Robert Chisholm
Encyclopedia
Robert Lawrence Chisholm (born August 31, 1957 in Kentville, Nova Scotia
) is a former trade unionist and politician from Nova Scotia
, Canada
. He represented the Halifax Atlantic
riding in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
from 1991 to 2003. He succeeded Alexa McDonough
as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
(NDP) in 1996. He served as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1998 to 1999. With wife Paula Simon, he founded Simon Chisholm Consulting to help clients develop stronger relationships and better workplace environments. He was Co-chair of the 2010-11 United Way of Halifax Region campaign and sat on the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University
. On May 2, 2011, Chisholm was elected as the Member of Parliament
for the Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
riding in Nova Scotia. As a member of the Official Opposition, he serves as the critic for International Trade as well as ACOA and the Atlantic Gateway.
, winning six of Nova Scotia
's eleven electoral districts. This new-found electoral success boded well for the NDP's provincial party, which was able to take advantage of the new wave of popularity. Prior to 1997, the Nova Scotia NDP had not been considered contenders to form a provincial government.
Chisholm's greatest accomplishment was leading his party to 19, of the House of Assembly's 52, seats in the 1998 provincial election
. This record amount of NDP representation in the Legislature, tied them with the governing Liberal Party
. The Liberals were able to continue ruling, as they received support from the third-place Progressive Conservatives
, who held 14 seats. The NDP formed the Official Opposition, marking the first time they attained that position; the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF), were the last democratic socialist
party to hold that title, back in 1949.
. During the campaign, it was revealed that Chisholm had a past criminal record for driving under the influence of alcohol when he was 19 years old. The NDP lost eight seats during the campaign, which saw the third-place Conservatives elected to a majority government. Under his leadership, the NDP shared official opposition status with the Liberals until Russell MacLellan's resignation and subsequent election of Cecil Clarke (PC) gave the NDP 11 seats to the Liberals 10.
Chisholm unexpectedly resigned the leadership after the campaign, at the 6 November 1999 NSNDP provincial council meeting. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family and could not subject them to ten more years of political life. He remained sitting as an MLA in the Legislature and remained as leader until a new one was elected. He was succeeded by Helen MacDonald
in 2000; and after she could not win a seat in the house, Darrell Dexter
eventually became the leader in 2001. Chisholm did not run for re-election as an MLA in 2003 provincial election
.
(CUPE). Since 2004, he has been a member of Dalhousie University's board of governors. In 2007, he became CUPE's Regional Director for the Atlantic Region. In the spring of 2009, he started a consulting firm with his wife Paula Simon: Simon Chisholm Consulting.
nomination in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
for the 2011 federal election, and was officially nominated on January 25. On May 2, 2011, he was elected, winning 15,661 votes and defeating Liberal Party of Canada
incumbent Mike Savage
.
Kentville, Nova Scotia
Kentville is a town in Kings County, Nova Scotia. It is one of the main towns in the Annapolis Valley, and it is the county seat of Kings County. As of 2006, the town of Kentville had a population of 5,815 people....
) is a former trade unionist and politician from 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...
, 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 represented the Halifax Atlantic
Halifax Atlantic
Halifax Atlantic is a provincial electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that elects one member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.The Member of the Legislative Assembly since 2003 has been Michèle Raymond of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party....
riding in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
from 1991 to 2003. He succeeded Alexa McDonough
Alexa McDonough
Alexa Ann Shaw McDonough OC is a Canadian politician who became the first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada, when she was elected the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party's leader in 1980...
as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
(NDP) in 1996. He served as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1998 to 1999. With wife Paula Simon, he founded Simon Chisholm Consulting to help clients develop stronger relationships and better workplace environments. He was Co-chair of the 2010-11 United Way of Halifax Region campaign and sat on the Board of Governors of Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. On May 2, 2011, Chisholm was elected as the 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,...
for the Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
riding in Nova Scotia. As a member of the Official Opposition, he serves as the critic for International Trade as well as ACOA and the Atlantic Gateway.
