and, with the support of party leader Justin Trudeau, sought the Liberal nomination in Eglinton—Lawrence. Mendicino secured the support of former interim Liberal leader Bob Rae and nearby incumbent MP Judy Sgro.[6] He defeated Adams at the July 26, 2015, nomination meeting by 1,936 to 1,100 votes.[8]
In the general election, Mendicino faced the incumbent Conservative MP and then-current Finance Minister Joe Oliver and a surprise New Democratic Party nominee in former Saskatchewan finance minister Andrew Thomson. Mendicino attacked Thomson as a parachute candidate.[9] Ultimately, Mendicino won the election.[1][10]
He was re-elected in the 2019 federal election and subsequently named Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
On August 8, 2020 his leadership duties as head of Canada's Immigration ministry came under wide scrutiny during Canada-wide protest rallies, as protestors demanded that he honor the family reunification mandates of the IRCC.[11]
Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Eglinton—Lawrence | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Marco Mendicino | 29,850 | 53.3 | +4.41 | ||||
Conservative | Chani Aryeh-Bain | 18,549 | 33.1 | -10.14 | ||||
New Democratic | Alexandra Nash | 4,741 | 8.5 | +2.12 | ||||
Green | Reuben DeBoer | 2,278 | 4.1 | +3.27 | ||||
People's | Michael Staffieri | 586 | 1.0 | - | ||||
Total valid votes/Expense limit | 56,004 | 100.0 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 394 | |||||||
Turnout | 56,398 | |||||||
Eligible voters | 82,811 | |||||||
Source: Elections Canada[12] |
2015 Canadian federal election: Eglinton—Lawrence | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Marco Mendicino | 27,278 | 48.89 | +10.47 | $155,849.60 | |||
Conservative | Joe Oliver | 23,788 | 42.64 | -4.18 | $183,256.52 | |||
New Democratic | Andrew Thomson | 3,505 | 6.28 | -5.32 | $114,205.95 | |||
Green | Matthew Chisholm | 799 | 1.43 | -1.74 | $217.60 | |||
Libertarian | Ethan Buchman | 308 | 0.55 | – | – | |||
Animal Alliance | Rudy Brunell Solomonvici | 114 | 0.20 | – | $5,129.72 | |||
Total valid votes/Expense limit | 55,792 | 100.00 | $210,250.86 | |||||
Total rejected ballots | 328 | 0.58 | ||||||
Turnout | 56,120 | 72.45 | ||||||
Eligible voters | 77,463 | |||||||
Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +7.32 | ||||||
Source: Elections Canada[13][14] |
References
- Ngabo, Gilbert. "Liberal Marco Mendicino unseats finance minister Joe Oliver". Metro News. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
- "Marco Mendicino appointed new Canadian immigration minister | Canada Immigration News". www.cicnews.com. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- "The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino". Prime Minister of Canada. 2019-11-18. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
- "Marco Mendicino, who beat Eve Adams to the nomination, on staying in Justin Trudeau's good books". Toronto Life. August 31, 2015.
- Marco Mendicino LinkedIn Profile.
- Zilio, Michelle (July 26, 2015). "The man who defeated Eve Adams: Who is Marco Mendicino?". CTV News.
- "Eve Adams, former Conservative MP, joins Liberal caucus". CBC News. February 9, 2015.
- "Tory defector Eve Adams defeated by Marco Mendicino in Liberal nomination fight". National Post. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
- Curry, Bill (August 14, 2015). "NDP recruits former Saskatchewan finance minister to run against Joe Oliver". The Globe & Mail.
- "Canada Votes". The Toronto Star. October 20, 2015. pp. GT13–GT15.
- "Protests held across Canada urging politicians to help reunite families amid COVID-19 pandemic". CTV News. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
- Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Eglinton—Lawrence, 30 September 2015
- Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits