Judy Sgro

The Honourable
Judy Sgro
PC MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Humber River—Black Creek
York West (1997-2015)
Assumed office
November 15, 1999
Preceded by Sergio Marchi
Chairwoman of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Assumed office
February 3, 2016
Preceded by Larry Miller
Toronto City Councillor for North York Humber
In office
January 1, 1998 – November 14, 1999
Preceded by Ward Created
Succeeded by Paul Valenti
Constituency Ward 6
Metro Councillor for North York Humber
In office
December 1, 1994 – December 31, 1997
Preceded by Mario Gentile
Succeeded by City Amalgamated
North York City Councillor
In office
1987 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by Mario Gentile
Succeeded by Gina Severino
Constituency Ward 2
Personal details
Born (1944-12-16) December 16, 1944
Moncton, New Brunswick
Political party Liberal Party of Canada
Spouse(s) Sam Sgro
Children 3
Residence Toronto, Ontario
Religion Roman Catholic

Judy Sgro, PC MP (born December 16, 1944) is a Canadian politician. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, she currently represents the electoral district of Humber River—Black Creek in the Canadian House of Commons.

Politics

Councillor

Sgro was introduced to politics when she was elected to North York City Council in 1987. In 1994 she was acclaimed as a Metro councillor for North York.[1] In 1998 she became a Toronto city councillor in the newly amalgamated city where she served a term as vice-chair of the Toronto Police Services Board.[2]

Federal politics

Government (1999-2006)

In 1997 Sgro's first attempt at Federal politics came up short when she tried to get elected in the riding of York South—Weston. She lost to John Nunziata who was running as an independent by 4,431 votes. In 1999 she won a by-election in York West to replace Sergio Marchi who had accepted an ambassadorial position. She has since been re-elected by substantial pluralities.

In 2001, she was named chairperson of the Prime Minister's "Caucus Task Force on Urban Issues". In 2003 her group released an interim report recommending increased Federal support to recognize their economic and social value.[2] From December 12, 2003 to January 13. 2005 she served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in the government of Paul Martin.

Political favouritism issues

In November 2004, controversy began to surround Sgro as questions arose surrounding her activities during the June election earlier that year. Several members of her ministerial staff had filed expense claims to travel to and work in her riding throughout the campaign ending on election day. More serious claims were also raised when Opposition Conservative MPs claimed she had given a special immigration permit to a campaign supporter — specifically Alina Balaican, a Romanian who had initially been admitted to the country to work as a stripper. New Democratic Party MP Pat Martin also accused Sgro's aides of making threats to deny ministerial permits to his constituents if he criticized her on the stripper controversy.[3] The press dubbed the issue "Strippergate".

On January 14, 2005, Sgro resigned from cabinet after further allegations that she had offered to intervene in the immigration hearing of Harjit Singh, a Brampton pizzeria owner, in exchange for free pizza for her campaign staff.[4] The following day, the Toronto Star revealed that Singh had previously committed credit card fraud.[5]

On January 31, 2005, Sgro filed a lawsuit against Singh for $750,000 in damages.[6] On May 10, 2005, the Federal ethics commissioner Bernard Shapiro cleared Sgro of all wrongdoing from the Strippergate debacle when it was found that Sgro didn't know that two staffers had put her in a position of conflict of interest. The ethics commissioner also concluded that Sgro had never met the woman or even knew that she had volunteered on her re-election campaign. Shapiro said to Sgro, "It appears you acted appropriately." Also the same day, Singh retracted his allegations and apologized to Sgro. He said, "I now admit I did not have a meeting with Judy Sgro and at no time did she request any campaign assistance from me. Nor did she help me with my immigration problems."[7]

Sgro was the first member of Cabinet to resign from Paul Martin's government. There was some speculation in the media that fellow minister Joe Volpe helped to engineer her resignation given that they had a cool relationship.[7]

Accusation of improper expensing

In June 2010 it was revealed that Sgro had been claiming expenses for rent on an Ottawa luxury highrise condominium owned by her adult children, violating rules for such expenses set by the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons. Sgro had paid $138,000 to purchase the condo in 2001, and then transferred the title on the property to her children in 2006; she then paid her children $22,000 a year in rent to live in the apartment, violating rules forbidding MPs from claiming expenses on goods or services contracted from family members.[8]

Asked about this controversy in 2013 by a reporter from Québecor Média, Sgro replied, "The issue was dealt with, an issue was pointed out... I immediately dealt with the issue and I would ask the prime minister and his folks to do the same thing. Thank you very much." She then immediately terminated her press conference, which was originally intended to cover sexual harassment in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[9]

Opposition (2006-2015)

Sgro served as the Opposition Critic for Industry for the Liberals.[10] On November 1, 2010, the Liberals released a white paper providing recommendations for retirement income security followed by a Pension Income Bill of Rights. The paper was created by a working group co-chaired by Sgro.[11]

On March 4, 2014, Sgro was re-nominated by acclamation as the Liberal candidate for the renamed riding of Humber River—Black Creek for the next federal election.[12] She subsequently won election to this seat.