1998 Nova Scotia general election
The NDP scored a surprise electoral success 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...
, winning six 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...
's eleven electoral districts. This new-found electoral success boded well for the NDP's provincial party, which was able to take advantage of the new wave of popularity. Prior to 1997, the Nova Scotia NDP had not been considered contenders to form a provincial government.
Chisholm's greatest accomplishment was leading his party to 19, of the House of Assembly's 52, seats in the 1998 provincial election
Nova Scotia general election, 1998
The 34th Nova Scotia general election was held on March 24, 1998 to elect members of the 57th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The Liberal party and the New Democratic Party tied in the seat count, with 19 each, while the Progressive Conservatives won 14 seats...
. This record amount of NDP representation in the Legislature, tied them with the governing Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Nova Scotia
The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia is a political party in Nova Scotia, Canada.-Origins:The party is descended from the pre-Confederation Reformers in Nova Scotia who coalesced around Joseph Howe demanding the institution of responsible government...
. The Liberals were able to continue ruling, as they received support from the third-place Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
The Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, registered under the Nova Scotia Elections Act as the "Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia", is a moderate right-of-centre political party in Nova Scotia, Canada....
, who held 14 seats. The NDP formed the Official Opposition, marking the first time they attained that position; the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF), were the last democratic socialist
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
party to hold that title, back in 1949.
1999 Nova Scotia election
15 months later, the Liberal government was defeated by a motion of non-confidence from the Conservatives, forcing an election in the summer of 1999Nova Scotia general election, 1999
The 35th Nova Scotia general election was held on July 27, 1999, to elect members of the 58th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative party, led by Dr...
. During the campaign, it was revealed that Chisholm had a past criminal record for driving under the influence of alcohol when he was 19 years old. The NDP lost eight seats during the campaign, which saw the third-place Conservatives elected to a majority government. Under his leadership, the NDP shared official opposition status with the Liberals until Russell MacLellan's resignation and subsequent election of Cecil Clarke (PC) gave the NDP 11 seats to the Liberals 10.
Chisholm unexpectedly resigned the leadership after the campaign, at the 6 November 1999 NSNDP provincial council meeting. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his family and could not subject them to ten more years of political life. He remained sitting as an MLA in the Legislature and remained as leader until a new one was elected. He was succeeded by Helen MacDonald
Helen MacDonald (Nova Scotia politician)
Helen MacDonald is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Cape Breton-The Lakes in the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia from 1997 to 1999...
in 2000; and after she could not win a seat in the house, Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
eventually became the leader in 2001. Chisholm did not run for re-election as an MLA in 2003 provincial election
Nova Scotia general election, 2003
The 36th Nova Scotia general election was held on August 5, 2003 to elect members of the 59th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada...
.
Break in political career
After the 2003 provincial election, Chisholm returned to the labour movement and worked as researcher for the Canadian Union of Public EmployeesCanadian Union of Public Employees
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is a Canadian trade union serving the public sector - although it has in recent years organized workplaces in the non-profit and para-public sector as well...
(CUPE). Since 2004, he has been a member of Dalhousie University's board of governors. In 2007, he became CUPE's Regional Director for the Atlantic Region. In the spring of 2009, he started a consulting firm with his wife Paula Simon: Simon Chisholm Consulting.
Return to politics
On January 18, 2011, Chisholm announced that he would seek the New Democratic PartyNew 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...
nomination in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Dartmouth—Cole Harbour is a federal electoral district in Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
for the 2011 federal election, and was officially nominated on January 25. On May 2, 2011, he was elected, winning 15,661 votes and defeating Liberal Party of Canada
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...
incumbent Mike Savage
Michael Savage (politician)
Michael John Savage was the Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament for the riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour. On May 2, 2011, Savage lost his bid for re-election to Parliament to Robert Chisholm of the NDP. Savage received 15,162 votes to Chisholm's 15,661.-Biography:Savage is the son of...
.