The Honourable David Christopherson ECO
Member of Parliament forHamilton Centre
In office June 28, 2004 – September 11, 2019
Preceded by	Riding Established
Succeeded by	Matthew Green
Deputy Leader of theNew Democratic Party
In office April 19, 2012 – March 11, 2019 Serving with Libby Davies andMegan Leslie from 2012 to 2015
Leader	Thomas Mulcair Jagmeet Singh
Preceded by	Libby Davies Thomas Mulcair
Succeeded by	Alexandre Boulerice Sheri Benson
Member of theOntario Provincial Parliament forHamilton West
In office May 5, 1999 – September 2, 2003
Preceded by	Lillian Ross
Succeeded by	Judy Marsales
Member of theOntario Provincial Parliament forHamilton Centre
In office September 6, 1990 – May 5, 1999
Preceded by	Lily Oddie
Succeeded by	Riding Abolished
Hamilton City Councillor
In office December 1, 1985 – September 6, 1990 Serving with Geraldine Copps
Preceded by	Don Gray andVince Scott
Succeeded by	Geraldine Copps and Dave Wilson
Constituency	Ward Four
More...
Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
In office June 15, 2011 – August 2, 2015
Minister	Tony Clement
Preceded by	Joe Volpe
Succeeded by	Kevin Sorenson
Personal details
Born	(1954-10-05)October 5, 1954 (age 71) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Party	New Democratic Party
Spouse	Denise Christopherson (née Doyle)
Residence(s)	Hamilton,Ontario
Profession	director, political assistant, union officer

David Christopherson (born October 5, 1954) is a Canadianpolitician. From 2004 until 2019, he represented theriding ofHamilton Centre in theHouse of Commons of Canada. He previously served in theLegislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2003, and was acabinet minister in the provincial government ofBob Rae. Christopherson is a member of theNew Democratic Party.

Christopherson was born inHamilton, Ontario. He is self-educated, having dropped out ofhigh school in the ninthgrade. A voracious reader, he is a particular fan of books on politics. He began working with International Harvester in Hamilton at age 19, and remained with the company for eleven years. He was active with theUnited Auto Workers union, becoming plant chairman in 1978 and president of the Local 525 in 1979.^[1]

Christopherson campaigned inHamilton East in the1984 federal election, finishing second againstLiberal candidateSheila Copps. He was elected toHamilton, Ontario City Council the following year for the city's fourth ward, and re-elected in 1988. Christopherson became chairman of Hamilton's licensing committee, and made a concerted effort to reform the city's notorious regulatory practices.^[2] He developed a reputation on as a hard worker, and was one of three councillors to decline a pay increase in 1988.^[3]

Christopherson was also a constituency assistant for NDPMember of Parliament (MP)Ian Deans in the mid-1980s.^[4] He sought the NDP nomination forHamilton Mountain after Deans's retirement in 1986, but lost toMarion Dewar.^[5]

Christopherson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the1990 provincial election, defeatingLiberalcabinet ministerLily Oddie Munro inHamilton Centre as the NDP won a majority government across the province. He was chair of caucus andparliamentary assistant toProvincial TreasurerFloyd Laughren from 1990 to 1992.^[6]

Christopherson was respected by all parties for his legislative work ethic and contributions to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, and was widely considered as one of the most skilled backbenchers in the government caucus.^[7] There was little surprise when he was appointed to cabinet asMinister of Correctional Services on September 23, 1992, notwithstanding that Hamilton already had three representatives in cabinet.

