Robert douglas nicholson biography

Canadian politician

For other people with similar names, see Robert Nicholson (disambiguation) and Bob Nicholson (disambiguation).

The Honourable Robert Nicholson PCKC
Nicholson in
In office November 20, &#;– September 11,
Leader	Rona Ambrose Andrew Scheer
Preceded by	Françoise Boivin
Succeeded by	Rob Moore
In office February 9, &#;– November 4,
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	John Baird
Succeeded by	Stéphane Dion
In office July 15, &#;– February 9,
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Peter MacKay
Succeeded by	Jason Kenney
In office January 4, &#;– July 15,
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Vic Toews
Succeeded by	Peter MacKay
In office February 6, &#;– January 4,
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Tony Valeri
Succeeded by	Peter Van Loan
In office February 6, &#;– January 4,
Prime Minister	Stephen Harper
Preceded by	Belinda Stronach(Democratic Renewal)
Succeeded by	Peter Van Loan
In office July 28, &#;– September 11,
Preceded by	Gary Pillitteri
Succeeded by	Tony Baldinelli
In office September 4, &#;– October 25,
Preceded by	Al MacBain
Succeeded by	Gary Pillitteri
Born	Robert Douglas Nicholson () April 29, (age&#;72) Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative(Before ) Conservative(–present)
Spouse	Arlene Nicholson
Alma mater	Queen's University University of Windsor

Robert Douglas NicholsonPC KC (born April 29, ) is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Niagara Falls in the House of Commons of Canada from to as a member of the Conservative Party.

Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he served as Minister of National Defence, Minister of Justice, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. When the Harper Government ended, he was appointed Justice Critic in the Official Oppositionshadow cabinet.

Early life

Nicholson was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario.^[1] He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University and a law degree from the University of Windsor.

Nicholson practised law before entering politics, and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.^[1]

Political career

First terms in the House of Commons (–)

Nicholson was first elected to federal parliament in the federal election of as a Progressive Conservative, defeating New Democrat Richard Harrington and incumbent LiberalAl MacBain.

Robert douglas nicholson biography net worth: Retrieved In office July 15, — February 9, CBC News. Social Credit.

He was re-elected by a narrower margin in the election, defeating Liberal Gary Pillitteri by fewer than 2, votes.

During the 33rd Canadian Parliament, he served on the standing committees responsible for justice (vice-chairman), foreign affairs, national defence and transport. Nicholson also served on the special committee on child care.^[2]

During the 34th Canadian Parliament, he continued to serve on the justice committee and was also named a parliamentary secretary, supporting the Government House Leader () and the Attorney General of Canada () in Prime Minister of CanadaBrian Mulroney's government.

Following Kim Campbell's appointment as prime minister, Nicholson joined the cabinet as Minister for Science and Minister responsible for Small Business.^[3]

As with all of his caucus colleagues, save for Jean Charest and Elsie Wayne, he was defeated in the election, finishing third behind Pillitteri and Mel Grunstein of the Reform Party.

Municipal politics

Nicholson was elected as a trustee for the Niagara Catholic District School Board in He was elected to the Niagara Regional Council later in , and was re-elected in , and ^[2] He ran for Chairman of the Regional Municipality of Niagara in late , but lost to St.

Catharines Regional Councillor Peter Partington.

He attempted to regain his old Commons seat in the election, but again finished third. He did not seek election to the Commons in the election.

Return to Opposition in 38th Parliament

The Progressive Conservatives merged with the Canadian Alliance as the Conservative Party of Canada in early , and Nicholson joined the new party.

He was narrowly returned to parliament in the election, defeating Liberal Victor Pietrangelo by more than 1, votes.

Nicholson served as Shadow Transportation Critic from July to January He was appointed Chief Opposition Whip on January 28, ^[2]

During the 38th Canadian Parliament, he was one of only two members of the member Conservative caucus in the Commons who had previously served in the federal cabinet.

Harper government ()

Nicholson was re-elected in the election and appointed to the Harper cabinet as Government House Leader.^[1]

Minister of Justice ()

Nicholson was appointed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in early He replaced Vic Toews as Justice Minister during a Cabinet shuffle on January 4, Peter Van Loan replaced Nicholson as Government House Leader.

On March 13, , Nicholson released the terms of reference for the appointment of Frank Iacobucci as an Independent Adviser. Iacobucci will conduct an independent review of documents related to the transfer of detainees by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.^[4][5]

This statement comes after Richard Colvin spoke before a parliamentary committee stating that he warned for a full year that detainees Canadian troops handed over to Afghan forces faced torture before the government began to monitor them.

“London, The Hague and Canberra [Australia] are deeply concerned about the absence of solid legal protections for detainees, which&#;– in the age of Gitmo and Abu Ghraib&#;– imperils domestic support for the Afghanistan mission,” said the memo of December 4, , written by diplomat Richard Colvin.^[6][7]Amir Attaran also brought forward testimony in stark contrast to then Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan David Sproule's.

Afgan prisoners testified that after capture by Canadians, they were subsequently handed to the custody of the Afghan National Army (ANA), claiming they were later abused by the ANA.

Minister of Defence ()

In the July 15, cabinet shuffle, Nicholson switched portfolios with Peter Mackay and became the Minister of Defence.^[8]

Minister of Foreign Affairs ()

Because of John Baird's resignation, Harper was forced to reshuffle his Ministry on 9 February An unexpected beneficiary of the Baird defalcation was Nicholson, who was promoted to become Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Robert douglas nicholson biography wikipedia Minister of Foreign Affairs In office July 15, — February 9, Military Wiki Explore. Nicholson, Geoff —.

Nicholson's time as head of the Canadian Foreign Service was cut short when he was ejected from office on 4 November as Harper lost the election.

Back in opposition ()

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(September )

While the Conservatives were relegated to the Official Opposition after the election, Nicholson was re-elected and announced his intention to run for the interim leadership of the party.

He was defeated by Rona Ambrose, and was subsequently named as the Conservative Justice Critic.^[9]

Nicholson did not run for re-election in the federal election.^[10]

Election results

Canadian federal election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
Conservative	Rob Nicholson	28,		+	&#;
New Democratic	Heather Kelley	12,		+	&#;
Liberal	Bev Hodgson	10,			&#;
Green	Shawn Willick	2,			&#;
Christian Heritage	Harold Jonker		%	+	&#;
Total valid votes			53,		&#;
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			54,		+
Eligible voters			95,	&#;	&#;

Canadian federal election
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
Conservative	Rob Nicholson	24,	%	+%	$77,
Liberal	Joyce Morocco	13,	%	%	$89,
New Democratic	Eric Gillespie	9,	%	%	$18,
Green	Shawn Willick	4,	%	+%	$7,
Total valid votes/Expense limit			51,	%	$94,
Total rejected ballots				%
Turnout			51,	%

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in election.

See also

References

External links