Gilles Bisson
Encyclopedia
Gilles Bisson is a Franco-Ontarian
Canadian
politician who has represented the northern riding
of Timmins—James Bay
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
since 1990. 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
.
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.
, 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
.
Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
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 who has represented the northern 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 Timmins—James Bay
Timmins—James Bay
Timmins—James Bay is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 84,001....
in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
since 1990. He is a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
, 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
Howard Hampton
Howard George Hampton, MPP is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He has served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada, since 1987 as the Member of Provincial Parliament from the northern riding of Kenora—Rainy River. A member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, he was also the party's...
in the 2009 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election
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...
. Bisson was defeated, finishing in third place behind first runner-up Peter Tabuns
Peter Tabuns
Peter Charles Tabuns is a Canadian politician. He is serving as a member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly where he represents the riding of Toronto-Danforth as a member of the New Democratic Party. He launched a bid to lead the party after the previous leader, Howard Hampton, resigned. A...
and the victor, 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...
.
Background
Before entering politics, Bisson was a labour union organizer, who coordinated a workplace literacyLiteracy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
program for the Ontario Federation of Labour
Ontario Federation of Labour
The Ontario Federation of Labour is a prominent federation of labour unions in the Canadian province of Ontario. The original OFL was established by the Canadian Congress of Labour in 1944...
(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
Workplace Safety & Insurance Board
The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board was established in 1914. It is a workers' compensation insurer for Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are located in Toronto, Ontario.-History:...
to recognize lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
as a compensable industrial disease.
A licensed private pilot
Pilot licensing in Canada
Pilot licensing in Canada is administered by Transport Canada under the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations .Other than when flying a hang glider or paraglider, a person may only operate a Canadian-registered aircraft or act as a flight crew member in Canada with a licence or...
, 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
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...
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.
Politics
Bisson was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Frank Krznaric by about 2,000 votes in the old riding of Cochrane South
Cochrane South
Cochrane South was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1999...
. He served as parliamentary assistant to the Ministers of Northern Development and Mines and Francophone Affairs in 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....
's government, and also served as a member of the cabinet committee on the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
in 1993.
Although the NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, 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
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 fought off a closer challenge from Liberal Michael Doody
Michael Doody
Michael Doody is a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Timmins, Ontario from 1977 to 1980.He was subsequently re-elected to Timmins City Council in the 2006 municipal election, and retained this office in the 2010 municipal election....
, a former mayor of Timmins and broadcaster, in the election of 2003
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....
.
Bisson's popularity has helped make Timmins—James Bay one of the top ridings in Ontario for the federal NDP
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...
as well, helping Charlie Angus
Charlie Angus
Charles Joseph Angus MP is a Canadian writer, broadcaster, musician, and politician. Angus entered electoral politics in 2004 as the successful New Democratic Party candidate in the Ontario riding of Timmins—James Bay. He was the NDP parliamentary critic for Canadian Heritage from 2004 to 2007,...
pick up the seat in the 2004 election
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...
.