David Kilgour
Encyclopedia
David Kilgour, PC
(born February 18, 1941 in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
) is a former Canadian
politician.
Kilgour graduated from the University of Manitoba
in economics in 1962 and the University of Toronto
law school in 1966. From crown attorney in northern Alberta to Canadian Cabinet minister, Kilgour ended his 27 year tenure in the Canadian House of Commons
as an Independent MP. Upon retirement, he was one of the longest current serving Members of Parliament and one of the very few who had been elected under both the Progressive Conservative
and Liberal
banners.
Party in 1979. However, his first attempt at election, in the 1968 federal election
in the riding
of Vancouver Centre
as a Progressive Conservative was unsuccessful. He ran again as a Tory in the 1979 election
in Edmonton, and was a Member of Parliament for about 27 years. In October 1990, he, along with Pat Nowlan
of Nova Scotia
and Alex Kindy
of Calgary
, were expelled from the Tory national caucus in protest over their vote against the Goods and Services Tax. He sat as an independent for several months before joining the Liberals.
In the Liberal government, he served as the Deputy Speaker (1993–1997) and Chairman of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons, Secretary of State Latin America and Africa (1997–2002), and Secretary of State, Asia-Pacific (2002–2003). In the Conservative governments of Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Privy Council, the Minister for CIDA, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Transport.
As Secretary for state, Kilgour was continuously vocal on many human rights violations around the world. In 2001 while visiting Zimbabwee, Kilgour was vocally critical of Mugabe's farm-invasions policy and pushed for increasing international pressure. In December 2004, he was among the Ukrainian election monitor delegation of the federal run-off elections.
In April 2005, he received media attention when he speculated about quitting the Liberal Party because of his disgust with the sponsorship scandal
, saying that the issue made Canada look like "a northern banana republic
". On April 12, 2005, he announced that he was crossing the floor
to sit as an independent MP. He also cited the Canada's lack of action on the crisis in Darfur
, Sudan
, as reasons for quitting. He asserted that he has no plans to move back to the Conservatives, and stated that he had no plans to run for re-election.
From 1979
to 1988
, he represented the riding of Edmonton—Strathcona
, but with shifting constituency lines moved to the Edmonton Southeast
in 1988
, and then again to Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont
in 2004
which he represented until he retired from politics at the 2006 election
.
Because of the unusual structure of the 38th House of Commons
, in May 2005, David Kilgour's lone vote had the power to bring down or support the government. He used this influence to urge the Martin government to send peacekeepers to Darfur. He is an endorser of the Genocide Intervention Network
. Then-Prime Minister Paul Martin
agreed to send humanitarian support but in the end, no peacekeepers were sent.
His personal religious beliefs did land him in the news in 2003 when he abstained from the same-sex marriage bill and was reprimanded by then Prime Minister
Chrétien.
he released report entitled "Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong
Practitioners in China." The report alleged that the Chinese authorities were executing a "large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience" and removing their internal organs including corneas, hearts, kidneys and livers for sale to foreign nationals in need of healthy organs for transplant.
His allegations have not been independently verified.
Matas and Kilgour won the 2009 Human Rights Award from the German based International Society for Human Rights
for their work with the Chinese organ harvesting project. According to the press, they were separately nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
for their work on Chinese organ harvesting by Canadian MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj
and Balfour Hakak, chairman of the Hebrew Writers Association in Israel
.
Associations; the Special Award from the Ukrainian Canadian
Congress (Alberta Provincial Council); an Outstanding Service Award from the Edmonton Sikh
community; the Religious Liberty Award from the International Religious Liberty Association
in Washington, D.C., Liberty Magazine and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
; and as Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Soviet Jewry, he was recognized by B'nai Brith Canada
for his effort and commitment to bringing the plight of the Soviet Jewry to the attention of Canadians.
In May 2006, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity
(D.D.(Hon)) degree, from Knox College, University of Toronto
.
Kilgour, a Presbyterian
was recognized for his commitment to human rights in Canada and abroad and particularly his challenge to the international community to respond to the plight of Darfur, as well as in Burma, and Zimbabwe.
