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For the Canadian comedian, see Carolyn Bennett (comedian).

Her Excellency the Honourable
Carolyn Bennett
PC
Bennett in 2017
Ambassador of Canada to Denmark
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 24, 2024
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byDenis Robert
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Associate Minister of Health
In office
October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byYa'ara Saks
Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations[a]
In office
November 4, 2015 – October 26, 2021
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBernard Valcourt
Succeeded byMarc Miller
Minister of State for Public Health
In office
December 12, 2003 – February 5, 2006
Prime MinisterPaul Martin
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of Parliament
for Toronto—St. Paul's
St. Paul's (1997–2015)
In office
June 2, 1997 – January 16, 2024
Preceded byBarry Campbell
Succeeded byDon Stewart
Personal details
Born
Carolyn Ann Bennett

(1950-12-20) December 20, 1950 (age 73)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpousePeter O'Brian
Residence(s)Forest Hill,[1] Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationHavergal College
Alma materUniversity of Toronto (MD)
ProfessionPhysician
Websitewww.carolynbennett.ca

Carolyn Ann Bennett PC (born December 20, 1950) is a Canadian ambassador and retired politician. A member of the Liberal Party, she represented Toronto—St. Paul's in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2024, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Paul Martin and Justin Trudeau. She was the minister of State for Public Health from 2003 to 2006, the minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations from 2015 to 2021 and the minister of Mental Health and Addictions from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, she became the Ambassador of Canada to the Kingdom of Denmark. Prior to entering politics, Bennett worked as a family physician for 20 years.

Early life, education and career

Carolyn Ann Bennett was born in Toronto on December 20, 1950. She attended Havergal College.[2][3] She graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1974[4] and received her certification in family medicine in 1976. 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.[5]

Professional career

Bennett was a family physician for 20 years before entering politics.[6]

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.[4] Bennett served on the boards of Havergal College, Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

Bennett co-authored Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System with Rick Archbold, published in October 2000.[7]

Political career

Bennett ran for public office in the 1995 Ontario provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party.[8] Running in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick, she lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Isabel Bassett by about 3,500 votes.[9]

Bennett was more successful in the 1997 federal election, defeating her closest opponent in St. Paul's Peter Atkins by almost 15,000 votes.[10] She was re-elected by increased margins in the elections of 2000 and 2004.[11][12]

On December 12, 2003, after Paul Martin became Prime Minister, he appointed Bennett as his Minister of State for Public Health.[13] In her two years as Minister, she set up the Public Health Agency of Canada, appointed the first chief public health officer for Canada, and established the Public Health Network.[14]

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

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.[15][16] Bennett was re-elected, but lost her cabinet position as the Liberals were defeated.[17] 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.[18] On September 15, 2006, she withdrew from the leadership race and threw her support behind former Ontario Premier Bob Rae.[19]

In the 39th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for social development, social economy, seniors, persons with disabilities, and public health.[2]

She was re-elected in 2008.[20] In the 40th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for health.[2]

She was re-elected in 2011.[21] 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.[2]

On November 4, 2015, Bennett was appointed the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, which was later renamed the position of Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations.[22] She was re-elected in 2019.

On June 24, 2021, Bennett was forced to apologize to Jody Wilson-Raybould for her response to a tweet by Wilson-Raybould concerning Justin Trudeau and his government's response to the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. Referencing her tweet, Bennett texted Wilson-Raybould the single-word message "Pension?". Wilson-Raybould called it "racist and misogynistic", posting a screenshot of the message on Twitter.[23]

On October 26, 2021, Bennett was sworn in as Canada's first ever Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, with Marc Miller taking her place as Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations. [24]

On July 24, 2023, Bennett announced she would not be running in the next general election, and in the Cabinet shuffle two days later, she was demoted from her position as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.[25][26] She resigned her seat on January 16, 2024, the same day it was reported she would be appointed Canada's Ambassador to Denmark.[27][28] The federal by-election to replace her was held on June 24, 2024.[29] The riding was succeeded by Conservative Party candidate Don Stewart.[30]

Personal life

She is married to Canadian film producer Peter O'Brian. They have two sons.[31]

