Carolyn Bennett

Carolyn Ann Bennett was born in Toronto on December 20, 1950. She attended Havergal College.{{cite web | url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Language=E&Item=F470E27A-A074-4B16-8304-960FFE8C9289&Section=ALL | title=BENNETT, The Hon. Dr. Carolyn, P.C., M.D. | publisher=Library of Parliament | access-date=November 8, 2015}}{{cite web | url=https://www.havergal.on.ca/discover/who-we-are/notable-old-girls/ | title=NOTABLE OLD GIRLS | publisher=Havergal College | access-date=8 November 2015}} She graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1974{{cite web | url=https://www.utoronto.ca/news/meet-new-cabinet-ministers-university-toronto | title=Meet the new cabinet ministers from the University of Toronto | publisher=University of Toronto | date=4 November 2015 | access-date=3 July 2021}} and received her certification in family medicine in 1976. In 2004, she was awarded an honorary fellowship from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada for her contributions to medicine, especially women's health.{{cite news | work = Canadian Corporate News | date = June 25, 2004 | title = Media Advisory: The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett Receives Honorary Fellowship from the SOGC.}}

Bennett was a family physician for 20 years before entering politics.{{Cite web|title=Women Physicians Change the World – Political Activism – Dr. Jill Stein|url=https://fmwc.ca/women-physicians-change-the-world-political-activism-dr-jill-stein/|access-date=2019-02-07|website=fmwc.ca|date=10 April 2018|archive-date=2019-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426152626/https://fmwc.ca/women-physicians-change-the-world-political-activism-dr-jill-stein/|url-status=dead}}

Bennett worked as a family physician at Wellesley Hospital and Women's College Hospital in Toronto from 1977 to 1997 and was a founding partner in Bedford Medical Associates. She was also president of the medical staff association of Women's College Hospital and has a clinical adjunct appointment as an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto. Bennett served on the boards of Havergal College, Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

Bennett co-authored Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System with Rick Archbold, published in October 2000.{{Cite book|last=Bennett, Carolyn (Carolyn A.)|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/44405893|title=Kill or cure? : how Canadians can remake their health care system|date=2000|publisher=HarperCollins|others=Archbold, Rick, 1950-|isbn=0-00-200057-1|location=Toronto|oclc=44405893}}

Bennett ran for public office in the 1995 Ontario provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party.{{cite news | title = Carolyn Bennett takes your questions on the Liberal leadership race | publisher = The Globe and Mail | date = September 13, 2006}} Running in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick, she lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Isabel Bassett by about 3,500 votes.{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=St.+Andrew-St.+Patrick&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607001915/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=St.+Andrew-St.+Patrick&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=June 7, 2014 }}

Bennett was more successful in the 1997 federal election, defeating her closest opponent in St. Paul's Peter Atkins by almost 15,000 votes.{{cite news |title=Final Results Riding by Riding |newspaper=Calgary Herald |date=June 4, 1997 |page=A5}} She was re-elected by increased margins in the elections of 2000 and 2004.{{cite news |title=Election Results |newspaper=Star — Phoenix |location=Saskatoon, SK |date=November 28, 2000 |page=A8}}{{cite news |title=Election results...riding by riding |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=June 29, 2004 |page=A14}}

On December 12, 2003, after Paul Martin became Prime Minister, he appointed Bennett as his Minister of State for Public Health.{{cite journal |doi=10.1503/cmaj.1040580|title=Building a national public health system|year=2004|last1=Bennett|first1=C.|journal=Canadian Medical Association Journal|volume=170|issue=9|pages=1425–1426|pmid=15111478|pmc=395818}} In her two years as Minister, she set up the Public Health Agency of Canada, appointed the first chief public health officer for Canada, and established the Public Health Network.{{Cite web|url=http://cbennett.liberal.ca/biography/|title=Biography - Carolyn Bennett - Your member of parliament for Toronto-St. Paul's|website=cbennett.liberal.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07}}

She was chair of the Canada-Israel Friendship Group from 1999 to 2003 and is a member of Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel.

In the 2006 election, Bennett defeated two main challengers who were both touted as star candidates, Peter Kent of the Conservatives and Paul Summerville of the New Democratic Party.{{cite news | title = Toronto's political landscape unlikely to shift | date = September 7, 2008 | author = Bill Doskoch | publisher = CTV}}{{cite news | title = NDP won't raise taxes, pledges Jack Layton | date = December 5, 2005 | publisher = CTV}} Bennett was re-elected, but lost her cabinet position as the Liberals were defeated.{{cite news | url = http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/28689-federal-election-call-expected-soon/ | title = Federal election call expected soon | author = Justin Skinner | publisher = Inside Toronto | date = September 4, 2008 | access-date = 2015-05-24 | archive-date = May 24, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150524084001/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/28689-federal-election-call-expected-soon/ | url-status = dead }} She became only the third opposition MP in the history of St. Paul's. The riding had once been a noted bellwether, but swung heavily to the Liberals along with most other central Toronto ridings.

