Chris Charlton
Encyclopedia
Chris Charlton, MP, MA
(born July 4, 1963) is a German-born, Canadian politician from the City of Hamilton, Ontario
. As a New Democrat
, she has served as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain
since 2006
. She currently serve's as the caucus Whip.
, Germany
and immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1975.
First attending the University of Western Ontario
for undergraduate studies, Charlton moved to McMaster University
to pursue a Master's Degree in Political Science. During this time, she became active with the New Democratic Youth club on campus. Soon after, Bob Rae
and the New Democrats came to power in Ontario, and Charlton received an administrative job with the government, where her husband, Brian Charlton
, was a cabinet minister. When the Progressive Conservatives
defeated Rae's government in the 1995 provincial election, Charlton enrolled at the University of Toronto
and began working toward a PhD in Political Science.
At the time the Hamilton Mountain New Democrats held their nomination meeting to declare a candidate to run against Beth Phinney in 1997
, Charlton had become a TA at U of T and had nearly completed her studies. Though only 33 at the time, she had already served as an advisor to Bob Rae's government, and went unopposed in the nomination. On election night, she placed 4th out of 6 candidates, which would be the lowest she would ever poll in an election campaign.
Over the course of the next 9 years, she would run in the 1999 provincial election
and the 2003 provincial election
, the Hamilton municipal election of 2000 and two federal elections in 1997
and 2004
.
Just prior to the 2006 election, she was the Director of Community Relations with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada, but resigned her position to stand again, this time against Ward 7 Councillor Bill Kelly, who she attempted to unseat in the Hamilton municipal election of 2000. Charlton won that race by a 6 point margin, and retook the riding for the New Democrats after 17 years of Liberal representation.
In 2008, Charlton faced another former Ward 7 councillor, Terry Anderson of the Conservatives
and local lawyer Tyler Bantham of the Liberals
. Despite an aggressive internet campaign on behalf of the Liberals, the race became a New Democrat-Conservative match, which saw Charlton increase voter support despite a lower voter turnout than in 2006.
In the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Leadership race
, Charlton officially endorsed Andrea Horwath
for leader, who would win the position on the third ballot.
|Marie Bountrogianni
|align="right"|23,524
|align="right"|51.79
|align="right"|+11.54
|-
|Chris Charlton
|align="right"|12,017
|align="right"|26.46
|align="right"|4.05
|-
|Shakil Hassan
|align="right"|8,637
|align="right"|19.02
|align="right"|-15.58
|-
|Eleanor Johnson
|align="right"|748
|align="right"|1.65
|align="right"|+0.75
|-
|Selwyn Inniss
|align="right"|494
|align="right"|1.09
|align="right"|+0.13
|}
|Marie Bountrogianni
|align="right"|19,076
|align="right"|40.25
|-
|Trevor Pettit
|align="right"|16,397
|align="right"|34.6
|-
|Chris Charlton
|align="right"|10,622
|align="right"|22.41
|-
|Kelli Gallagher
|align="right"|456
|align="right"|0.96
|-
|Jim Enos
|align="right"|426
|align="right"|0.9
|-
|Bob Danio
|align="right"|261
|align="right"|0.55
|-
|Rolf Gerstenberger
|align="right"|159
|align="right"|0.34
|}
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(born July 4, 1963) is a German-born, Canadian politician from the City of Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. As a New Democrat
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
, she has served as the Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. The riding is located in the Hamilton, Ontario region....
since 2006
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:...
. She currently serve's as the caucus Whip.
Biography
Charlton was born in DortmundDortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1975.
First attending the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
for undergraduate studies, Charlton moved to McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
to pursue a Master's Degree in Political Science. During this time, she became active with the New Democratic Youth club on campus. Soon after, Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
and the New Democrats came to power in Ontario, and Charlton received an administrative job with the government, where her husband, Brian Charlton
Brian Charlton
Brian Albert Charlton is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1977 to 1995, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae....