Government (2015-present)

Sgro currently serves as the chair of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

Election results

Canadian federal election, 2015: Humber River—Black Creek
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJudy Sgro 23,995 66.9 +19.9 –
ConservativeKerry Vandenberg 7,228 20.2 -1.9 –
New DemocraticDarnel Harris 3,851 10.7 -17.1 –
GreenKeith Jarrett 584 1.6 0 –
Marxist–LeninistChristine Nugent 201 0.6 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 35,859100.0   $195,631.84
Total rejected ballots 333––
Turnout 36,192––
Eligible voters 60,994
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]
Liberal hold Swing +18.5
Canadian federal election, 2011: York West
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJudy Sgro 13,030 47.0 -12.4
New DemocraticGiulio Manfrini 7,721 27.8 +9.1
ConservativeAudrey Walters 6,122 22.1 +5.4
GreenUnblind Tibben 450 1.6 -3.6
Christian HeritageGeorge Okoth Otura 231 0.8 –
Canadian ActionArthur Smitherman 170 0.6 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 27,724 100.0
Total rejected ballots 267 1.0+0.2
Turnout 27,991 48.2-0.1
Eligible voters 57,287 ––
Liberal hold Swing -10.75
Canadian federal election, 2008: York West
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalJudy Sgro 16,997 59.4% -4.4% $35,514
New DemocraticJulio Manfrini 5,363 18.7% +4.6% $12,354
ConservativeKevin Nguyen 4,773 16.7% -1.9% $12,960
GreenNick Capra 1,488 5.2% +2.2% $1,557
Total valid votes/Expense limit 28,621 100.0%$77,457
Turnout 28,840 %
Liberal hold Swing -4.5
Canadian federal election, 2006: York West
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalJudy Sgro 21,418 63.78 $48,741.93
ConservativeParm Gill 6,244 18.59 $71,005.65
New DemocraticSandra Romano Anthony 4,724 14.07 $8,845.73
GreenNick Capra 1,002 2.98 $1,692.18
     Independent Axcel Cocon 192 0.57 $1,801.61
Total valid votes 33,580 100.00
Total rejected ballots 261
Turnout 33,841 57.90
Electors on the lists 58,450
Canadian federal election, 2004: York West
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalJudy Sgro 17,903 64.7% -12.6%
New DemocraticSandra Romano Anthony 4,228 15.2% +6.0%
ConservativeLeslie Soobrian 3,120 11.2% +0.5%
Christian HeritageJoseph Grubb 1,580 5.7%
GreenTim McKellar 824 3.0%
Total valid votes 27,655100.0%
Liberal hold Swing +6.55
Canadian federal election, 2000: York West
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalJudy Sgro 19,737 77.3% +3.1%
AllianceMunish Chandra 2,724 10.7% +7.9%
New DemocraticJulia McCrea 2,361 9.2% +1.5%
MarijuanaG. Marcello Marchetti 537 2.1%
Marxist–LeninistAmarjit Dhillon 175 0.7%
Total valid votes 25,534100.0%
Liberal hold Swing +3.1
Canadian federal by-election, November 15, 1999: York West
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalJudy Sgro 10,034 74.2 +0.5
Progressive ConservativeElio Di Iorio 1,721 12.7 +5.2
New DemocraticJulia McCrea 1,054 7.8 -2.1
ReformEnzo Granzotto 377 2.8 -6.2
Canadian ActionStephen Burega 242 1.8
GreenHenry Zeifman 101 0.7
Total valid votes 13,529100.0
Liberal hold Swing +1.3
By-election due to the appointment of Sergio Marchi as Canadian Ambassador to the World Trade Organization
Canadian federal election, 1997: York South-Weston
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
IndependentJohn Nunziata 17,163 45.0
LiberalJudy Sgro 12,732 33.4 -36.7
New DemocraticOdoardo Di Santo 3,552 9.3 +3.9
ReformKathleen Crone 2,363 6.2 -8.6
Progressive ConservativeJan Harnett 1,925 5.1 -1.8
GreenShelley Lipsey 171 0.4
Marxist–LeninistGinette Boutet 112 0.3 +0.1
IndependentHassan Husseini 98 0.3
Independent gain from Liberal Swing –
Total valid votes 38,116 100.0

References

  1. ↑ "1994 Toronto General Election Results (Former Metropolitan Toronto): Former Municipality of the City of North York: Metro Councillor". City of Toronto. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  2. 1 2 Moloney, Paul; Campion Smith, Bruce (2005-01-15). "A well-earned reputation as a battling politician; Judy Sgro loses cabinet portfolio: She promises a fight to clear her name". Toronto Star. p. F1.
  3. ↑ Fife, Robert (2004-12-27). "Sgro aide tried to silence critics by withholding permits, MPs allege". Ottawa Citizen. p. A9.
  4. ↑ "Sgro quits cabinet to fight allegations". CTV News.
  5. ↑ "Sgro's accuser trying to avoid deportation". CTV News. 2005-01-15.
  6. ↑ Sean, Gordon (2005-02-01). "Sgro sues Singh for slander, libel; 3 others named in $750,000 lawsuit: Accusations led to minister resigning". Toronto Star. p. A6.
  7. 1 2 Geiger, John (2005-05-11). "The belated vindication of Judy Sgro". National Post. p. A22.
  8. ↑ Glen McGregor; Stephen Maher (June 7, 2010). "Toronto MP uses taxpayers' money to rent condo owned by her children". Vancouver Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Kirkup, Kristy (June 11, 2013). "Liberal MP Judy Sgro sloughs off questions about her housing expenses". Toronto Sun. Sun Media. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Judy Sgro: Member of Parliament at House of Commons". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  11. ↑ "Liberals plan to ease CPP rules". The Province. 2010-11-03. p. A11.
  12. ↑ http://www.elections.ca/WPAPPS/WPR/EN/NC/Details?province=-1&distyear=2013&district=2268&party=1&keywords2=Sgro&selectedid=7119
  13. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Humber River—Black Creek, 30 September 2015
  14. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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