Susan Whelan

Susan Elizabeth Whelan, PC (/ˈhwiːlən/; born May 5, 1963, in Windsor, Ontario) is a former Canadian Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party of Canada. Whelan, a lawyer, first won a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1993 election representing Essex—Windsor. In 1997 and 2000 she was elected to represent Essex. In 2002, Whelan was appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as Minister for International Cooperation as a cabinet minister.[1]

Whelan was defeated by Conservative Jeff Watson at the 2004 election, and unsuccessfully tried to win back her old seat in 2006 and the 2008.[2]

Susan Whelan is the daughter of former Liberal Federal Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Eugene Whelan.[1] Susan and her father hold the distinction of being the first father-daughter cabinet appointees.[3]

Whelan shares her father's passionate interest in Canadian agriculture, having made Agriculture and Rural Development one of the key elements of policy during her tenure as Minister.[4]

She has also instructed part-time at the University of Windsor, appropriately situated in the political science department.[5]

She previously represented the Ambassador Bridge Company on the Green Corridor Project.[6]

In June 2009, Whelan was named chief executive officer for the Ontario division of the Canadian Cancer Society. In August the same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.[7] She resigned from the Canadian Cancer Society in order to focus on her recovery.

Whelan authors a blog entitled Susan's Fight Back, to share her experience, strength, and hope with others.[8]

Whelan waspreviously the Executive Director of rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge, Ontario[9] and maintains a law practice in Windsor, Ontario.

Electoral record

2004 Canadian federal election: Essex
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jeff Watson 18,755 36.6% -4.9%
Liberal Susan Whelan 17,926 35.0% -9.4%
New Democratic David Tremblay 12,519 24.4% +10.5%
Green Paul Forman 1,981 3.9%
Marxist–Leninist Robert Cruise 105 0.2% -0.1%
Total valid votes 51,286 100.0%

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

2000 Canadian federal election: Essex
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Susan Whelan 20,524 44.3% -1.7%
Alliance Scott Cowan 16,019 34.6% +16.7%
New Democratic Marion Overholt 6,431 13.9% -15.7%
Progressive Conservative Merrill Baker 3,175 6.9% +0.4%
Marxist–Leninist Robert Cruise 152 0.3%
Total valid votes 46,301 100.0%

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

1997 Canadian federal election: Essex
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Susan Whelan 22,052 46.1% -9.1%
New Democratic Gerry Bastien 14,180 29.6% +1.9%
Reform John Larsen 8,545 17.9% +4.7%
Progressive Conservative Dave Wylupek 3,086 6.4% +3.2%
Total valid votes 47,863 100.0%
1993 Canadian federal election: Essex—Windsor
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Susan Whelan 25,200 55.1% +13.8%
New Democratic Steven W. Langdon 12,650 27.7% -16.4%
Reform John Larsen 6,029 13.2%
Progressive Conservative Brian Payne 1,481 3.2% -11.1%
National George Opacic 194 0.4%
Marxist–Leninist Paul Hawkins 83 0.2%
Commonwealth of Canada Vlado Zugaj 67 0.1%
Total valid votes 45,704 100.0%

References

  1. ^ a b Susan Whelan – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ Federal riding history from the Library of Parliament
  3. ^ "Susan Whelan LLB '88 | Alumni Association - University of Windsor". Archived from the original on 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2011-08-03.
  4. ^ "Susan Whelan '88 named CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario". University of Windsor, Faculty of Law. May 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-05.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Three new directors join Alumni Association Board". University of Windsor. March 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  6. ^ "Whelan's ties to Ambassador Bridge criticized". Windsor Star. September 17, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  7. ^ "Cancer society CEO resigns for health reasons". CBC. October 1, 2009. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
  8. ^ "Susan's Fight Back".
  9. ^ "Home". raresites.org.
26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Maria Minna Minister for International Cooperation
2002–2003 		Aileen Carroll
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Electoral district created in 1996
 Member of Parliament for Essex
1996–2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Essex-Windsor
1993–1996 		Succeeded by
Riding abolished in 1996