Joe Comuzzi | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament forThunder Bay—Superior North Thunder Bay—Nipigon, 1988–2000 | |
| In office 1988–2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ernie Epp |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Hyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Robert Comuzzi (1933-04-05)April 5, 1933 Fort William,Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 31, 2021(2021-12-31) (aged 88) Thunder Bay,Ontario, Canada |
| Party | Conservative (after 2007) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (1988–2007) Independent (2007) |
| Spouse | Janet M. Casgrain (died 2014) |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Thunder Bay |
| Profession | Barrister and solicitor, businessman, lawyer |
Joseph Robert Comuzzi,PC (April 5, 1933 – December 31, 2021) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as acabinet minister underPrime MinisterPaul Martin. He served as aMember of Parliament (MP) from 1988 to 2008, representing Thunder Bay—Nipigon which was renamedThunder Bay—Superior North in 2000.
Comuzzi was born inFort William, Ontario, on April 5, 1933.[1] He studied at theUniversity of Windsor, graduating in 1954 with aBachelor of Arts degree.[2] Twelve years later, he received the University of Windsor Alumni Award of Merit, the Alumni Association's most prestigious award.[3] After working in the Thunder Bay business community for 24 years, he went back to his alma mater and obtained a law degree in 1980.[2] He also served as a school representative on theLakehead Board of Education.[1][2]
Comuzzi entered federal politics in 1988, running in theelection that year for theLiberal Party of Canada. He was elected to theHouse of Commons, representing theriding ofThunder Bay—Superior North. As an opposition MP, he served as chair of the Standing Committee on Transport and a member of the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations.[1] During his tenure as an MP, Comuzzi advocated for key issues specific to his riding: Great Lakes transportation and water quality, thepulp and paper industry, the softwood lumber dispute, grain transportation, mining, small business, health care and the local economy. He also served in various leadership capacities pertaining to transportation and industry.[2][4] His views ongun registry spending andofficial bilingualism were at odds with the Liberals.[5] His call to review the latter policy on its 25th anniversary in 1998 drew the ire of Prime MinisterJean Chrétien.[4]
Comuzzi was appointedMinister of State responsible for theFederal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) on December 12, 2003.[6] While Minister of State, he was forced to apologize for remarks about Quebecers when, in commenting on theSponsorship scandal, he stated, "I guess that's how they do politics there."[7] He served as co-chair of the Canada–United States Inter-Parliamentary Group from December 2003 until the following July, and again from February 2005 to June 2006.[1][6]
An opponent ofsame-sex marriage in Canada, Comuzzi resigned from cabinet on June 28, 2005, so that he could be free of atwo-line party whip and opposeBill C-38.[4][8] He was eventually expelled from the Liberal caucus for pledging to support the Conservative budget on March 21, 2007.[4] He stated that his support for the budget was due to "a single issue that's of absolute critical importance to all the people in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario, and that's the cancer research centre".[9] He subsequently joined the Conservative Party on June 26 that year.[5] On September 5, 2008, Comuzzi announced that he would retire from politics and not seek another term in thefollowing federal election.[10][11]
Comuzzi was married to Janet M. Casgrain until her death in 2014.[12] Together, they had four children.[2] He died on December 31, 2021, at the age of 88.[13][14]
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