, who is married to former Canadian Prime Minister
John Turner. Kilgour and his sister are the great nephew and niece of John McCrae
, the soldier and poet who wrote In Flanders Fields
and also the great nephew and niece of John Wentworth Russell who painted the portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
which hangs in the House of Commons.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born February 18, 1941 in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
) is a former Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Kilgour graduated from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in economics in 1962 and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
law school in 1966. From crown attorney in northern Alberta to Canadian Cabinet minister, Kilgour ended his 27 year tenure in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as an Independent MP. Upon retirement, he was one of the longest current serving Members of Parliament and one of the very few who had been elected under both the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
and Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
banners.
Member of parliament
Kilgour was originally elected as a member of the Progressive ConservativeProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Party in 1979. However, his first attempt at election, in the 1968 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
in the riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Vancouver Centre
Vancouver Centre
Vancouver Centre is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917.-Geography:...
as a Progressive Conservative was unsuccessful. He ran again as a Tory in the 1979 election
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
in Edmonton, and was a Member of Parliament for about 27 years. In October 1990, he, along with Pat Nowlan
Pat Nowlan
John Patrick Nowlan is a retired Canadian parliamentarian and son of Diefenbaker-era Minister of Finance George Nowlan...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and Alex Kindy
Alex Kindy
Alex Kindy, M.D. is a former Canadian politician. Kindy was born in Warsaw, Poland.His first attempt at entering federal politics was in the 1962 federal election when he ran as an "Independent Liberal" in the Quebec riding of Maisonneuve—Rosemont...
of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, were expelled from the Tory national caucus in protest over their vote against the Goods and Services Tax. He sat as an independent for several months before joining the Liberals.
In the Liberal government, he served as the Deputy Speaker (1993–1997) and Chairman of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons, Secretary of State Latin America and Africa (1997–2002), and Secretary of State, Asia-Pacific (2002–2003). In the Conservative governments of Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Privy Council, the Minister for CIDA, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Transport.
As Secretary for state, Kilgour was continuously vocal on many human rights violations around the world. In 2001 while visiting Zimbabwee, Kilgour was vocally critical of Mugabe's farm-invasions policy and pushed for increasing international pressure. In December 2004, he was among the Ukrainian election monitor delegation of the federal run-off elections.
In April 2005, he received media attention when he speculated about quitting the Liberal Party because of his disgust with the sponsorship scandal
Sponsorship scandal
The sponsorship scandal, "AdScam", "Sponsorship" or Sponsorgate, is a scandal that came as a result of a Canadian federal government "sponsorship program" in the province of Quebec and involving the Liberal Party of Canada, which was in power from 1993 to 2006...
, saying that the issue made Canada look like "a northern banana republic
Banana republic
In political science, the pejorative term Banana Republic denotes a politically unstable country dependent upon limited primary productions , which is ruled by a plutocracy, a small, self-elected, wealthy group who exploit the country by means of a politico-economic oligarchy...
". On April 12, 2005, he announced that he was crossing the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to sit as an independent MP. He also cited the Canada's lack of action on the crisis in Darfur
Darfur conflict
The Darfur Conflict was a guerrilla conflict or civil war centered on the Darfur region of Sudan. It began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and Justice and Equality Movement groups in Darfur took up arms, accusing the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, as reasons for quitting. He asserted that he has no plans to move back to the Conservatives, and stated that he had no plans to run for re-election.
From 1979
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
to 1988
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, he represented the riding of Edmonton—Strathcona
Edmonton—Strathcona
Edmonton—Strathcona is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1953. It spans the south central part of the city of Edmonton.-Geography:...
, but with shifting constituency lines moved to the Edmonton Southeast
Edmonton Southeast
Edmonton Southeast was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 2004.-Demographics:-Geography:It was located in the city of Edmonton in the province of Alberta.-History:...
in 1988
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, and then again to Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont
Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont
Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004.-Geography:...
in 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
which he represented until he retired from politics at the 2006 election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
.
Because of the unusual structure of the 38th House of Commons
38th Canadian Parliament
The 38th Canadian Parliament was in session from October 4, 2004 until November 29, 2005. The membership was set by the 2004 federal election on June 28, 2004, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections, but due to the seat distribution, those few changes significantly...
, in May 2005, David Kilgour's lone vote had the power to bring down or support the government. He used this influence to urge the Martin government to send peacekeepers to Darfur. He is an endorser of the Genocide Intervention Network
Genocide Intervention Network
thumb|right|300px|Genocide Intervention Network logoThe Genocide Intervention Network is a non-profit organization that "envisions a world in which the global community is willing and able to protect civilians from genocide and mass atrocities...
