Maurice Vellacott
Encyclopedia
Maurice Vellacott is a Canadian
politician. He has served in the Canadian House of Commons
since 1997, and is currently the Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP) for the riding
of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin
in the province of Saskatchewan
.
, and was raised in Quill Lake
. He obtained a Bachelor's degree
from Briercrest College, a right wing Christian
educational institution located in Caronport, Saskatchewan
, and later earned a Master of Divinity
at the Canadian Theological Seminary (affiliated with the University of Regina
) and a Doctor of Ministry
from Trinity International University
, which is an evangelical Christian university in Deerfield, Illinois
. Before entering political life, he was a pastor and personal care worker at a nursing home in Rosthern, Saskatchewan
. He joined the Reform Party of Canada
in 1990.
Vellacott campaigned in the 1995 Saskatchewan provincial election
as a Liberal, and lost to New Democratic Party candidate Eric Cline
in Saskatoon Mount Royal. He later argued that running as a Liberal was consistent with his political ideology, in that the provincial Liberal platform of 1995 contained several policies advocated by the Reform Party, which did not have provincial affiliates.
Vellacott was elected for Ward Two on the Saskatoon District Health Board in 1995, and served on the board for two years before his election to the House of Commons. He wrote an editorial piece about Canada's health care system in 1996, defending the public model as far superior to the "fragmented" American system in combating administrative waste, but also arguing that the system was in need of renewal and an infusion of funds. Vellacott suggested that Saskatoon District Health could impose a surchange on American health insurers for certain medical procedures given to American patients, "and in the process make money to inject back into the public system for the people of Saskatchewan."
In early 1997, Vellacott opposed a request by Saskatoon's Gay and Lesbian Health Services (GLHS) for health board funding. Gens Hellquist of GLHS had argued that homophobic
intolerance was responsible for higher levels of depression in the LGBT
community in relation to society as a whole, and that community-specific funding would address these and other concerns. Vellacott responded by suggesting that many homosexuals were inappropriately blaming their personal difficulties on homophobia.
Vellacott called for the removal of Video Lottery Terminals (VLT
s) from the city, blaming them for an increase in health costs related to gambling addiction. His motion for a VLT plebiscite was defeated in May 1997.
Vellacott is a social conservative
. He is a past co-chair of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus, which includes Conservative and Liberal
MPs. Vellacott supports young earth creationism
and intelligent design
, anti-science versions of the origins of life and its diversity.
, arguing that Vellacott would try to "legislate morality" if victorious. Vellacott was nonetheless elected, amid a general gain for Reform in Saskatchewan. The Liberal Party won a majority government
, and Vellacott served as a member of the Official Opposition.
Shortly after his election, Vellacott announced that he would introduce a Private Member's Bill
to eliminate the national Court Challenges Program, which provides funding for groups that bring human rights cases before the Canadian courts. He argued that "some zealots" were "using our important tax dollars" for dubious ends via the program, and singled out an effort by Saskatoon resident Ailsa Watkinson to prohibit corporal punishment
against children. Vellacott wrote an editorial piece in early 1998 describing Watkinson as a "social engineer" promoting an "extremist agenda", and accusing Canada's "unelected judges" of "judicial imperialism" in their interpretations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
. A supporter of Watkinson responded that Vellacott's piece was a "mixture of invective and innuendo", and argued that his defence of corporal punishment was based on flawed logic.
Vellacott supported other socially conservative
initiatives. In late 1998, he brought forward a "conscience rights" bill to prevent nurses and doctors from being forced to perform abortions. He wrote an editorial against same-sex marriage
the following year, arguing that marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples because of its traditional role in the procreation and nurturing of children. He wrote that "homosexuals already have the right to marry, providing that -- like everybody else -- they marry someone of the opposite sex". He opposed granting spousal benefits for same-sex couples, describing supporters of the initiative as "activist liberal judges and a small but aggressive homosexual lobby".
In 1999, he criticized the Saskatchewan government
's decision to force thirteen-year-old Tyrell Dueck into cancer
treatment. Dueck's parents objected to continued cancer treatment at the Saskatoon cancer centre on the grounds that it did not appear to be working, and instead sought to access a more experimental treatment in Mexico
. Vellacott supported parental discretion in such matters.
Vellacott also called for full compensation to Hepatitis C
victims during his first term in Parliament, arguing that the government could overcome complicated legal issues around liability by issuing ex gratia payments.