She announced on April 24, 2006 that she would pursue the leadership of the party.{{cite news | url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/liberal-leadership-field-grows-with-bennett-s-entry-1.618020 | title = Liberal leadership field grows with Bennett's entry | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date = April 24, 2006 | access-date = 2015-05-24 }} On September 15, 2006, she withdrew from the leadership race and threw her support behind former Ontario Premier Bob Rae.{{cite news | title = Bennett quits contest, backs Rae | date = September 16, 2006 | publisher = Toronto Star | author = Susan Delacourt}}

In the 39th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for social development, social economy, seniors, persons with disabilities, and public health.

She was re-elected in 2008.{{cite news |title=Greater Toronto Area Results |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=October 15, 2008 |page=U2}} In the 40th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for health.

She was re-elected in 2011.{{cite news |title=Riding results from across Canada |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |date=May 3, 2011 |page=A6}} In the 41st Parliament, Bennett was the Liberal critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

On November 4, 2015, Bennett was appointed the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, which was later renamed the position of Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. She was re-elected in 2019.

On June 24, 2021, Bennett was forced to apologize to Jody Wilson-Raybould for her response to a tweet by Wilson-Raybould concerning Justin Trudeau and his government's response to the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. Referencing her tweet, Bennett texted Wilson-Raybould the single-word message "Pension?". Wilson-Raybould called it "racist and misogynistic", posting a screenshot of the message on Twitter.{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/06/24/crown-indigenous-minister-carolyn-bennett-apologizes-for-message-that-mp-jody-wilson-raybould-calls-racist-and-misogynistic.html | title=Crown-Indigenous Minister Carolyn Bennett apologizes for message that MP Jody Wilson-Raybould calls 'racist' and misogynistic | publisher=Toronto Star | date=24 June 2021| access-date=29 June 2021| author=Patel, Raisa}}

On October 26, 2021, Bennett was sworn in as Canada's first ever Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, with Marc Miller taking her place as Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations. {{cite web | url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/10/26/prime-minister-welcomes-new-cabinet | title=Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet | date=26 October 2021 }}

On July 24, 2023, Bennett announced she would not be running in the next general election, and in the Cabinet shuffle two days later, she was demoted from her position as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-24 |title=Liberal minister Carolyn Bennett announces she will not stand for re-election |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberal-minister-carolyn-bennett-announces-she-will-not-stand-for-re-election-1.6491993 |access-date=2023-07-24 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/carolyn-bennetts-exit-is-good-news-in-the-fight-against-opioid-diversion|title=Adam Zivo: Carolyn Bennett's exit is good news in the fight against opioid diversion|work=National Post|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=January 26, 2024}} She resigned her seat on January 16, 2024, the same day it was reported she would be appointed Canada's Ambassador to Denmark.{{cite web|url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=10038|title=The Hon. Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.|website=Library of Parliament|accessdate=January 16, 2024}}{{Cite web|first=Louis|last=Blouin|date=January 16, 2024|title=Carolyn Bennett to be named ambassador to Denmark, sources say|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carolyn-bennett-ambassador-denmark-1.7085194|access-date=January 16, 2024|website=CBC News|language=en}} The federal by-election to replace her was held on June 24, 2024.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-05-21 |title=Government of Canada announces measures to protect Toronto-St. Paul's by-election from foreign interference |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/democratic-institutions/news/2024/05/government-of-canada-announces-measures-to-protect-toronto-st-pauls-by-election-from-foreign-interference.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=www.canada.ca}} The riding was succeeded by Conservative Party candidate Don Stewart.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/byelection-polls-liberal-conservative-ballot-vote-1.7243748 |title=Conservatives win longtime Liberal stronghold Toronto-St. Paul's in shock byelection result |date=June 25, 2024 |access-date=June 25, 2024}}

She is married to Canadian film producer Peter O'Brian. They have two sons.{{Cite web|url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-carolyn-bennett|title=The Honourable Carolyn Bennett|date=3 November 2015|access-date=5 January 2020|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026183648/https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-carolyn-bennett|url-status=dead}}

