Mike Cooper
Encyclopedia
Mike Cooper is a former politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1995.
, but finished a distant third against Liberal
incumbent John Sweeney in the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot. He ran again in the 1987 provincial election
, this time finishing a fairly distant second against Sweeney.
The NDP won a majority government
in the provincial election of 1990
, and Cooper defeated Liberal newcomer Carl Zehr
by over 5,000 votes. He served as a parliamentary assistant from 1992 to 1995, and was Deputy Government Whip
from 1990 to 1994. According to Eye Weekly
Magazine, the Liberals made efforts to draft Cooper to their side in 1994; if so, they were unsuccessful.http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_07.21.94/NEWS/prk0721.htm
In 1994, Cooper was one of twelve NDP MPPs to vote against Bill 167, a government bill introducing spousal benefits to same-sex couples. This decision cost him support within his own party.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election
and Cooper again finished third in the Kitchener—Wilmot riding, placing over 9,000 votes behind Progressive Conservative
Gary Leadston
. He returned to his rubber working practice after his defeat.
Cooper ran for the federal New Democratic Party
in the Canadian general election of 1997
in Waterloo—Wellington
, but finished a distant fourth against Liberal
Lynn Myers
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario, Canada
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...
. He served as a New Democratic Party member of 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...
from 1990 to 1995.
Background
Cooper was educated at vocational school, and was a rubber worker prior to his election. He served as steward of United Rubber Workers Local 667.Politics
Cooper first ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1985Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
, but finished a distant third against 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...
incumbent John Sweeney in the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot. He ran again in the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
, this time finishing a fairly distant second against Sweeney.
The NDP 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...
in the provincial election of 1990
Ontario 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....
, and Cooper defeated Liberal newcomer Carl Zehr
Carl Zehr
Carl Zehr is the mayor of Kitchener, Ontario. He has held the position since 1997, after serving as a city councillor from 1985 to 1994, and is the longest serving mayor in the history of Kitchener. He is a member of the Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario and served as its chair in 1999...
by over 5,000 votes. He served as a parliamentary assistant from 1992 to 1995, and was Deputy Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1990 to 1994. According to Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
Magazine, the Liberals made efforts to draft Cooper to their side in 1994; if so, they were unsuccessful.http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_07.21.94/NEWS/prk0721.htm
In 1994, Cooper was one of twelve NDP MPPs to vote against Bill 167, a government bill introducing spousal benefits to same-sex couples. This decision cost him support within his own party.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election
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...
and Cooper again finished third in the Kitchener—Wilmot riding, placing over 9,000 votes behind Progressive Conservative
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...
Gary Leadston
Gary Leadston
Gary L. Leadston is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 1999....
. He returned to his rubber working practice after his defeat.
Cooper ran for the federal New Democratic Party
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...
in the Canadian general election of 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...
in Waterloo—Wellington
Waterloo—Wellington
Waterloo—Wellington was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2003. It continues to be a provincial electoral district represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario...
, but finished a distant fourth against 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...
Lynn Myers
Lynn Myers
Lynn A. Myers is a former Canadian politician.Before being elected federally, he was involved in politics in the Waterloo Region from 1978 to 1997. He served in various capacities including mayor of Wilmot Township, Township councillor and regional councillor...
.