Vellacott confirmed his support for Preston Manning
's leadership of the Reform Party in 1998, after two other Saskatchewan Reform MPs called for a leadership review. He originally voted against the 1999 United Alternative initiative which led to the creation of the Canadian Alliance
, but later changed his mind and supported it. In March 2000, he became the first Reform MP to endorse Stockwell Day
's ultimately successful bid for the Canadian Alliance leadership. Vellacott said that he supported Day's "respect for life and his recognition of the family as the basic building block of society". He also defended the socially-conservative Campaign Life Coalition
during the campaign, after that organization was criticized for drawing attention to homosexual supporters of rival candidate Tom Long.
, as a candidate of the Canadian Alliance.
In January 2001, he argued that Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson
had abused her office by sending a "best wishes" message to a newly-married same-sex couple in Toronto
. Clarkson's office responded that the letter was a personal courtesy, and was not a political statement.
Stockwell Day's leadership of the Canadian Alliance came under increased scrutiny in the summer of 2001, and several MPs called for his resignation. Vellacott remained a Day supporter, and described the critics as "backstabbers, hijackers (and) guerrillas". Day resigned late in the year, and declared that he would campaign to succeed himself in the following leadership contest. Vellacott again supported his candidacy. Supporters of rival candidate Stephen Harper
criticized Vellacott for mailing out endorsements of Day through his constituency office, at public expense. Harper won the contest.
Vellacott continued to support socially conservative causes as a Canadian Alliance MP, and was a vocal opponent of embryonic stem-cell research in 2002, although he supports adult stem cell research. In the same year, he mailed out a controversial pamphlet opposing the addition of sexual orientation as a protected category under Canada's hate crimes legislation. Vellacott claimed the policy change "substantially interferes with the right of religious and education leaders to communicate essential matters of faith".
Also in 2002, Vellacott was the only MP to speak against a parliamentary motion recognizing an Armenian genocide
as having occurred in 1915. He was quoted as saying:
His comments were commended by some Turkish
-Canadian groups, and criticized by some Armenia
n-Canadians.
The Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
in 2003-04 to create the Conservative Party of Canada
. Vellacott supported the merger, and endorsed Stephen Harper's successful campaign for the new party's leadership.
from Chris Axworthy
, a former federal New Democratic Party (NDP) MP and provincial NDP cabinet minister now running for the Liberals. Vellacott was returned with a reduced majority, as the Liberals won a minority government
nationally.
After the election, Vellacott called for the trial of Saskatoon police officers Ken Munson and Dan Hatchen to be reopened. Munson and Hatchen had been convicted of abandoning an aboriginal man near a power station during freezing weather (the man in question did not suffer any injury). Vellacott said new evidence had been found, indicating that the officers dropped the man off within a short walking distance of where he told the officers he lived. He later established a defence fund for the officers. The case was not re-opened.
When the Saskatchewan judicial system approved same-sex marriages in 2004, Vellacott said it was "unfortunate that the Saskatchewan court has followed in the activist footsteps of other courts in this country". He later argued that marriage commissioners should have "conscience rights" to refuse to marry same-sex couples. During a 2005 rally, he said, "there is no such thing as a right to same-sex marriage".
Also in 2005, Vellacott called for legislation making it illegal to harm or kill the unborn children of mothers not planning to have abortions (such that killing a pregnant woman would constitute a double-murder
). The suggestion won support from some, while others argued that it could eventually lead to restrictions on abortion.
When Belinda Stronach
crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals in mid-2005, Vellacott suggested that she was prostituting herself for power and had "sold out for a cabinet position". Some criticized this as sexist, and Vellacott issued a "statement of regret" for his choice of words.
Vellacott was re-elected over Chris Axworthy a second time in the 2006 federal election
, in a contest that was marked by extreme bitterness and controversy. During a live televised debate late in the campaign, a caller falsely suggested that Vellacott had been forced to leave North Park Church in Saskatoon after being accused of sexual assault on a church secretary. The call was subsequently traced to Axworthy's campaign headquarters. Axworthy described the allegations as "deplorable", and apologized to Vellacott for the situation. He denied that anyone in his office was put up to making the call, and suggested that a "mischief-maker" may have entered the office. Former long-term pastor Jerold Gliege indicated that Vellacott never served at or attended the church in question, which has been defunct since 1979.
