Thomas William Wappel
Member of Parliament for Scarborough West (1988-1997); Scarborough Southwest (1997-present)
Incumbent
Assumed office  1988 election
Preceded by	Reg Stackhouse
Born	February 9 1950 ( 1950-02-09) (age 58) Toronto
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Separated
Residence	Scarborough
Profession	Barrister and solicitor, lawyer
Religion	Roman Catholic

Thomas William "Tom" Wappel, MP (born February 9, 1950) is a Canadian Member of Parliament. Scarborough West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commonsfrom 1968 to 1997 Scarborough Southwest is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament Reginald Francis Stackhouse (born April 30, 1925) is a Canadian educator and former politician Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political Scarborough (ˈskɑrˌbəroʊ ( 2001 Census 593297 is the area that forms the eastern part of the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada This is a list of members of the Canadian House of Commons in the 39th Parliament of Canada. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. He has been a Liberal member of the House of Commons since 1988, and represents the Toronto riding of Scarborough Southwest. The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political The House of Commons (Chambre des communes is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Scarborough Southwest is a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House He has announced that he will not seek re-election in the next general election.

Wappel is a staunch social conservative. Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that affirms the government's role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors in the belief that these are what He is a prominent opponent of abortion and gay rights, and has made controversial comments on immigration and the role of religion in government. An Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender social movements share related goals of social acceptance of Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Transgenderism Lesbian Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term He opposes the death penalty, and describes himself as holding liberal views on economic issues. The only method used in Canada for Capital punishment was Hanging. ^[1] In 1998, he was awarded the Joseph P. Borowski Award. Joseph P (Joe Borowski ( December 12, 1933 - September 23, 1996) was a Canadian politician and activist ^[2] He is separated, with five children.

Early life and career

Wappel was born in Toronto, to Hungarian parents. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto (1971), and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University (1974). This article is about the University of Toronto's St George Campus The Bachelor of Laws (abbreviated LLB, LLB or rarely LlB) is an undergraduate or bachelor degree in law offered in most Common law Queen's University, generally referred to simply as Queen's, is a coeducational non-sectarian Public university located in Kingston, Ontario He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976, and worked in civil litigation and corporate law and taught classes in negotiation. Wappel is a member of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization ^[3]

1988 election

Wappel won the Scarborough West Liberal nomination in 1988 in a surprising upset over Patrick Johnston, a star candidate who had been personally recruited by party leader John Turner. Patrick Johnston is a Canadian administrator and former politician John Napier Wyndham Turner PC CC QC (born June 7, 1929) is a retired Canadian Lawyer and Politician ^[4] His campaign was supported by members of the anti-abortion group Campaign Life, and his election platform included a pledge of "respect for human life, from conception to the natural end of life". The Campaign Life Coalition (often called Campaign Life) is a Canadian socially conservative group primarily associated with the Pro-life movement ^[5] He also opposed the Canada-United States free trade agreement, and criticized the media for portraying him as a single-issue candidate. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also List of free trade agreements This is article is on free international trade ^[6] He won a narrow victory in the general election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Reg Stackhouse by 440 votes. The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian Reginald Francis Stackhouse (born April 30, 1925) is a Canadian educator and former politician

During the election, Campaign Life activists circulated a pamphlet that accused Stackhouse of supporting "baby-killing" in some circumstances. ^[7] There is no evidence that Wappel personally endorsed the pamphlet.

The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in 1988, and Wappel entered parliament as a member of the opposition. John Turner resigned as party leader in 1989, and a new leadership contest was called to select his replacement.

Leadership candidate

Wappel was the first declared candidate in the Liberal Party's 1990 leadership convention, announcing his candidacy on June 29, 1989. The first three leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada were not chosen at a Leadership convention. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) He described himself as the only candidate willing to make abortion a leadership issue. ^[8] Wappel spoke against abortion in all circumstances, saying that while rape and incest are terrible tragedies, "they cannot possibly be compounded by the further tragedy of destroying human life. "^[9] He also called for increased immigration to Canada and harsher penalties against drug traffickers, while opposing the Meech Lake Accord and "distinct society" status for Quebec. The Meech Lake Accord was a set of failed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the provincial Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk ^[10]

Wappel spoke against federal daycare programs during one all-candidates meeting, arguing that the Canadian government should promote stay-at-home parenting instead. ^[11] Late in the campaign, he said that he did not consider single-parent households or homosexual couples to be families. ^[12]

