Mike Cooper (politician)

Mike Cooper (born July 31, 1951) is a Canadian former politician in Ontario. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995. He represented the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot.

Mike Cooper
Ontario MPP
In office
1990–1995
Preceded byJohn Sweeney
Succeeded byGary Leadston
ConstituencyKitchener—Wilmot
Personal details
Born (1951-07-31) July 31, 1951
London, Ontario
Political partyNew Democrat
SpouseHeather
Children2
OccupationRubber plant worker

Background

Cooper was educated at vocational school, and was a rubber worker at Uniroyal Goodrich for 17 years.[1] He served as steward of United Rubber Workers Local 667.

Politics

Cooper ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1985, but finished third against Liberal incumbent John Sweeney in the riding of Kitchener—Wilmot. He ran again in the 1987 provincial election, this time finishing second against Sweeney.[2]

The NDP won a majority government in the provincial election of 1990 and Cooper defeated Liberal newcomer Carl Zehr by over 5,000 votes.[3] In November 1990 he was appointed as Deputy Government Whip where he remained for another four years.[4] In November 1992 he was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the Solicitor General.[5] In February 1993 he was reassigned as PA to the Minister of Labour.[6]

In 1994, Cooper was one of twelve NDP members to vote against Bill 167, a bill extending financial benefits to same-sex partners. Premier Bob Rae allowed a free vote on the bill which allowed members of his party to vote with their conscience.[7]

The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election and Cooper again finished third in the Kitchener—Wilmot riding, placing over 9,000 votes behind Progressive Conservative Gary Leadston.[8] He returned to his job making tires after his defeat.[9]

Cooper ran for the federal New Democratic Party in the Canadian general election of 1997 in Waterloo—Wellington, but finished a distant fourth against Liberal Lynn Myers.[10]

References
  1. Thompson, Catherine (November 2, 1990). "Inexperience as legislator not a problem, Cooper says". Kitchener - Waterloo Record. p. B2.
  2. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  3. "Ontario election: Riding-by-riding voting results". The Globe and Mail. September 7, 1990. p. A12.
  4. Thompson, Catherine (November 14, 1990). "Cooper appointed deputy whip". Kitchener - Waterloo Record. p. B2.
  5. "Ferguson, Cooper to be assistants". Kitchener - Waterloo Record. November 6, 1992. p. B1.
  6. "MPPs reassigned by Premier Rae". Kitchener - Waterloo Record. February 25, 1993. p. B1.
  7. "How MPPs voted on controversial legislation". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 1994. p. A10.
  8. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  9. Goodwin, Carol (September 18, 1995). "Factory life suits former MPP just fine". The Record. Kitchener, Ont. p. A1.
  10. "Final Results Riding by Riding". Calgary Herald. June 4, 1997. p. A5.
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