Michael Cooper (politician)

Michael J. Cooper MP (born March 8, 1984) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of St. Albert—Edmonton in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election[2] and re-elected in the 2019 federal election.[3] He is a lector at St. Albert Parish and a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Albert Rotary Club and St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce.[4] Prior to entering politics, Cooper studied at the University of Alberta. He worked as a civil litigator at a law firm in Edmonton.[4]

Michael Cooper

MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for St. Albert—Edmonton
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byBrent Rathgeber
Personal details
BornMarch 8th 1984
St. Albert, Alberta, Canada[1]
Political partyConservative
ResidenceSt. Albert, Alberta
ProfessionPolitician
Michael Cooper

Political career

On November 20, 2015, Michael Cooper was appointed Official Opposition Deputy Justice Critic by Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose.[5] Cooper was re-appointed to this role by Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer as Deputy Shadow Minister.[6] Following the 2019 federal election Cooper was appointed by Scheer as the Deputy Shadow Minister of Finance.[7]

Physician-Assisted Dying

Ambrose also appointed Michael Vice-Chair of the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying.[8] Cooper, along with the other Conservative MP’s on the committee authored a dissenting report from the majority committee report cautioning against advanced directives and opening physician-assisted dying to minors.[9]

On April 14, 2016, then Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-14, the government’s Physician-Assisted Dying Legislation in the House of Commons.[10] Bill C-14 was assented June 17, 2016 and incorporated several of the recommendations from the Conservative MP’s dissenting report, including limiting physician-assisted dying to competent adults suffering from a physical illness and prohibiting advanced directives.[11]

Wynn’s Law

Cooper sponsored in the House of Commons Bill S-217, known as Wynn’s Law, introduced by Senator Bob Runciman on February 3, 2016.[12] Bill S-217 sought to amend the Criminal Code to make it mandatory for the criminal history bail applicants to be presented at bail hearings.[13] The Bill was introduced after Constable David Wynn was shot and killed and Auxiliary Constable David Bond was shot by Shawn Rehn at a St. Albert casino in January 2015. Rehn was on bail at the time, despite a lengthy criminal history. A similar Bill was introduced by Cooper’s predecessor, Brent Rathgeber, in June 2015.[14]

Bill S-217 passed the Senate in October 2016.[15] When the Bill was debated at second reading in the House of Commons, Marco Mendicino, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice announced the Liberal government’s opposition to the Bill.[16] Despite this, it passed second reading with the unanimous support of Conservative, NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Green MPs, plus 27 Liberal MPs.[17] However, when Bill S-217 was studied at the Justice Committee, Liberal and NDP MPs on the Committee voted to recommend that the Bill not proceed.[18] On June 14, 2017, the House of Commons voted not to proceed with Bill S-217 by a vote of 199 to 103.[19]

Private Members’ Bill C-417

On October 29, 2018, Cooper introduced Private Members’ Bill C-417, which sought to amend the jury secrecy rule section of the Criminal Code.[20] The Bill would amend the section so that former jurors suffering from mental health issues arising from their jury service can disclose all aspects of the jury deliberation process with a medical professional. The jury secrecy rule prohibits former jurors from disclosing aspects of the jury deliberation process with anyone for life.[21] The Bill would implement a recommendation of a report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights entitled: Improving Support for Jurors in Canada.[22]

Cooper’s Bill was seconded by NDP MP Murray Rankin.[21]

Cooper is the House of Commons sponsor of Bill S-207, introduced by Conservative Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu in December 2019. This Bill is substantively similar to Cooper’s Bill C-417.[23]

2017 Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Race

Cooper endorsed MP Erin O’Toole during the 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership race.[24] O’Toole placed third behind MP Maxime Bernier and the winner MP Andrew Scheer.[25]

2019 Statements to Justice Committee Reciting NZ Shooter's Manifesto

In May 2019, Cooper quoted from the manifesto of the man accused of the mass killings in Christchurch, New Zealand in an attempt to discredit the testimony of a Muslim justice committee witness. Cooper was removed from the justice committee by conservative leadership as a consequence. Committee members later removed specific parts of the remarks from the official committee record.[26]