Vellacott's campaign later produced an affidavit from Saskatchewan politician Tom Hengen
, in which he "to the best of [his] knowledge and belief" named Axworthy campaign worker George Laliberte as the caller. Axworthy spoke to Laliberte, and reported that he vehemently denied making the call. Vellacott's lawyer later filed a defamation suit against Laliberte on March 22, 2006, in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The national Conservative campaign accused the Liberals of a coverup, and called for Axworthy to withdraw from the contest. Axworthy declined, denying that he was responsible for any wrongdoing. Vellacott was re-elected with an increased margin of victory.
In April 2006, Vellacott attracted negative attention when he claimed that aboriginal people would travel to the outskirts of Saskatoon to drink in a shack around the same time that allegations surfaced that Saskatoon police were dropping off aboriginal people on "moonlight riders." Vellacott would admit that he never saw the existence of a drinking shack.
He was appointed to serve as chairman for the Commons' aboriginal affairs committee in April 2006. He attracted controversy one month later, after suggesting that Canadian judges consider themselves to have "god-like powers" when rendering their decisions. Vellacott claimed Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin
said that “when they step into this role [of supreme court justice] that suddenly there's some kind of mystical power that comes over them, which everything that they've ever decreed is not to be questioned." McLachlin, through a spokesperson, denied having made that comment. Vellacott later issued an apology, indicating that he did not intend to imply McLachlin had actually used the phrase "god-like powers". He added that he was alluding to comments made by McLachlin at a Lord Cooke Lecture, given on December 1, 2005 at the University of Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand. (Journalists noted that the "mystical power" quote does not appear in McLachlin's speech.) Vellacott also informed reporters that he regards judicial independence as a "fundamental aspect of a free and democratic society".
Vellacott resigned from his role as committee chairman following significant opposition from other parties. He now serves as a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment, and has called for the Canadian government to intervene against state-sponsored violence in the Darfur
province of Sudan
.
During his time in parliament, Vellacott has served as deputy critic for health, Human Resources Development Canada, and Indian Affairs. He has or has had involvement with several organizations, including the Canadian Club and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
, and is a supporter of Focus on the Family
. He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. He also received the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan in March 2006 on the basis that he was an elected Member of Parliament which ensured he received a medal.
Vellacott was re-elected in the 2008 federal election
.
. All provincial election information is taken from Elections Saskatchewan
. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.
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. He has served 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...
since 1997, and is currently the Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for 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 Saskatoon—Wanuskewin
Saskatoon—Wanuskewin
Saskatoon—Wanuskewin is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997...
in the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Early life, viewpoints and career
Vellacott was born to a family in Wadena, SaskatchewanWadena, Saskatchewan
Wadena is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, located east of Saskatoon, north of Fort Qu'Appelle and north-west of Yorkton on the eastern shore of the Quill Lakes. The town is known for its birdwatching opportunities, and hosts the Shorebirds and Friends Festival every year...
, and was raised in Quill Lake
Quill Lake, Saskatchewan
- History :Quill Lake was originally established as Lally, Saskatchewan, named after a railway official, of the day, later renamed Quill Lake to conform to the name of the post office. The site was originally the location of a log school house, as business started to develop around the sight the...
. He obtained a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Briercrest College, a right wing Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
educational institution located in Caronport, Saskatchewan
Caronport, Saskatchewan
Caronport is a village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The village had a population of 919 in the Canada 2006 Census, and is located within Census Division 7. The village is located 21 kilometres west of Moose Jaw on the Trans-Canada Highway. As of the 2006 census, Caronport is, by...
, and later earned a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
at the Canadian Theological Seminary (affiliated with the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
) and a Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
from Trinity International University
Trinity International University
Trinity International University is an evangelical Christian institution of higher education headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. It comprises an undergraduate college, a graduate school, a theological seminary , and a law school--together with nearly 3,000 students...
, which is an evangelical Christian university in Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield, Illinois
Deerfield is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and is located approximately 25 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. A portion of the village is in Cook County, Illinois, United States...
. Before entering political life, he was a pastor and personal care worker at a nursing home in Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern, Saskatchewan
Rosthern is a town at the juncture of Highway 11 and Highway 312 in the central area of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located roughly halfway between the cities of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.-History:...
. He joined the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
in 1990.
Vellacott campaigned in the 1995 Saskatchewan provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 1995
The Saskatchewan general election of 1995 was the twenty-third provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 21, 1995 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
as a Liberal, and lost to New Democratic Party candidate Eric Cline
Eric Cline
Eric H. Cline is a Canadian politician. He has served in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as the New Democratic Party Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatoon Idylwyld from 1991 to 1995, Saskatoon Mount Royal from 1995 to 2003, and Saskatoon Massey Place 2003 to 2007...
in Saskatoon Mount Royal. He later argued that running as a Liberal was consistent with his political ideology, in that the provincial Liberal platform of 1995 contained several policies advocated by the Reform Party, which did not have provincial affiliates.