Christopherson's portfolio was extremely challenging, and was described by one journalist as "one of the worst jobs in government". The Correctional Services ministry had previously been damaged by reports of sexual abuse and intimidation involving staff at Ontario jails and training centres, and Christopherson was required to enact substantial internal reforms.^[8] He supported former NDP leaderStephen Lewis's recommendations on race relations in the criminal justice system, and made efforts to address racism in Ontario prisons.^[9]

On February 3, 1993, Christopherson was given additional cabinet responsibilities asSolicitor General of Ontario.^[10] This was also a difficult portfolio, and Christopherson has since acknowledged that relations between the Rae government and Ontario police services were extremely tense when he entered the ministry. He has been credited with improving this situation, winning the respect of many in the police community.Julian Fantino, then an executive member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, commented that there was "marked improvement" in relations following Christopherson's appointment.^[11]

Christopherson allowed semi-automatic weapons to be issued to officers in late 1993.^[12] This was supported by many in the police service, but was criticized by some in the legal community on the grounds that the new weapons were not safer than the .38 models they replaced.^[13] Christopherson also introduced new guidelines for targetinghate crimes, and mandated stricter standards for police investigations of spousal assault.^[14] Early in 1995, he announced that police would soon be given the right to warn the general public about sex offenders released into residential neighbourhoods.^[15]

In May 1994, Christopherson introduced a pilot project to reduce illegal gun ownership in Ontario. For a three-month period, Ontarians were permitted to turn over illegal or unwanted firearms to the police without risking prosecution for illegal possession. The policy was endorsed by the police community.^[16] After three months, the ministry announced that 1,000 pistols and revolvers, 2,000 rifles and shotguns and over 150,000 rounds of ammunition had been turned over to the police.^[17]

In addition to his official cabinet portfolios, Christopherson was also responsible for articulating the Rae government's strategy for the proposedRed Hill Creek Expressway in Hamilton. Although he had previously opposed the project for environmental and other reasons, Christopherson argued in 1994 that a scaled-back four-lane highway would be the "best possible compromise" under the circumstances.^[18] The Rae government approved the plan, although it was later rejected by the succeeding ministry.

Christopherson was widely respected for his abilities in cabinet, and often won praise from members of the opposition.Progressive ConservativeBob Runciman credited him for his competence and managerial skills, while LiberalTim Murphy described him as "the best of a bad bunch".^[11] He served until the defeat of the Rae government in 1995.

The Rae government was defeated in the1995 election, falling to only seventeen seats out of 130. Christopherson, still personally popular, was narrowly re-elected for Hamilton Centre. He served in the next legislature as NDP critic for labour issues and the Workers' Compensation Board.^[19]

Rae resigned as party leader in 1996, and there was considerable media speculation that Christopherson would run to succeed him.Toronto Star journalist Thomas Walkom indicated that he would be a powerful candidate on the centrist wing of the party, and would likely win the support of pro-Rae trade unions such as the Steelworkers.^[20] He decided against running and gave his support toHoward Hampton, the eventual winner.^[21]

Christopherson was a prominent supporter of Hamilton's amalgamation with neighbouring municipalities in the late 1990s.^[22] The policy, which was supported by some members of all three major parties, was enacted by the Progressive Conservative government ofMike Harris in 2000. Christopherson considered leaving politics to run for the leadership of theOntario Federation of Labour in 1997, but ultimately declined.^[23]

The Hamilton Centre riding was eliminated by redistribution in 1996, and Christopherson chose to contest the expanded riding ofHamilton West for the1999 provincial election against incumbent Progressive ConservativeLillian Ross. He was re-elected, and became one of only nine New Democrats returned to the reduced 103-seat legislature. He served as his party's Finance and Labour Critic, and was appointed as House Leader.^[24] He considered campaigning forMayor of Hamilton in 2000, but reluctantly declined.^[25]

Christopherson resigned as NDP House Leader in 2001, amid rumours of a rift with Hampton.^[26] He continued to serve as his party's critic for Consumer and Business Services and the Management Board of Cabinet, and was a deputyspeaker in the legislature from 2001 to 2003.

