Gilles Bisson
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2011) |
| Gilles Bisson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| MPP for Timmins—James Bay | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | First Member |
| MPP for Cochrane South | |
| In office 1990–1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Alan Pope |
| Succeeded by | Riding Dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 14, 1957 Timmins, Ontario |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Occupation | Trade unionist |
Gilles Bisson (born May 14, 1957) is a Franco-Ontarian Canadian politician who has represented the northern riding of Timmins—James Bay in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1990.[1] He is a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and currently serves as the party whip and as critic for the Ministries of Natural Resources, Northern Development and Mines, Aboriginal Affairs, Francophone Affairs and Transportation.
On August 29, 2008, Bisson announced he would run to succeed Howard Hampton in the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election. Bisson was defeated, finishing in third place behind first runner-up Peter Tabuns and the victor, Andrea Horwath.
Contents |
[edit] Background
Before entering politics, Bisson was a labour union organizer, who coordinated a workplace literacy program for the Ontario Federation of Labour (of which he was the Northeast Director for a time). He also worked with the United Steelworkers of America on a project aimed at encouraging the Workers Compensation Board of Ontario to recognize lung cancer as a compensable industrial disease.
A licensed private pilot, Bisson owns a small aircraft which he uses to fly between communities in his far-flung riding, the legislative seat in Toronto and elsewhere. Bisson was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets with #10 Timmins Kiwanis Squadron. He graduated with the rank of Flight Sergeant.
Bisson is married, is the father of two daughters and is a grandfather of two.
[edit] Politics
Bisson was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990, defeating Liberal Frank Krznaric by about 2,000 votes in the old riding of Cochrane South. He served as parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Francophone Affairs in Bob Rae's government, and also served as a member of the cabinet committee on the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993.
Although the NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995, Bisson significantly increased the margin of his victory in Cochrane South. He was, in fact, the only NDP candidate elected with more than 50% riding support in that cycle. He was easily re-elected in the 1999 election, and fought off a closer challenge from Liberal Michael Doody, a former mayor of Timmins and broadcaster, in the election of 2003.
Bisson's popularity has helped make Timmins—James Bay one of the top ridings in Ontario for the federal NDP as well, helping Charlie Angus pick up the seat in the 2004 election.
[edit] References
- ^ Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography, Accessed 14 April 2011