Awards

Electoral record

Toronto—St. Paul's, 2015–2023

2021 Canadian federal election: Toronto—St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 26,429 49.22 -5.09 $88,807.52
Conservative Stephanie Osadchuk 13,587 25.30 +3.69 $26,751.24
New Democratic Sidney Coles[34] 9,036 16.83 +1.05 $31,250.09
Green Phil De Luna 3,214 5.99 -0.77 $30,817.63
People's Peter Remedios 1,432 2.67 +1.12 $1,412.77
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,698 98.93 – $112,245.61
Total rejected ballots 580 1.07 +0.43
Turnout 54,278 65.48 -4.91
Eligible voters 82,891
Liberal hold Swing -4.39
Source: Elections Canada[35]
2019 Canadian federal election: Toronto—St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 32,494 54.31 -0.95 $88,263.67
Conservative Jae Truesdell 12,933 21.61 -5.37 $95,161.27
New Democratic Alok Mukherjee 9,442 15.78 +1.06 $48,947.09
Green Sarah Climenhaga 4,042 6.76 +3.72 $447.10
People's John Kellen 923 1.54 - $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 59,834 99.04
Total rejected ballots 384 0.64 +0.20
Turnout 60,218 70.39 -2.15
Eligible voters 85,544
Liberal hold Swing +2.21
Source: Elections Canada[36][37]
2015 Canadian federal election: Toronto—St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 31,481 55.26 +15.34 –
Conservative Marnie MacDougall 15,376 26.99 -5.43 –
New Democratic Noah Richler 8,386 14.72 -7.91 –
Green Kevin Farmer 1,729 3.03 -1.45 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 56,972 100.0     $208,833.75
Total rejected ballots 252 – –
Turnout 57,224 – –
Eligible voters 77,433
Source: Elections Canada[38][39][40]

St. Paul's, 1997-2015

2011 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 22,409 40.6 -9.9
Conservative Maureen Harquail 17,864 32.4 +5.8
New Democratic William Molls 12,124 22.0 +8.7
Green Jim McGarva 2,495 4.5 -4.6
Libertarian John Kittredge 303 0.5 -0.1
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,195 100.0
Total rejected ballots 276 0.5 –
Turnout 55,471 68.2 –
Eligible voters 81,288 – –
2008 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 26,326 50.5 +0.2 $69,331
Conservative Heather Jewell 13,800 26.6 +0.8 $53,617
New Democratic Anita Agrawal 6,880 13.3 -5.9 $13,606
Green Justin Erdman 4,713 9.1 +4.3 $3,526
Libertarian John Kittredge 313 0.6 – $182
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,032 100.0 $86,488
2006 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 29,295 50.3 -8.1
Conservative Peter Kent 15,021 25.8 +5.4
New Democratic Paul Summerville 11,189 19.2 +3.5
Green Kevin Farmer 2,785 4.8 -0.7
Total valid votes 58,290 100.0
2004 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 32,171 58.4 +4.1
Conservative Barry Cline 11,226 20.4 -13.1*
New Democratic Norman Tobias 8,667 15.7 +6.3
Green Peter Elgie 3,031 5.5 +3.9
Total valid votes 55,095 100.0

*Comparison to total of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote in 2000.

2000 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 25,110 54.3 0.0
Progressive Conservative Barry Cline 10,035 21.7 -2.0
Alliance Theo Caldwell 5,415 11.7 +4.4
New Democratic Guy Hunter 4,372 9.7 -2.7
Green Don Roebuck 759 1.6 +0.4
Marijuana Andrew Potter 221 0.5
Canadian Action Mark Till 125 0.3 -0.1
Marxist–Leninist Barbara Seed 88 0.2 -0.1
Natural Law Ron Parker 83 0.2 -0.3
Total valid votes 46,208 100.0

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

1997 Canadian federal election: St. Paul's
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 26,389 54.3 -0.1
Progressive Conservative Peter Atkins 11,520 23.7 -0.7
New Democratic Michael Halewood 6,028 12.4 +7.3
Reform Francis Floszmann 3,564 7.3 -3.8
Green Don Roebuck 597 1.2 +0.3
Natural Law Neil Dickie 221 0.5 -0.2
Canadian Action Daniel Widdicombe 182 0.4
Marxist–Leninist Fernand Deschamps 135 0.3 +0.1
Total valid votes 48,636 100.0

Provincial

St. Andrew—St. Patrick: 1995 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes[41] Vote %
Progressive Conservative Isabel Bassett 13,092 40.4
Liberal Carolyn Bennett 9,413 29.1
New Democratic David Jacobs 9,231 28.5
Green Hamish Wilson 271 0.8
Natural Law Bruce Hislop 237 0.7
Libertarian Mark Scott 141 0.4
Total 32,385

Notes

  1. ^ From 2015 to 2017, the role was known as minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs; on August 28, 2017, the role was renamed minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, with the newly established minister of Indigenous Services gaining some of Bennett's previous responsibilities. On July 18, 2018, the role was renamed minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, with responsibility for Northern Affairs being given to Dominic LeBlanc.