. Then-Prime Minister Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
agreed to send humanitarian support but in the end, no peacekeepers were sent.
Democracy activism
While being a life-long practicing Christian, Kilgour has worked on issues inter-faith dialog, personal freedoms, and democratic government throughout his career. In Parliament, he was active in prayer-groups while at venues and publications across the country he has spoken specifically on religious themes and politics. Commonly, his topics have been on global religious and political persecutions. Currently, he serves as: a fellow of the Queen's University Centre for the Study of Democracy; a director of the Washington-based Council for a Community of Democracies (CCD), and co-chair of the Canadian Friends of a Democratic Iran and has recently hosted a Iran pro-democracy rally attended by approximately 90,000 in France in 2009.His personal religious beliefs did land him in the news in 2003 when he abstained from the same-sex marriage bill and was reprimanded by then Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Chrétien.
Involvement with the Falun Gong
In July 2006 with co-participant David MatasDavid Matas
David Matas is the senior legal counsel of B'nai Brith Canada. He has maintained a private practice in refugee, immigration and human rights law since 1979. He has published various books and manuscripts and currently resides in Winnipeg....
he released report entitled "Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
Practitioners in China." The report alleged that the Chinese authorities were executing a "large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience" and removing their internal organs including corneas, hearts, kidneys and livers for sale to foreign nationals in need of healthy organs for transplant.
His allegations have not been independently verified.
Matas and Kilgour won the 2009 Human Rights Award from the German based International Society for Human Rights
International Society for Human Rights
The International Society for Human Rights is an international non-governmental, non-profit human rights organization with Participative Status with the Council of Europe and is a member of the Liaison Committee of the Non-Governmental Organisations at the Council of Europe...
for their work with the Chinese organ harvesting project. According to the press, they were separately nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
2010 Nobel Peace Prize
The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to imprisoned Chinese human rights activist "for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China"...
for their work on Chinese organ harvesting by Canadian MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Borys Wrzesnewskyj is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the Canadian House of Commons in the 38th, 39th and 40th Parliaments. He is a member of the Liberal Party.-Background:...
and Balfour Hakak, chairman of the Hebrew Writers Association in Israel
Hebrew Writers Association in Israel
The Hebrew Writers Association in Israel is a professional association of writers and poets, who write in the Hebrew language in Israel....
.
Recognition
Throughout his parliamentary career he has been awarded a wide range of awards including: the Kaputiman Award from the Council of Edmonton FilipinoPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Associations; the Special Award from the Ukrainian Canadian
Ukrainian Canadian
A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2006, there were an estimated 1,209,085 persons residing in Canada of Ukrainian origin, making them Canada's ninth largest ethnic group; and giving Canada the world's third-largest...
Congress (Alberta Provincial Council); an Outstanding Service Award from the Edmonton Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
community; the Religious Liberty Award from the International Religious Liberty Association
International Religious Liberty Association
The International Religious Liberty Association is a non-sectarian and non-political organization promoting religious freedom. It was originally organised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in 1893 to campaign for religious freedom for all when the danger of restrictions from blue laws...
in Washington, D.C., Liberty Magazine and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
; and as Chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Soviet Jewry, he was recognized by B'nai Brith Canada
B'nai Brith Canada
B'nai Brith Canada is the Canadian section of B'nai Brith . It was founded in 1875 and is the country's oldest Jewish service organization.-Members:...
for his effort and commitment to bringing the plight of the Soviet Jewry to the attention of Canadians.
In May 2006, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(D.D.(Hon)) degree, from Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College, University of Toronto
Knox College is a postgraduate theological college of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1844 as part of a schism movement in the Church of Scotland following the Disruption...
.
Kilgour, a Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
was recognized for his commitment to human rights in Canada and abroad and particularly his challenge to the international community to respond to the plight of Darfur, as well as in Burma, and Zimbabwe.
Relations
He is the brother of Geills TurnerGeills Turner
Geills McCrae Kilgour Turner is the wife of John Napier Turner, a former Prime Minister of Canada...
, who is married to former Canadian Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
John Turner. Kilgour and his sister are the great nephew and niece of John McCrae
John McCrae
Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres...
, the soldier and poet who wrote In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields
"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most notable poems written during World War I, created in the form of a French rondeau. It has been called "the most popular poem" produced during that period...
and also the great nephew and niece of John Wentworth Russell who painted the portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
which hangs in the House of Commons.