His candidacy was not supported by any other MPs although he won the endorsement of Liberals for Life, an anti-abortion pressure group working inside the Liberal Party, in March 1990. Liberals for Life was a Pro-life advocacy group that worked within the Liberal Party of Canada during the 1980s and early 1990s ^[13] During his nomination speech at the convention, Wappel called for abortion to be made a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. ^[14] He finished in fourth place, as Jean Chrétien won the leadership on the first ballot. Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, (generally known as Jean Chrétien) (born January 11, 1934) is a Canadian politician who was the twentieth Prime

Opposition Critic

Wappel was appointed as the Liberal Party's immigration critic in January 1991. Late in the year, he prepared an internal party document calling for the creation of detainment camps (to be called Welcome Centres) for refugees arriving in Canada. Claimants would be provided with food, lodging and clothing, but would not be permitted to work outside the centre while their cases were under review. The proposal also called for any claimant with HIV to be automatically denied status. Human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) is a Lentivirus (a member of the Retrovirus family that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome His suggestions were leaked to the media, and were immediately rejected by the Liberal Party leadership. ^[15] He was removed as the Liberal Party's immigration Critic in January 1992, and reassigned as critic for the Solicitor-General. ^[16] In his new position, he called for increased safeguards in Canada's parole system. ^[17]

Wappel was endorsed by the Canadian Police Association in the 1993 federal election, and focused his campaign on "law and order" issues. The Canadian Police Association (CPA is an organization of Canadian police officers The Canadian federal election of 1993 (officially the 35th general election) was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons In Politics, law and order refers to a political platform which supports a strict Criminal justice system especially in relation to Violent crime ^[18] He was easily re-elected as the Liberals won a majority government nationally. In the Westminster System, there is a majority government when the governing party enjoys an Absolute majority of seats in the Legislature or

Government backbencher

Chrétien government

Wappel was not appointed to Jean Chrétien's cabinet, and was a frequent critic of his own party's social legislation. The Cabinet of Canada (Cabinet du Canada plays an important role in the Government of Canada, in accordance with the Westminster System. He opposed the Chrétien government's decision to extend anti-discrimination protection to homosexuals in 1994, describing homosexuality as "statistically abnormal, [. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. . . ] physically abnormal and [. . . ] morally immoral". ^[19] Some politicians and journalists called for Chrétien to expel Wappel from caucus after this remark, but no disciplinary action was taken. ^[20] Later in the year, Wappel described homosexuality as "not genetic, but a choice", while arguing that religion is "virtually genetic, since it is passed from generation to generation". ^[21] He remained active on law enforcement issues, introducing a private member's bill to create a national witness protection program and calling for tougher provisions under Canada's Young Offenders Act. A Private Member's Bill is a proposed Law introduced by a backbench member of Parliament, whether from the government or the opposition side to that The Young Offenders Act ( YOA) was an act of the Parliament of Canada passed in 1982 by the government of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau and enacted in 1984 ^[22]

He was re-elected to a third term in the 1997 election, again running on a "law and order" platform. The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of When parliament resumed, he introduced a private member's bill designed to prevent persons convicted of serious crimes (and their relatives and collaborators) from receiving any financial benefit resulting from artistic depictions of their acts. The bill was supported by some members of the law enforcement community, but was criticized by artists and was often described as poorly drafted. Toronto journalist Michael Valpy dismissed it as "legal gibberish" and "a piece of junk". Michael Granville Valpy (born in Toronto August 13 1942 is an award-winning Canadian journalist and author ^[23] The bill passed the House of Commons but was rejected by the Canadian Senate in 1998, despite last-minute adjustments. The Senate of Canada (Le Sénat du Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the sovereign (represented by the governor general ^[24]

Wappel ran for Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons in 2001, seeking support from backbench Liberals and opposition members. In Canada the Speaker of the House of Commons ( French: Président de la Chambre des communes) is the presiding officer of the He was eliminated after the first ballot of a secret vote by all Members of Parliament (MPs). A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. ^[25]

He faced media scrutiny in May 2001, when he refused to help a veteran in his riding whom he suspected of having voted for a rival candidate in the previous election. A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old" is a person who has or is working in the armed forces Wappel wrote a letter to the constituent, asking "How is it that you are writing me for my help if you did not think enough of my abilities to justify voting for me?"^[26] The letter was released to the media, and Wappel's remarks were widely criticized by journalists^[27] and MPs from all parties. Chrétien reprimanded Wappel, and required him to issue an apology. ^[28] Wappel later described the letter as a "stupid mistake", and called for voters to forgive him. ^[29]

