Don Davies

Don Davies
LLB BA MP
Shadow Critic for Health
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Leader Jack Layton
Tom Mulcair
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Vancouver Kingsway
Assumed office
October 14, 2008
Preceded by David Emerson
Personal details
Born (1963-01-16) January 16, 1963
Edmonton, Alberta
Political party New Democratic Party
Residence Vancouver, British Columbia
Alma mater University of Alberta
Profession Lawyer

Don Davies MP (born January 16, 1963) is a Canadian Member of Parliament for the New Democratic Party, representing the riding of Vancouver Kingsway since his election in the 2008 federal election. After the 2015 election, Davies was named as the NDP critic for Health for the 42nd Parliament.

Life and career

Davies was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Law Degree (LL.B.) at the University of Alberta.[1] After gaining admission to the Alberta Bar, Davies was employed as a researcher at the Alberta Legislature and then Executive Assistant for policy and communications to the Hon. Ray Martin, Leader of the Official Opposition of Alberta from 1989 to 1991.[1]

Davies and his family moved to Vancouver in 1991. In 1992 he became the Director of Legal Services for Teamsters Canada (Local 31), a position he held until his election to the House of Commons in 2008. In this capacity, Davies represented workers and the union at arbitration panels and before both provincial and federal labour tribunals.[1]

Davies also served on numerous public bodies to improve occupational health and safety and deliver more efficient regulatory systems in the transportation sector. He was chair of the Mount Pleasant Parent Advisory Council and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Meridian Cultural Society, providing public space for childcare, church and cultural events.[1]

Davies has been active with many community organizations including Tools for Peace, Vancouver Co-op Radio, Lawyers for Social Responsibility, La Quena Cooperative and the Dickens Community Group.[1] He has also been a local hockey coach, and enjoys playing the violin.

Long-time residents in the Vancouver Kensington neighbourhood of Vancouver Kingsway, Davies has been married for 31 years to Sheryl Palm, a speech language pathologist. They have three children and a granddaughter.[1]

Federal politics

Davies was first elected during the 2008 federal election. He received 15,933 votes, winning the riding by almost 3000 votes over his nearest competitor. Davies was re-elected in the 2011 election, receiving over 50% of the votes cast and winning by 10,300 votes over his nearest competitor. In 2015, he was re-elected for his third term, receiving 46% of the vote and leading his nearest competitor by over 8000 votes.

In the 40th Parliament, Davies served as NDP Critic for Public Safety and National Security, Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and Deputy Critic for Western Diversification. In the 41st Parliament, Davies served as Official Opposition Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and then as Official Opposition Critic for International Trade, Deputy Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.[1] A member of a number of parliamentary groups, he serves on the Executives of the Canada-China, Canada-Philippines and Canada-Europe Parliamentary Associations, and is a Canadian Parliamentary Delegate to the Council of Europe.[1]

After the 2015 election, Davies was appointed the NDP critic for Health in the 42nd Canadian Parliament.[2]

He consistently ranks in the top five in terms of private members legislation and debate participation. His legislative priorities include affordable housing, universal childcare, Canadian economic development, environmental protection and policies to address poverty.[1]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies 20,763 45.74 -4.38
LiberalSteven Kou 12,625 27.81 +11.16
ConservativeJojo Quimpo 9,538 21.01 -7.09
GreenCatherine Moore 1,476 3.25 -0.52
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu 468 1.03 +0.44
CommunistKimball Cariou 445 0.98 +0.51
Marxist–LeninistDonna Petersen 81 0.18 +0.01
Total valid votes/Expense limit 100.00%   $203,203.67
Total rejected ballots 471
Turnout 45,86764.41+6.31
Eligible voters 71,206
Source: Elections Canada[3][4]
Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies 23,457 50.08 +14.88%
ConservativeTrang Nguyen 13,157 28.09 +.66%
LiberalWendy Yuan 7,796 16.64 -12.38%
GreenLouise Boutin 1,860 3.97 -2.73%
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu 275 0.59 -11.0%
CommunistKimball Cariou 220 0.47 -24.3%
Marxist–LeninistDonna Peterson 78 0.17 -47.6%
Total valid votes/Expense limit - 100.00%
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies 15,933 35.20% +1.7% $81,501
LiberalWendy Yuan 13,164 29.02% -14.4% $79,758
ConservativeSalomon Rayek 12,419 27.43% +8.64% $70,829
GreenDoug Warkentin 3,031 6.7% +3.87% $3,478
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu 309 0.68% +0.09% --
CommunistKimball Cariou 291 0.64% +0.29% $391
Marxist–LeninistDonna Peterson 149 0.33% +0.19%
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,296100.00%$84,758
Total rejected ballots 328
Turnout 45,624

References

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