Bill Casey

{{For|other people named Bill Casey|William Casey (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| honorific-suffix ={{post-nominals|country=CAN|size=100%}}

| image = MP Bill Casey 2018.jpg

| office1 = Chair of the Standing Committee on Health

| term_start1 = February 3, 2016

| term_end1 = September 11, 2019

| predecessor1 = Ben Lobb

| successor1 = Ron McKinnon

| riding2 = Cumberland—Colchester

| parliament2 = Canadian

| term_start2 = October 19, 2015

| term_end2 = October 21, 2019

|predecessor2=first member

|successor2=Lenore Zann

| term_start3 = June 2, 1997

| term_end3 = June 28, 2004

| predecessor3 = Dianne Brushett

| successor3 = Riding Abolished

| term_start4 = November 21, 1988

| term_end4 = October 25, 1993

| predecessor4 = Robert C. Coates

| successor4 = Dianne Brushett

| riding5 = Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley

| parliament5 = Canadian

| term_start5 = June 28, 2004

| term_end5 = April 30, 2009

| predecessor5 = Riding Established

| successor5 = Scott Armstrong

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|02|19}}

| birth_place = Amherst, Nova Scotia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Liberal (2014-present)

| otherparty = Progressive Conservative (1988-2003)
Conservative (2003-2007)
Independent (2007-2014)

| spouse = Rosemary Casey

| residence = Amherst, Nova Scotia

| profession = Businessman, stockbroker

| religion =

| footnotes =

}}

William D. Casey {{post-nominals|country=CAN}} (born February 19, 1945) is a Canadian politician from Nova Scotia who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of Canada. First elected as a Progressive Conservative in 1988, he later sat as Conservative MP following the party merger in 2003. In 2007, Casey was expelled from the party for voting against the 2007 budget, but he was reelected as an Independent in the 2008 election and sat as such until he resigned his seat in 2009 to work on behalf of the Nova Scotian government for provincial interests in Ottawa. Casey decided to return to federal politics in the 2015 federal election and running as a Liberal easily took the seat with 63.73% of the popular vote.

Life and career

File:MP Bill Casey C391.jpg

Casey was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He was a car salesman and stockbroker before going into politics. He was first elected, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, to represent the riding of Cumberland—Colchester in the 1988 election. In common with almost every other PC Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1993 election he lost his seat, in his case being defeated by Liberal candidate Dianne Brushett.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/archive/931026108.html|title=Atlantic region hands Liberals near-clean sweep|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=October 26, 1993|accessdate=September 29, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011121074131/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/archive/931026108.html|archivedate=November 21, 2001 }}

In the 1997 election, he retook the seat, defeating Brushett,{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603133.html|title=Casey cruises back to power|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 3, 1997|accessdate=September 29, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20011130174850/http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603133.html|archivedate=November 30, 2001 }} and represented it until April 30, 2009.

In 2003, the PCs merged into the new Conservative Party. He was the deputy whip of the Official Opposition from 2004 until the 2006 election, and had served as the Conservative critic of Transport, International Trade, National Revenue, and Foreign Affairs in the past.

When the Conservatives' 2007 budget was released, Casey praised it, saying: "I have never seen a budget that has had more in it for the people of my riding than this one does."[http://www.trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=18315&sc=68 MP Casey surprised at controversy caused by budget] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928061617/http://www.trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=18315&sc=68 |date=2007-09-28 }}, Truro Daily News, March 22, 2007. However, on June 5, 2007, he voted against it, claiming that it broke the Atlantic Accord with his province and Newfoundland and Labrador. He was expelled from the Conservative caucus, and sat as an Independent MP.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/tory-mp-ejected-from-caucus-after-budget-vote-1.644248|title=Tory MP ejected from caucus after budget vote|publisher=CBC News|date=June 5, 2007|accessdate=April 15, 2014}} During the rest of the 39th Parliament, he styled himself as an Independent Progressive Conservative.{{cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/n-s-premier-urges-revolt-against-federal-budget-1.244389|title=N.S. premier urges revolt against federal budget|publisher=CTV News|date=June 10, 2007|accessdate=April 4, 2011|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604225732/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/QPeriod/20070610/ns_accord_070610/|archivedate=June 4, 2011}}