In July 2002, Wappel joined with fifteen other Liberal MPs in calling for Paul Martin to succeed Jean Chrétien as Liberal leader. Paul Edgar Philippe Martin. PC, MP (also known as Paul Martin Jr ^[30] Later in the year, he was unexpectedly elected chair of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in a free vote of other committee members. ^[31]. He issued a report in June 2003 arguing that federal bureaucrats had "badly managed" the sockeye salmon fishery in British Columbia's Fraser River two years earlier. Sockeye salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka) also called red salmon or blueback salmon, is an Anadromous Species of Salmon British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C For other uses of this name see Fraser River (disambiguation. ^[32]

Martin government

Paul Martin succeeded Chrétien as party leader and prime minister in December 2003. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Wappel remained a government backbencher, and was returned to a fifth parliamentary term in the 2004 election as the Liberals were reduced to a minority government. For other meanings see Backbench A backbencher is a Member of Parliament (MP or a legislator who does not hold governmental The Canadian federal election 2004 (more formally the 38th General Election) was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of A minority government or a minority cabinet is a Cabinet of a Parliamentary system formed when the governing Political party or

Wappel remained one of the most vocal social conservatives in the Liberal caucus, and was a prominent opponent of the Martin government's 2005 same-sex marriage legislation, which he described as "discriminatory, a sham, and a hoax". On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the approval of the Civil Marriage Act. ^[33] According to one report, Wappel told Martin that he was "profoundly disappointed" with his handling of the issue during a private caucus meeting. ^[34] There was some speculation that Wappel would join fellow MP Pat O'Brien in leaving the Liberal caucus over the marriage bill, but he decided to remain in the party. Patrick Wayne "Pat" O'Brien MEd, BA (born January 13, 1948) is a former member of the Canadian House of Commons. ^[35]

Opposition MP

Wappel was re-elected to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election, as the Conservative Party won a national minority government. The 2006 Canadian federal election (more formally the 39th General Election) was held on January 23 2006 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative A minority government or a minority cabinet is a Cabinet of a Parliamentary system formed when the governing Political party or He is now a member of the Official Opposition, and is a member of the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations. Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government particularly in a Westminster -based Parliamentary system ^[36] He is also chairman of the Canada-Hungary Parliamentary Friendship Group and vice-chairman of the Canada-China Legislative Association. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES ^[37]

Wappel was one of twenty-four Liberal MPs to vote for an extension of Canada's military mission in Afghanistan in May 2006. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, ^[38] He also renewed his call for abortion legislation, describing Canada as "the only western democracy that has absolutely no law whatsoever when it comes to protecting the unborn child". ^[39] In February 2007, he was the only Liberal MP to vote for the extension of two controversial anti-terrorism measures that had first been passed by the Chrétien government in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The measures, which critics described as a threat to civil liberties, were defeated when the Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party and most Liberals voted not to support their extension. The Bloc Québécois ( BQ) is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal ^[40] Wappel expressed surprise that more Liberal MPs did not support the extension. ^[41]

Wappel did not endorse any candidate in the 2006 Liberal leadership convention, as none of the candidates were declared social conservatives. The Liberal Party of Canada leadership convention of 2006 was prompted by Paul Martin 's announcement that he would not lead the Liberal Party of Canada into another ^[42] He indicated that he would personally vote for Joe Volpe at the convention. This article is about the Canadian politician For information about the opera manager see Joseph Volpe (opera manager. ^[43]

Food labels

Wappel has promoted several private member's bills calling for better nutritional labels on food products. In 1998, he introduced a bill that would have required nutritional labels on all foods sold in grocery stores. It was supported by the Alliance for Food Label Reform, and Wappel argued that it would help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer among consumers. ^[44] The bill was not passed.

In 2004, he introduced a separate bill requiring fast food restaurants to list salt and fat content on their menus. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly ^[45] It was defeated by a vote of 198 to 64 in November 2006. ^[46]

Retirement

On March 23, 2007, Wappel announced that he would not stand in the next federal election. ^[47]

Table of offices held

External links

• Official site
• Party biography
• Parliament Webpage

Electoral record

All electoral information is taken from Elections Canada. Elections Canada is an independent non-partisan agency reporting directly to the Parliament of Canada. Italicized expenditures from elections after 1997 refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available. Expenditures from 1997 refer to submitted totals. The +/- figures from 1997 and 2004 are adjusted for redistribution.

Footnotes