Vellacott was elected for Ward Two on the Saskatoon District Health Board in 1995, and served on the board for two years before his election to the House of Commons. He wrote an editorial piece about Canada's health care system in 1996, defending the public model as far superior to the "fragmented" American system in combating administrative waste, but also arguing that the system was in need of renewal and an infusion of funds. Vellacott suggested that Saskatoon District Health could impose a surchange on American health insurers for certain medical procedures given to American patients, "and in the process make money to inject back into the public system for the people of Saskatchewan."
In early 1997, Vellacott opposed a request by Saskatoon's Gay and Lesbian Health Services (GLHS) for health board funding. Gens Hellquist of GLHS had argued that homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
intolerance was responsible for higher levels of depression in the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
community in relation to society as a whole, and that community-specific funding would address these and other concerns. Vellacott responded by suggesting that many homosexuals were inappropriately blaming their personal difficulties on homophobia.
Vellacott called for the removal of Video Lottery Terminals (VLT
Video Lottery Terminal
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.A VLT is similar to a slot machine, in that each terminal is a stand-alone device containing a random-number generator...
s) from the city, blaming them for an increase in health costs related to gambling addiction. His motion for a VLT plebiscite was defeated in May 1997.
Vellacott is a social conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
. He is a past co-chair of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus, which includes Conservative 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...
MPs. Vellacott supports young earth creationism
Young Earth creationism
Young Earth creationism is the religious belief that Heavens, Earth, and all life on Earth were created by direct acts of the Abrahamic God during a relatively short period, sometime between 5,700 and 10,000 years ago...
and intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
, anti-science versions of the origins of life and its diversity.
Reform MP
In early 1997, Vellacott defeated Sam Dyck and Fred Wesolowski to win the Reform Party's nomination for Wanuskewin. Dyck later ran as an independent candidate against Vellacott in the 1997 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1997
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 Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
, arguing that Vellacott would try to "legislate morality" if victorious. Vellacott was nonetheless elected, amid a general gain for Reform in Saskatchewan. The Liberal Party won a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
, and Vellacott served as a member of the Official Opposition.
Shortly after his election, Vellacott announced that he would introduce a Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
to eliminate the national Court Challenges Program, which provides funding for groups that bring human rights cases before the Canadian courts. He argued that "some zealots" were "using our important tax dollars" for dubious ends via the program, and singled out an effort by Saskatoon resident Ailsa Watkinson to prohibit corporal punishment
Corporal punishment
Corporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
against children. Vellacott wrote an editorial piece in early 1998 describing Watkinson as a "social engineer" promoting an "extremist agenda", and accusing Canada's "unelected judges" of "judicial imperialism" in their interpretations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
. A supporter of Watkinson responded that Vellacott's piece was a "mixture of invective and innuendo", and argued that his defence of corporal punishment was based on flawed logic.
Vellacott supported other socially conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
initiatives. In late 1998, he brought forward a "conscience rights" bill to prevent nurses and doctors from being forced to perform abortions. He wrote an editorial against same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in Canada
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition...
the following year, arguing that marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples because of its traditional role in the procreation and nurturing of children. He wrote that "homosexuals already have the right to marry, providing that -- like everybody else -- they marry someone of the opposite sex". He opposed granting spousal benefits for same-sex couples, describing supporters of the initiative as "activist liberal judges and a small but aggressive homosexual lobby".
In 1999, he criticized the Saskatchewan government
Executive Council of Saskatchewan
The Executive Council of Saskatchewan is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
's decision to force thirteen-year-old Tyrell Dueck into cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
treatment. Dueck's parents objected to continued cancer treatment at the Saskatoon cancer centre on the grounds that it did not appear to be working, and instead sought to access a more experimental treatment in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Vellacott supported parental discretion in such matters.
Vellacott also called for full compensation to Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
victims during his first term in Parliament, arguing that the government could overcome complicated legal issues around liability by issuing ex gratia payments.