In October 2007, the Conservative Party riding association in Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley renominated Casey as its candidate for the 2008 election. The party's head office refused to accept Casey's nomination, and suspended the association's board.{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=7e3ff339-6f5b-439d-a78e-75695e059f45|title=Riding uproar over Tories' decision to oust executive|publisher=CanWest News Service|date=October 29, 2007|accessdate=April 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906175646/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=7e3ff339-6f5b-439d-a78e-75695e059f45|archivedate=September 6, 2009}}

On January 31, 2008, Casey underwent surgery for prostate cancer. His surgery was a success and all the cancer was removed. Casey previously had to have a cancerous growth removed from his back.{{cite news|url=http://www.amherstdaily.com/Health/2008-02-04/article-374410/Surgery-a-success/1|title=Surgery a success: Bill Casey recovering at home following prostate operation|publisher=Amherst Daily News|date=February 4, 2008|accessdate=December 1, 2023|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815161806/http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/Health/2008-02-04/article-374410/Surgery-a-success/1|archivedate=August 15, 2011}}

On September 4, the Green Party of Canada declared its support for his candidacy and announced that they would not field a candidate against him in the 2008 election.{{cite press release|url=https://greenparty.ca/en/releases/04.08.2008b|title=Green Party will not run against Bill Casey|publisher=Green Party of Canada|date=September 4, 2008|accessdate=April 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629113015/http://greenparty.ca/en/releases/04.08.2008b|archivedate=June 29, 2011}} On October 14, 2008, Casey was re-elected as an independent by winning 69% of the popular vote. His nearest opponent was Karen Olsen of the New Democrats with just 12% of the vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-bets-the-house-wins-another-minority/article1063836/|title=Harper bets the House, wins another minority|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=October 15, 2008|accessdate=May 24, 2015}}

During the 2008 Canadian parliamentary dispute, Casey announced he would vote against Harper in a motion of non-confidence.{{cite news|url=http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/77111/casey-to-vote-non-confidence-against-his-former-party/|title=Casey to vote non-confidence against his former party|publisher=Metro News Halifax|date=December 1, 2008|accessdate=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524095644/http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/77111/casey-to-vote-non-confidence-against-his-former-party/|archive-date=May 24, 2015|url-status=dead}} He announced in January 2009 that he would not run for re-election in the next federal election{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/independent-mp-casey-won-t-seek-re-election-1.793503|title=Independent MP Casey won't seek re-election|publisher=CBC News|date=January 13, 2009|accessdate=May 14, 2018}} However, on April 28, 2009, Rodney MacDonald, the Premier of Nova Scotia, announced that Casey would be the senior representative for the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs in Ottawa for the province, replacing Ian Thompson.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/turfed-tory-casey-to-be-nova-scotia-s-chief-lobbyist-in-ottawa-1.777256|title=Turfed Tory Casey to be Nova Scotia's chief lobbyist in Ottawa|publisher=CBC News|date=April 28, 2009|accessdate=May 14, 2018}} Casey officially resigned his seat on April 30.

On November 18, 2014, Casey announced he was running for the Liberal nomination in his former riding for the 2015 federal election{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/former-mp-bill-casey-wants-to-run-for-federal-liberals-next-year-1.2839634|title=Former MP Bill Casey wants to run for federal Liberals next year|work=CBC News|date=November 18, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2014}} and won the nomination vote on February 28, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/bill-casey-is-the-candidate-for-cumberland-colchester-musquodoboit-valley-1.2977243|title=Bill Casey is the Liberal candidate for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley|work=CBC News|date=February 28, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/2015-02-28/article-4061212/Casey-wins-Cumberland-Colchester-Liberal-nomination-for-upcoming-federal-election/1|title=Casey wins Cumberland Colchester Liberal nomination for upcoming federal election|publisher=Truro Daily News|date=February 28, 2015|accessdate=February 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708064909/http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local/2015-02-28/article-4061212/Casey-wins-Cumberland-Colchester-Liberal-nomination-for-upcoming-federal-election/1|archive-date=July 8, 2015|url-status=dead}} On October 19, 2015, Casey won the election, defeating Conservative incumbent Scott Armstrong.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/bill-casey-wins-1.3278919|title=Bill Casey snatches Cumberland-Colchester from Conservatives|publisher=CBC News|date=October 19, 2015|accessdate=October 21, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/federal-election-2015/1317608-bill-casey-%E2%80%98glad-to-be-part-of-the-change%E2%80%99|title=Bill Casey 'glad to be part of the change'|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=October 19, 2015|accessdate=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430054850/http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/federal-election-2015/1317608-bill-casey-%E2%80%98glad-to-be-part-of-the-change%E2%80%99|archivedate=April 30, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2286176/bill-casey-takes-liberal-seat-in-historic-cumberland-colchester-win/|title=Bill Casey takes Liberal seat in historic Cumberland-Colchester win|publisher=Global News|date=October 19, 2015|accessdate=October 21, 2015}}