• Royal Life Saving Society Service Cross (1986){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
• EVE Award for Contributing to the Advancement of Women in Politics (2002){{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}
• [https://www.camimh.ca/ CAMIMH] Mental Health Champion Award (2003) {{Cite web|url=https://ww1.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/Bulletin/2003/december/newsMentalEn.asp|title=CPA Bulletin: December 2003 - NEWS - CAMIMH Honours Canadians for Raising Awareness About Mental Illness|date=2016-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807234908/https://ww1.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/Bulletin/2003/december/newsMentalEn.asp|access-date=2019-02-07|archive-date=2016-08-07}}
• Federation of Medical Women of Canada May Cohen Award{{cite web |title=May Cohen Award |url=https://fmwc.ca/awards/may-cohen-award |website=Federation of Medical Women of Canada}} (2006)
• W. Victor Johnston Award for Lifetime Contribution to Family Medicine in Canada and Internationally (2009) [https://www.cfpc.ca/uploadedFiles/Publications/CFPC%20Award%20Recipients%202009%20-%20News%20Release(1).pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826065428/http://www.cfpc.ca/uploadedFiles/Publications/CFPC%20Award%20Recipients%202009%20-%20News%20Release(1).pdf |date=August 26, 2011 }}
• National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Injury Prevention and Safety{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

{{2021 Canadian federal election/Toronto—St. Paul's}}

{{2019 Canadian federal election/Toronto—St. Paul's}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|Toronto—St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|31,481|55.26|+15.34|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Marnie MacDougall|15,376|26.99|-5.43|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Noah Richler|8,386|14.72|-7.91|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Kevin Farmer|1,729|3.03|-1.45|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|56,972|100.0  | |$208,833.75}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|252|–|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|57,224|–|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|77,433}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=35090&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=ON&PROVID=35&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Toronto—St. Paul's, September 30 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/20150815061116/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e |date=August 15, 2015 }}{{Cite web|url=http://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx|title = Election Night Results - Electoral Districts}}}}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|22,409|40.6|-9.9|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Maureen Harquail|17,864|32.4|+5.8|}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|William Molls|12,124|22.0|+8.7|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Jim McGarva|2,495|4.5|-4.6|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|John Kittredge|303|0.5|-0.1|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|55,195 |100.0|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|276 | 0.5|–| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|55,471 |68.2 |–| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 81,288 |–|–| }}

{{End}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|26,326|50.5| +0.2|$69,331}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Heather Jewell|13,800|26.6| +0.8|$53,617}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Anita Agrawal|6,880|13.3| -5.9|$13,606}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Justin Erdman|4,713|9.1|+4.3 |$3,526}}

{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|John Kittredge|313|0.6|–|$182}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 52,032|100.0|$86,488 }}

{{End}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2006|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|29,295|50.3|-8.1}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Peter Kent|15,021|25.8|+5.4}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Paul Summerville|11,189|19.2|+3.5}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Kevin Farmer|2,785|4.8|-0.7}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|58,290|100.0 }}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2004|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|32,171| 58.4|+4.1}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Barry Cline|11,226|20.4|-13.1*}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Norman Tobias|8,667 | 15.7|+6.3}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Peter Elgie|3,031|5.5|+3.9}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|55,095| 100.0}}

{{end}}

*Comparison to total of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote in 2000.

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2000|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|25,110|54.3 | 0.0}}

{{CANelec|CA|PC|Barry Cline|10,035|21.7 |-2.0 }}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|Theo Caldwell|5,415|11.7 |+4.4 }}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Guy Hunter|4,372|9.7 | -2.7}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Don Roebuck|759|1.6 | +0.4}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marijuana|Andrew Potter|221|0.5 | }}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Mark Till|125|0.3 | -0.1}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Barbara Seed|88|0.2 |-0.1 }}

{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Ron Parker|83|0.2 | -0.3}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|46,208| 100.0}}

{{end}}

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|1997|St. Paul's (electoral district)|St. Paul's|percent=yes|change=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Carolyn Bennett|26,389|54.3|-0.1}}

{{CANelec|CA|PC|Peter Atkins|11,520|23.7|-0.7}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Michael Halewood|6,028|12.4|+7.3}}

{{CANelec|CA|Reform|Francis Floszmann|3,564|7.3|-3.8}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Don Roebuck|597|1.2|+0.3}}

{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Neil Dickie|221|0.5|-0.2}}

{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Daniel Widdicombe|182|0.4|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Fernand Deschamps|135|0.3|+0.1}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|48,636 |100.0}}

{{end}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite news

| url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/full-list-of-justin-trudeau-s-cabinet-1.3300699

| title = Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet 31-member cabinet includes 15 women, attempt at regional balance

| publisher = CBC News

| date = 2015-11-04

}}

}}

• {{Official website|https://www.carolynbennett.ca}}
• [https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-carolyn-bennett Bio & Mandate from Prime Minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026183648/https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-carolyn-bennett |date=2021-10-26 }}
• {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=10038}}

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