References

  1. ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "BENNETT, The Hon. Dr. Carolyn, P.C., M.D." Library of Parliament. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "NOTABLE OLD GIRLS". Havergal College. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Meet the new cabinet ministers from the University of Toronto". University of Toronto. November 4, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Media Advisory: The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett Receives Honorary Fellowship from the SOGC". Canadian Corporate News. June 25, 2004.
  6. ^ "Women Physicians Change the World – Political Activism – Dr. Jill Stein". fmwc.ca. April 10, 2018. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  7. ^ Bennett, Carolyn (Carolyn A.) (2000). Kill or cure? : how Canadians can remake their health care system. Archbold, Rick, 1950-. Toronto: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-200057-1. OCLC 44405893.
  8. ^ "Carolyn Bennett takes your questions on the Liberal leadership race". The Globe and Mail. September 13, 2006.
  9. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Archived from the original on June 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Final Results Riding by Riding". Calgary Herald. June 4, 1997. p. A5.
  11. ^ "Election Results". Star — Phoenix. Saskatoon, SK. November 28, 2000. p. A8.
  12. ^ "Election results...riding by riding". The Globe and Mail. June 29, 2004. p. A14.
  13. ^ Bennett, C. (2004). "Building a national public health system". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 170 (9): 1425–1426. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1040580. PMC 395818. PMID 15111478.
  14. ^ "Biography - Carolyn Bennett - Your member of parliament for Toronto-St. Paul's". cbennett.liberal.ca. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  15. ^ Bill Doskoch (September 7, 2008). "Toronto's political landscape unlikely to shift". CTV.
  16. ^ "NDP won't raise taxes, pledges Jack Layton". CTV. December 5, 2005.
  17. ^ Justin Skinner (September 4, 2008). "Federal election call expected soon". Inside Toronto. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  18. ^ "Liberal leadership field grows with Bennett's entry". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 24, 2006. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  19. ^ Susan Delacourt (September 16, 2006). "Bennett quits contest, backs Rae". Toronto Star.
  20. ^ "Greater Toronto Area Results". The Toronto Star. October 15, 2008. p. U2.
  21. ^ "Riding results from across Canada". Edmonton Journal. May 3, 2011. p. A6.
  22. ^ "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance". CBC News. November 4, 2015.
  23. ^ Patel, Raisa (June 24, 2021). "Crown-Indigenous Minister Carolyn Bennett apologizes for message that MP Jody Wilson-Raybould calls 'racist' and misogynistic". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet". October 26, 2021.
  25. ^ "Liberal minister Carolyn Bennett announces she will not stand for re-election". CTVNews. July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  26. ^ "Adam Zivo: Carolyn Bennett's exit is good news in the fight against opioid diversion". National Post. July 28, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  27. ^ "The Hon. Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P." Library of Parliament. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  28. ^ Blouin, Louis (January 16, 2024). "Carolyn Bennett to be named ambassador to Denmark, sources say". CBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "Government of Canada announces measures to protect Toronto-St. Paul's by-election from foreign interference". www.canada.ca. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  30. ^ "Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in shock byelection result". June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Honourable Carolyn Bennett". November 3, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  32. ^ "CPA Bulletin: December 2003 - NEWS - CAMIMH Honours Canadians for Raising Awareness About Mental Illness". August 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
  33. ^ "May Cohen Award". Federation of Medical Women of Canada.
  34. ^ "Toronto NDP candidate resigns after discovery of controversial social media posts". CP24. September 15, 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Result of voting, certificate of returning officer. October 23, 2019.[full citation needed]
  37. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  38. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Toronto—St. Paul's, September 30 2015
  39. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts".
  41. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Bernard Valcourt Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations
November 4, 2015 – October 26, 2021 		Marc Miller
27th Ministry – Cabinet of Paul Martin
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
  Minister of State (Public Health)
2003–2006 		 
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Bennett