Vellacott confirmed his support for Preston Manning
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
's leadership of the Reform Party in 1998, after two other Saskatchewan Reform MPs called for a leadership review. He originally voted against the 1999 United Alternative initiative which led to the creation of the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, but later changed his mind and supported it. In March 2000, he became the first Reform MP to endorse Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
's ultimately successful bid for the Canadian Alliance leadership. Vellacott said that he supported Day's "respect for life and his recognition of the family as the basic building block of society". He also defended the socially-conservative Campaign Life Coalition
Campaign Life Coalition
The Campaign Life Coalition is a Canadian conservative Christian pro-life group. It is based in Toronto, Ontario...
during the campaign, after that organization was criticized for drawing attention to homosexual supporters of rival candidate Tom Long.
Canadian Alliance MP
Vellacott was re-elected by an increased majority in the 2000 electionCanadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, as a candidate of the Canadian Alliance.
In January 2001, he argued that Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Clarkson
Adrienne Louise Clarkson is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 26th since Canadian Confederation....
had abused her office by sending a "best wishes" message to a newly-married same-sex couple in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Clarkson's office responded that the letter was a personal courtesy, and was not a political statement.
Stockwell Day's leadership of the Canadian Alliance came under increased scrutiny in the summer of 2001, and several MPs called for his resignation. Vellacott remained a Day supporter, and described the critics as "backstabbers, hijackers (and) guerrillas". Day resigned late in the year, and declared that he would campaign to succeed himself in the following leadership contest. Vellacott again supported his candidacy. Supporters of rival candidate Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
criticized Vellacott for mailing out endorsements of Day through his constituency office, at public expense. Harper won the contest.
Vellacott continued to support socially conservative causes as a Canadian Alliance MP, and was a vocal opponent of embryonic stem-cell research in 2002, although he supports adult stem cell research. In the same year, he mailed out a controversial pamphlet opposing the addition of sexual orientation as a protected category under Canada's hate crimes legislation. Vellacott claimed the policy change "substantially interferes with the right of religious and education leaders to communicate essential matters of faith".
Also in 2002, Vellacott was the only MP to speak against a parliamentary motion recognizing an Armenian genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
as having occurred in 1915. He was quoted as saying:
- What the Turks so strenuously object to is the Armenian activists' one-sided portrayal of the tragic events to the world community and labelling them as genocide, using, in some cases, distortion or exaggeration of facts to further their political agenda of obtaining money and land from Turkey. While doing so, Armenians ignore the death and massacre of more than twice as many Turks at the hands of the Armenian revolutionary bands and the Russians whom they were helping during the First World War.
His comments were commended by some Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
-Canadian groups, and criticized by some Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n-Canadians.
The Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
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....
in 2003-04 to create the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. Vellacott supported the merger, and endorsed Stephen Harper's successful campaign for the new party's leadership.
Conservative MP
Vellacott won the Conservative nomination for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin in early 2004, defeating former Progressive Conservative Nick Bakker with 85% support. He faced a difficult challenge in the 2004 federal electionCanadian 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...
from Chris Axworthy
Chris Axworthy
Christopher S. Axworthy is a Canadian politician.After teaching law at the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie Law School, Chris Axworthy came to Saskatoon in 1984 as the founding Executive Director of the and as a Professor of Law at the University of Saskatchewan...
, a former federal New Democratic Party (NDP) MP and provincial NDP cabinet minister now running for the Liberals. Vellacott was returned with a reduced majority, as the Liberals won a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
nationally.
After the election, Vellacott called for the trial of Saskatoon police officers Ken Munson and Dan Hatchen to be reopened. Munson and Hatchen had been convicted of abandoning an aboriginal man near a power station during freezing weather (the man in question did not suffer any injury). Vellacott said new evidence had been found, indicating that the officers dropped the man off within a short walking distance of where he told the officers he lived. He later established a defence fund for the officers. The case was not re-opened.
When the Saskatchewan judicial system approved same-sex marriages in 2004, Vellacott said it was "unfortunate that the Saskatchewan court has followed in the activist footsteps of other courts in this country". He later argued that marriage commissioners should have "conscience rights" to refuse to marry same-sex couples. During a 2005 rally, he said, "there is no such thing as a right to same-sex marriage".
Also in 2005, Vellacott called for legislation making it illegal to harm or kill the unborn children of mothers not planning to have abortions (such that killing a pregnant woman would constitute a double-murder
Unborn Victims of Violence Act
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 is a United States law which recognizes a "child in utero" as a legal victim, if he or she is injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence...
). The suggestion won support from some, while others argued that it could eventually lead to restrictions on abortion.