, was a cabinet minister. When the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
defeated Rae's government in the 1995 provincial election, Charlton enrolled at 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...
and began working toward a PhD in Political Science.
At the time the Hamilton Mountain New Democrats held their nomination meeting to declare a candidate to run against Beth Phinney in 1997
Canadian 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...
, Charlton had become a TA at U of T and had nearly completed her studies. Though only 33 at the time, she had already served as an advisor to Bob Rae's government, and went unopposed in the nomination. On election night, she placed 4th out of 6 candidates, which would be the lowest she would ever poll in an election campaign.
Over the course of the next 9 years, she would run in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, the Hamilton municipal election of 2000 and two federal elections in 1997
Canadian 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...
and 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...
.
Just prior to the 2006 election, she was the Director of Community Relations with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Canada, but resigned her position to stand again, this time against Ward 7 Councillor Bill Kelly, who she attempted to unseat in the Hamilton municipal election of 2000. Charlton won that race by a 6 point margin, and retook the riding for the New Democrats after 17 years of Liberal representation.
In 2008, Charlton faced another former Ward 7 councillor, Terry Anderson of the Conservatives
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...
and local lawyer Tyler Bantham of the Liberals
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...
. Despite an aggressive internet campaign on behalf of the Liberals, the race became a New Democrat-Conservative match, which saw Charlton increase voter support despite a lower voter turnout than in 2006.
In the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Leadership race
Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election, 2009
The 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election was held in Hamilton, from March 6 to 8, 2009 to elect a successor to Howard Hampton as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party . On June 15, 2008, Hampton informed the party's provincial council that he would not stand for re-election as...
, Charlton officially endorsed Andrea Horwath
Andrea Horwath
Andrea Horwath , is a Canadian activist and politician. She is the Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party in Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Hamilton Centre, and was chosen as the party's leader at its 2009 leadership convention.She is...
for leader, who would win the position on the third ballot.
Canadian federal election, 2011
Canadian federal election, 2008
Canadian federal election, 2006
Canadian federal election, 2004
Ontario general election, 2003
|-|Marie Bountrogianni
Marie Bountrogianni
Marie Bountrogianni BA, MEd, D.Ed is a psychologist, politician, and was the President and Executive Director of ROM Governors. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and a cabinet minister in the government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty.Bountrogianni was born in Hamilton,...
|align="right"|23,524
|align="right"|51.79
|align="right"|+11.54
|-
|Chris Charlton
|align="right"|12,017
|align="right"|26.46
|align="right"|4.05
|-
|Shakil Hassan
|align="right"|8,637
|align="right"|19.02
|align="right"|-15.58
|-
|Eleanor Johnson
|align="right"|748
|align="right"|1.65
|align="right"|+0.75
|-
|Selwyn Inniss
|align="right"|494
|align="right"|1.09
|align="right"|+0.13
|}
Hamilton municipal election, 2000
Councillor - Ward 7- Bill Kelly (IncumbentIncumbentThe incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
) 10,482 - Chris Charlton 6,011
- Mark Allan Whittle 740
Ontario general election, 1999
|-|Marie Bountrogianni
Marie Bountrogianni
Marie Bountrogianni BA, MEd, D.Ed is a psychologist, politician, and was the President and Executive Director of ROM Governors. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and a cabinet minister in the government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty.Bountrogianni was born in Hamilton,...
|align="right"|19,076
|align="right"|40.25
|-
|Trevor Pettit
Trevor Pettit
Trevor Pettit is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature from 1995 to 1999....
|align="right"|16,397
|align="right"|34.6
|-
|Chris Charlton
|align="right"|10,622
|align="right"|22.41
|-
|Kelli Gallagher
|align="right"|456
|align="right"|0.96
|-
|Jim Enos
|align="right"|426
|align="right"|0.9
|-
|Bob Danio
|align="right"|261
|align="right"|0.55
|-
|Rolf Gerstenberger
|align="right"|159
|align="right"|0.34
|}