Christopherson did not seek re-election to the legislature in 2003. He instead campaigned for mayor of Hamilton in that year's municipal campaign. He promised to reform the city's disclosure laws, requiring municipal politicians to declare their assets, debts and holdings.^[27] He also spoke out against plans to build an incinerator in the city for waste disposal.^[28] He was supported by two teachers' unions and the city firefighters' union, as well as by Liberal MPPDominic Agostino fromHamilton East. Initially considered the frontrunner, he was ultimately defeated by rival candidateLarry Di Ianni. Hamilton's amalgamation with the more right-leaning suburbs was a factor, as was Christopherson's opposition to a revised Red Hill Expressway.^[29]

Wikinews has related news:

• CanadaVOTES: NDP incumbent David Christopherson running in Hamilton Centre

Christopherson returned to political life a few months later, defeatingLiberal cabinet ministerStan Keyes to win theHamilton Centre riding in the2004 federal election. The Liberal Party won a minority government, and Christopherson served as NDP critic for cities, community infrastructure, labour and steel policy in the38th parliament. He was part of aCanadian delegation that observed presidential elections inUkraine in late 2004.^[30]

He was re-elected in the2006 federal election with an increased majority, as theConservatives won a minority government nationally. In May 2006, he called for theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police rather than the government to investigate a leak of theAuditor General's report into theCanadian gun registry. Christopherson suspected that someone connected to the government may have been responsible for the leak, given its "self-serving" nature.^[31] He has also criticized the previous Liberal government for allowing billions in unpaid tax monies to remain uncollected.^[32]

Christopherson was re-elected to his federal seat again in the2008 federal election, and the2011 federal election.

Christopherson is often described as a pragmatic politician. He once said that he has never been a "hard-line ideologue", but "the NDP is where I'm most comfortable."^[11]

He was appointed Defence Critic for the NDP after Jack Layton's death, and appointed one of the three deputy leaders, by Layton's successor Thomas Mulcair.

After the2015 federal election, Christopherson was appointed as the NDP's critic for thePlanning and Priorities Committee and forPublic Safety and Emergency Preparedness.^[33]

Christopherson was involved in the so-called 'Elbowgate' political confrontation on 18 May 2016. Video of the floor of the House of Commons appears to show the MP moving from side to side impeding the path of Conservative whip,Gord Brown MP.

On July 5, 2018, Christopherson announced his plan to retire^[34] at the end of the42nd Canadian Parliament, and to not seek re-election in the2019 federal election.

"It has been my distinct honour to have served as the councillor for Ward 4, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre and now as the federal Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre," Christopherson wrote in his statement. "I truly love our city and the people who call it home. To have earned the trust and confidence of the people of Hamilton for so many years is truly humbling and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join with so many dedicated people working to help build a stronger, more fair and diverse community."

Summary of the November 12, 1985Hamilton, OntarioWard Four Alderman Election

Candidate		Popular vote		Elected?
		Votes	%
	Geraldine Copps	5,992	48.33%
	David Christopherson	4,958	40%
	Don Gray(incumbent)	3,069	24.75%
	Vince Scott(incumbent)	2,883	23.25%
	John Ellis	2,373	19.14%
	Gaspare Bonomo	878	7.08%
	Larry Wheaton	535	4.32%
	Bob Fanjoy	289	2.33%
Total votes		12,398
Registered voters
Note 1: Each ward elected two aldermen and percentages are specific to each candidate, not for the overall total. Note 2: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan. Note 3: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.) and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources:Wilson, Paul. "That old Copps magic still works",Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 1985, A7.

All federal election information is taken fromElections Canada. All provincial election information is taken fromElections Ontario. The 2003 municipal election results are taken from official results provided by the City of Hamilton, availablehere. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.

The 1999 provincial expenditure entries are taken from official candidate reports as listed by Elections Ontario. The figures cited are the Total Candidate's Campaign Expenses Subject to Limitation, and include transfers from constituency associations.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toDavid Christopherson.

• David Christopherson – Parliament of Canada biography
• David Chistopherson, page on NDP website
• How'd They Vote?: David Christopherson's voting history and quotes
• Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history

• 1954 births
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• Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
• New Democratic Party MPs
• Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs
• Hamilton, Ontario, city councillors
• Members of the Executive Council of Ontario
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• 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• 21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada
• 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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