During the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Cooper served as vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights but was removed by party leader Andrew Scheer after Cooper confronted a witness in a manner that was considered offensive and quoted from a news article an excerpt contained in the article of the Christchurch mosque shooter's manifesto during a hearing.[27] Cooper would also face resurfacing allegations from comments made while in law school as a result of his comments in the standing committee. These allegations come from comments Cooper made about "goat herder cultures" when in a seminar about Canadian multiculturalism and Muslims.[28]

2020 Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Race

Cooper endorsed Peter MacKay during the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Race.[29]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: St. Albert—Edmonton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeMichael Cooper39,50660.7+15.46
LiberalGreg Springate12,47719.2-3.34
New DemocraticKathleen Mpulubusi9,89515.2+4.04
GreenRob Dunbar1,5942.4+1.01
People'sBrigitte Cecelia1,2681.9-
Veterans CoalitionRobert Bruce Fraser3510.5-
Total valid votes/Expense limit 65,091100.0
Total rejected ballots 336
Turnout 65,42770.7
Eligible voters 92,579
Conservative hold Swing +9.40
Source: Elections Canada[30][31]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeMichael Cooper26,76945.2-19.3–
LiberalBeatrice Ghettuba13,38022.6+11.8–
IndependentBrent Rathgeber11,66219.7n/a–
New DemocraticDarlene Malayko6,62211.2-8.9–
GreenAndrea Oldham8331.4-3.2–
Total valid votes/Expense limit –100.0   $218,855.94
Total rejected ballots –––
Turnout –––
Eligible voters 82,120
Source: Elections Canada[32][33]
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References
  1. https://www.stalberttoday.ca/local-news/michael-cooper-conservative-party-of-canada-1290143
  2. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/riding-profile-st-albert-edmonton
  3. Canada, Elections. "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". enr.elections.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  4. "About Michael Cooper".
  5. "MP Cooper named as Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Justice". Michael Cooper MP. 2015-11-21. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  6. "Shadow Cabinet". Canada's Official Opposition. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  7. "Shadow Cabinet". Canada's Official Opposition. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  8. "PDAM - Members - House of Commons of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  9. "Committee Report No. 1 - PDAM (42-1) - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  10. "Government Bill (House of Commons) C-14 (42-1) - First Reading - An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying) - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  11. "Government Bill (House of Commons) C-14 (42-1) - Royal Assent - An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying) - Parliament of Canada". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  12. "LEGISinfo - Senate Public Bill S-217 (42-1)". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  13. "St. Albert MP continues to fight for Wynn's Law to be passed". StAlbertToday.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  14. "Alberta MP introduces Dave Wynn's Law in honour of St. Albert Mountie | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2015-06-08. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  15. Canada, Senate of (2016-07-22). "Senate of Canada - Debates". Senate of Canada. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  16. "Debates (Hansard) No. 145 - February 22, 2017 (42-1) - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  17. "Tory Bill Honouring Slain Mountie Passes With Help Of 27 Liberals". HuffPost Canada. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  18. "'It is unlikely Wynn's Law will pass': St. Albert MP after committee opposes bill | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  19. "Debates (Hansard) No. 194 - June 14, 2017 (42-1) - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-04.
  20. "LEGISinfo - Private Member's Bill C-417 (42-1)". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  21. "Ex-Juror With PTSD Lauds MPs For Uniting On Bill To Ease Secrecy Rule". HuffPost Canada. 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  22. https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/JUST/Reports/RP9871696/justrp20/justrp20-e.pdf
  23. "New bill introduced in Canadian Senate to improve support for jurors affected by PTSD". Global News. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  24. "Conservative endorsement tracker: Scheer, O'Toole lead among MPs | CTV News". www.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  25. "WATCH: Conservative Leadership Live Results 2017". HuffPost Canada. 2017-05-27. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  26. "Scheer strips Tory MP of committee role after confrontation with Muslim witness". CBC. 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
  27. Henderson, Jennifer (June 22, 2019). "Cooper denies allegations". Global News. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  28. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michael-cooper-goat-herder-cultures-1.5179039. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. "Local conservatives split leadership endorsements". StAlbertToday.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  30. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  31. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  32. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for St. Albert—Edmonton, 30 September 2015
  33. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
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