In September 2018, Casey announced that he would not run in the 2019 election.{{cite web|url=https://www.trurodaily.com/news/local/mp-bill-casey-will-not-seek-re-election-in-2019-242552/|title=MP Bill Casey will not seek re-election in 2019|work=Truro Daily News|date=September 19, 2018|accessdate=March 8, 2018}}

In July 2021, Casey announced he would run in the next Nova Scotia general election as a candidate for the Nova Scotia Liberal Party in Cumberland North. The incumbent was former PC MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, who ran as an independent.{{cite tweet|number=1413479246509400074|user=NEWS957|title=JUST IN: Former N.S. liberal MP Bill Casey announces he'll be running as the provincial liberal candidate in Cumber… |date=9 July 2021}} Casey was unsuccessful losing to Smith-McCrossin.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-election-vote-counting-suspended-1.6144445|title=Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin elected as Independent in Cumberland North|publisher=CBC News|date=August 18, 2021|access-date=2021-12-20}}

Personal life

Casey was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2006 and underwent two surgeries to have the cancerous mole removed.{{cite web|url=http://www.novanewsnow.com/living/amid-warnings-on-melanoma-rates-former-mp-bill-casey-shares-his-cancer-story-86704/|title=Amid warnings on melanoma rates, former MP Bill Casey shares his cancer story |work=The Amherst News |date=May 29, 2014 |first=Darrell |last=Cole |accessdate=December 1, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112758/http://www.novanewsnow.com/living/amid-warnings-on-melanoma-rates-former-mp-bill-casey-shares-his-cancer-story-86704/|archivedate=May 15, 2018}} He battled prostate cancer and underwent surgery in early February 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/2008-02-26/article-767514/Nova-Scotia-MP-Bill-Casey-on-mend-after-prostate-cancer-surgery/1 |title=Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey on mend after prostate cancer surgery |publisher=Cape Breton Post |date=February 28, 2008 |accessdate=September 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212531/http://www.capebretonpost.com/Living/2008-02-26/article-767514/Nova-Scotia-MP-Bill-Casey-on-mend-after-prostate-cancer-surgery/1 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-mp-bill-casey-expects-full-recovery-from-prostate-cancer-1.764221 |title=Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey expects full recovery from prostate cancer |publisher=CBC News |date=March 13, 2008 |accessdate=September 18, 2014 }}

Electoral record

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|Cumberland—Colchester|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Scott Armstrong|12,257|26.45|–26.48|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|46,332|100.0 | |$206,116.04}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|178|0.38|–0.25}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada{{cite web|url=http://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx?lang=e|title=October 19, 2015 Election Results — Cumberland—Colchester (Validated results)|publisher=Elections Canada|date=21 October 2015|accessdate=24 October 2015}}[http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045200/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e |date=2016-03-04 }}}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|2008|Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Bill Casey|27,303|69.01|+16.97|$68,549.58}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Joel Bernard|3,493|8.83|-43.21|$35,846.73}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Tracy Parsons|3,344|8.45|-15.44|$28,266.26}}

{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Rick Simpson|550|1.39|+0.17|none listed}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 39,564|100.0 | | $84,518}}

{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|201|0.51|+0.04}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|2006|Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Bill Casey|22,439|52.04|+1.55|$50,744.39}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Gary Richard|10,299|23.89|-2.60|$30,783.20}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|43,116|100.0 | |$79,110}}

{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|203|0.47|-0.01}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|2004|North Nova|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Bill Casey|20,188|50.49|-9.99|$63,528.46}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Dianne Brushett|10,591|26.49|+0.13|$40,391.55}}

{{CANelec|CA|Progressive Canadian|Jack Moors|399|1.00|–|$553.10}}

{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|39,983|100.0 | |$76,024}}

{{CANelec/total|Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots|192|0.48| }}

{{CANelec/note|Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals.}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2000|Cumberland—Colchester|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|38,597|100.00 }}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1997|Cumberland—Colchester|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|42,659| 100.00}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1993|Cumberland—Colchester|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|42,717|100.00 }}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1988|Cumberland—Colchester|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|44,134|100.00 }}