Malcolm Allen (born May 30, 1953) is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
politician. He represented the riding of
Welland
Welland is a city in the Regional Municipality of Niagara in Southern Ontario, Canada. As of 2021, it had a population of 55,750.
The city is in the centre of Niagara and located within a half-hour driving distance to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on ...
in the
House of Commons of Canada from 2008 to 2015 as a member of the
New Democratic Party. He served as Critic for
Agriculture and Agri-Food in the
Shadow Cabinet of the
Official Opposition (Canada)
Majesty's Loyal Opposition (french: L'Opposition Loyale de Sa Majesté), or simply the Official Opposition (french: L'Opposition officielle, links=no), is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons, either on its ...
.
Early life and career
Allen was born in
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
,
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
and immigrated to Canada as a child in 1963. His father, a
shipwright came over to Canada to work at the
Collingwood shipyards. He would later to transfer to the
Port Weller Dry Docks Port Weller Dry Docks was a shipbuilder on the Welland Canal at the Lake Ontario entrance. The shipbuilder was founded in 1946 and the site was initially owned by the Government of Canada for storage purchases. The shipyard expanded to include ship ...
located on the
Welland Canal
The Welland Canal is a ship canal in Ontario, Canada, connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. It forms a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes Waterway. Traversing the Niagara Peninsula from Port Weller in St. Catharines ...
where Allen's family would settle.
Allen holds an
undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree (also called first degree or simply degree) is a colloquial term for an academic degree earned by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. In the United States, it is usually offered at an institution of higher e ...
in
history
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
and
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
from
Brock University
Brock University is a public research university in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. It is the only university in Canada in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, at the centre of Canada's Niagara Peninsula on the Niagara Escarpment. The university bears t ...
(graduated in 1983). An
electrician
An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance ...
by trade, he served on the
Executive Board
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...
of
CAW local 199 from 1996 to 2000 as Recording Secretary and from 2000 to 2008 as
Financial Secretary.
In 2004, Allen travelled to
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
to oversee the clearing of landmine sites and the construction of women's co-ops as part of the Canadian Autoworkers, Canada Social Justice Fund committee.
In 2007 Allen spearheaded the creation of Genesis Court, a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
affordable housing complex with support services that would help people who were at risk to turn their lives around. Through the planning stages of Genesis court it would eventually become part of the Bethlehem Housing and Support Services organization, which includes Bethlehem Place.
Allen was also a member of the Pelham Library Board, the Golden Horseshoe Social Action Committee and the Niagara Health Coalition.
Pelham municipal politics
Allen served on the
Pelham Town Council
A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities.
Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions.
Republic of Ireland
Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland were the second t ...
from 2003 to 2008 representing Ward 1.
In 2006, he served as the town's deputy mayor. He also chaired the Municipal Corporate Services Committee and served on it for five years.
Member of Parliament
Allen was first elected to the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...
on October 14, 2008 to the 40th Parliament, defeating
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
Alf Kiers and the
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
incumbent,
John Maloney.
During the 40th Parliament Allen served as the critic for Skills, Training and Apprenticeships and Food Safety and the deputy critic for Agriculture and Food Security (
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA; french: Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments) is a regulatory agency that is dedicated to the safeguarding of food, plants, and animals (FPA) in Canada, thus enhancing the health and well-being of ...
). He also served for a period as New Democrat
Caucus chair.
Allen was re-elected on May 2, 2011, beating Conservative Leanna Villella by over 1000 votes. Allen was one of 103 New Democrats elected, a record for the party and the first time in their history serving as the
Official Opposition. Allen was the Critic for
Agriculture and Agri-Food in Thomas Mulcair's
Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet.
On October 19, 2015, Allen lost his seat to Liberal candidate
Vance Badawey
Vance M. Badawey (born October 5, 1964) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Niagara Centre in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election.
Badawey was first elected to the city council of Port ...
.
Allen ran in the 2019 federal election in
Niagara Centre, where he placed third, with 26.69% of the vote. He ran in the 2021 federal election in
Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton is located on the western end of the Niagara Peninsula and wraps around the westernmost part of the Lake Ontario. Most of the city including the downtown section lies along the south shore. Situated in the geographic centre of the Gold ...
, placing second with 32.4% of the vote.
Poppy Bill
In November 2009, Allen introduced a private members bill intended to support the
Royal Canadian Legion's annual Poppy Campaign by eliminating the
GST GST may refer to:
Taxes
* General sales tax
* Goods and Services Tax, the name for the value-added tax in several jurisdictions:
** Goods and services tax (Australia)
** Goods and Services Tax (Canada)
** Goods and Services Tax (Hong Kong)
**G ...
from the purchase of poppies and poppy wreaths. The taxing of poppies was estimated to cost Legions about $780,000 a year. The money raised by the legions in the Poppy Campaign is used for important services like dental care, replacing broken roofs, supporting meals-on-wheels programs and more. After almost a full year of pressure, both the Provincial Liberal Government and Federal Conservative Government finally agreed to remove each of their portions of the new HST (formerly PST and GST) from the poppy purchases. Canada's Legions now have approximately $780,000 more a year to operate their services.
Opposition to Homolka pardon
In May 2010, Allen met with Talin French-Doyle, niece of
Kristen French who presented him with a petition containing over 1,700 signatures asking for the government to create
legislation
Legislation is the process or result of enrolling, enacting, or promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, and may be broadly referred to ...
to prevent
Karla Homolka
Karla Leanne Homolka (born May 4, 1970), also known as Karla Leanne Teale, Leanne Teale, and Leanne Bordelais, is a Canadian serial killer who acted as an accomplice to her husband, Paul Bernardo, taking active part in the actual rapes and murde ...
, who was involved in French's murder, from receiving a
pardon. Under the law at the time, Homolka would have been eligible to apply for a pardon in the summer of 2010.
Allen introduced a
Private Member's Bill that would have effectively fast tracked the portion of Bill C-23 (An Act to Amend The Criminal Records Act). This would have prevented the pardon, and allowed for proper debate of the remaining portion of the bill. When there was hesitation of the Government and
Official Opposition sides to go through with Allen's Private Members Bill, he immediately offered it to the government to ensure that the right thing was done. It is because of this pressure that Allen was able to successfully negotiate a deal with Conservative
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews
Victor Toews (; born September 10, 1952) is a Paraguayan-Canadian politician and jurist. Toews is a judge of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba. He represented Provencher in the House of Commons of Canada from 2000 until his resignation on ...
to split the Bill C-23 into two bills and was able to fast-track the new Bill C-23a which barred Homolka from receiving a pardon. The bill was passed on the final sitting day of the House of Commons 2010 Winter Session, and Homolka did not receive a pardon.
Electoral record
References
External links
Malcolm Allen*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Malcolm
1953 births
Brock University alumni
Living people
Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario
New Democratic Party MPs
Ontario municipal councillors
Politicians from Glasgow
People from Welland
Scottish emigrants to Canada
21st-century Canadian politicians