Robert Chisholm (Canadian politician)

Robert Chisholm
Robert Chisholm
Member of Parliament; for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
	In office; May 30, 2011 – August 4, 2015
Preceded by	Michael Savage
Succeeded by	Darren Fisher
Nova Scotia Leader of the Official Opposition
	In office; 1998–1999
Preceded by	John Hamm
Succeeded by	John MacDonell
Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
	In office; 1996–2000
Preceded by	John Holm
Succeeded by	Helen MacDonald
Member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly
	In office; August 27, 1991 – August 5, 2003
Preceded by	John Buchanan
Succeeded by	Michèle Raymond
Constituency	Halifax Atlantic
Personal details
Born	Robert Lawrence Chisholm; August 31, 1957 (age 67); Kentville, Nova Scotia
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse	Paula Simon
Alma mater	Carleton University; Dalhousie University;
Occupation	Trade Unionist; Consultant
Website	robertchisholm.ndp.ca

Robert Lawrence Chisholm (born August 31, 1957 in Kentville, Nova Scotia)^[1] 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.^[1] He served as the leader of the Official Opposition in the Nova Scotia Legislature from 1998 to 1999. He subsequently founded a consulting firm, 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 served as the Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and Deputy Critic for Employment Insurance until his defeat in the 2015 election.

Provincial politics

1998 Nova Scotia general election

The NDP scored a surprise electoral success in the 1997 federal election, winning six of Nova Scotia's eleven electoral districts.^[2] 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.^[2] Prior to 1997, the Nova Scotia NDP had not been considered contenders to form a provincial government.^[3]

Chisholm subsequently lead the NDP to a record 19 seats (out of the House of Assembly's 52 seats) in the 1998 provincial election, putting them in a tie 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.^[4] 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.

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 1999. 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.^{[citation needed]}

During this period, the NDP shared official opposition status with the Liberals (as both held 11 seats). The NDP became sole official opposition upon Russell MacLellan's resignation, and the subsequent election of Progressive Conservative Cecil Clark, which gave the NDP 11 seats to the Liberals' 10. Chisholm unexpectedly resigned the leadership after the campaign, at the November 6, 1999 NSNDP provincial council meeting.^[5]^[6] 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.^[5]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Private life

After the 2003 provincial election, Chisholm returned to the labour movement and worked as researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).^[7] Since 2004, he has been a member of Dalhousie University's board of governors. ^[8] In 2007, he became CUPE's Regional Director for the Atlantic Region.^[7] In the spring of 2009, he started a consulting firm with his wife Paula Simon: Simon Chisholm Consulting.^[8]

Return to politics

On January 18, 2011, Chisholm announced that he would seek the New Democratic Party nomination in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour for the 2011 federal election,^[9] and was officially nominated on January 25.^[10] On May 2, 2011, he was elected, winning 15,661 votes and defeating Liberal Party of Canada incumbent Mike Savage.

Following the death of federal NDP leader Jack Layton, Chisholm was a candidate in the 2012 New Democratic Party leadership election, but after speaking English during a leadership debate in French on account of his lack of fluency in the latter language, he withdrew in December 2011 and subsequently endorsed Thomas Mulcair.^[11]^[12]

In the 2015 federal election, Chisholm was defeated by Liberal Darren Fisher.^[13]

Electoral history

v t e 2015 Canadian federal election: Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Darren Fisher	30,407	58.17	+23.45	$64,958.30
	New Democratic	Robert Chisholm	12,757	24.41	–12.02	$137,358.97
	Conservative	Jason Cole	7,331	14.03	–11.00	$52,263.31
	Green	Brynn Nheiley	1,775	3.40	–0.43	$723.31
Total valid votes/expense limit			52,270	99.62		$205,945.13
Total rejected ballots			201	0.38
Turnout			52,471	71.81
Eligible voters			73,066
	Liberal gain from New Democratic		Swing		+17.73
Source: Elections Canada^[14]^[15]

v t e 2011 Canadian federal election: Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Robert Chisholm	15,678	36.27	+4.73	$51,111.67
	Liberal	Michael Savage	15,181	35.12	-4.37	$70,147.67
	Conservative	Wanda Webber	10,702	24.76	+2.30	$51,126.57
	Green	Paul Shreenan	1,662	3.85	-2.11	$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit			43,223	99.41		$83,954.73
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots			255	0.59	-0.01
Turnout			43,478	61.45	+2.72
Eligible voters			70,756
	New Democratic gain from Liberal		Swing		+4.55
Sources:^[16]^[17]