When Belinda Stronach
Belinda Stronach
Belinda Caroline Stronach, PC is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and former politician. She was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2008. Originally elected as a Conservative, she later crossed the floor to join the Liberals...
crossed the floor from the Conservatives to the Liberals in mid-2005, Vellacott suggested that she was prostituting herself for power and had "sold out for a cabinet position". Some criticized this as sexist, and Vellacott issued a "statement of regret" for his choice of words.
Vellacott was re-elected over Chris Axworthy a second time in the 2006 federal 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:...
, in a contest that was marked by extreme bitterness and controversy. During a live televised debate late in the campaign, a caller falsely suggested that Vellacott had been forced to leave North Park Church in Saskatoon after being accused of sexual assault on a church secretary. The call was subsequently traced to Axworthy's campaign headquarters. Axworthy described the allegations as "deplorable", and apologized to Vellacott for the situation. He denied that anyone in his office was put up to making the call, and suggested that a "mischief-maker" may have entered the office. Former long-term pastor Jerold Gliege indicated that Vellacott never served at or attended the church in question, which has been defunct since 1979.
Vellacott's campaign later produced an affidavit from Saskatchewan politician Tom Hengen
Tom Hengen
Tom Hengen is a politician, psychologist and community worker in Saskatchewan, Canada. He campaigned for the leadership of the Saskatchewan Liberal Party in 1996, and sought election to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1997 election as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada...
, in which he "to the best of [his] knowledge and belief" named Axworthy campaign worker George Laliberte as the caller. Axworthy spoke to Laliberte, and reported that he vehemently denied making the call. Vellacott's lawyer later filed a defamation suit against Laliberte on March 22, 2006, in the Court of Queen's Bench in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The national Conservative campaign accused the Liberals of a coverup, and called for Axworthy to withdraw from the contest. Axworthy declined, denying that he was responsible for any wrongdoing. Vellacott was re-elected with an increased margin of victory.
In government
The Conservatives won a minority government in the 2006 election. Vellacott now sits as a government backbencher. In March 2006, he wrote an open letter supporting restrictions on abortion and calling for pregnant women to be informed of possible risks associated with abortion.In April 2006, Vellacott attracted negative attention when he claimed that aboriginal people would travel to the outskirts of Saskatoon to drink in a shack around the same time that allegations surfaced that Saskatoon police were dropping off aboriginal people on "moonlight riders." Vellacott would admit that he never saw the existence of a drinking shack.
He was appointed to serve as chairman for the Commons' aboriginal affairs committee in April 2006. He attracted controversy one month later, after suggesting that Canadian judges consider themselves to have "god-like powers" when rendering their decisions. Vellacott claimed Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin
Beverley McLachlin
Beverley McLachlin, PC is the Chief Justice of Canada, the first woman to hold this position. She also serves as a Deputy of the Governor General of Canada.-Early life:...
said that “when they step into this role [of supreme court justice] that suddenly there's some kind of mystical power that comes over them, which everything that they've ever decreed is not to be questioned." McLachlin, through a spokesperson, denied having made that comment. Vellacott later issued an apology, indicating that he did not intend to imply McLachlin had actually used the phrase "god-like powers". He added that he was alluding to comments made by McLachlin at a Lord Cooke Lecture, given on December 1, 2005 at the University of Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand. (Journalists noted that the "mystical power" quote does not appear in McLachlin's speech.) Vellacott also informed reporters that he regards judicial independence as a "fundamental aspect of a free and democratic society".
Vellacott resigned from his role as committee chairman following significant opposition from other parties. He now serves as a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Environment, and has called for the Canadian government to intervene against state-sponsored violence in the Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
province of 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...
.
During his time in parliament, Vellacott has served as deputy critic for health, Human Resources Development Canada, and Indian Affairs. He has or has had involvement with several organizations, including the Canadian Club and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is a national parachurch association of over . All affiliated groups identify themselves as part of the evangelical movement in Canada....
, and is a supporter of Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
. He received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. He also received the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan in March 2006 on the basis that he was an elected Member of Parliament which ensured he received a medal.
Vellacott was re-elected in the 2008 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
.
Electoral record
All federal election information is taken from Elections CanadaElections Canada
Elections Canada is an independent, non-partisan agency reporting directly to the Parliament of Canada. Its ongoing responsibility is to ensure that Canadians can exercise their choices in federal elections and referenda through an open and impartial process...
. All provincial election information is taken from Elections Saskatchewan
Elections Saskatchewan
Elections Saskatchewan is the non-partisan organization which oversees general elections and by-elections for the Saskatchewan Legislature....
. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.