Joe Peschisolido

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Joe Peschisolido

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

| image = MP_Joe_Peschisolido.jpg

| riding1 = Steveston—Richmond East

| parliament1 = Canadian

| term_start1 = October 19, 2015

| term_end1 = September 11, 2019

| predecessor1 = new district

| successor1 = Kenny Chiu

| riding2 = Richmond

| parliament2 = Canadian

| term_start2 = November 27, 2000

| term_end2 = June 28, 2004

| predecessor2 = Raymond Chan

| successor2 = Raymond Chan

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|4|27}}

| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Liberal (Before 1993; 2002–present)

| otherparty = Reform (1993-2000)

Canadian Alliance (2000-2002)

| spouse =

| residence = Richmond, British Columbia

| profession = Lawyer

| footnotes =

| country = Canada

}}

Joe Peschisolido (born April 27, 1963) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Richmond from 2000 to 2004 and as the MP for Steveston—Richmond East from 2015 to 2019. He was first elected as a member of the Canadian Alliance, but crossed the floor to the Liberal Party in 2002.

Background

Peschisolido has a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in political science from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Peschisolido is a fourth degree knight of the Knights of Columbus in Richmond, a member of the Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset and a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. He is an active parishioner of Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church and is a vegan, who believes in making healthy and sustainable food choices.{{Cite web|url=https://www.richmond-news.com/federal-election-2019/election-2019-steveston-richmond-east-riding-profile-and-candidates-1.23982797|title=ELECTION 2019: Steveston-Richmond East riding profile and candidates|website=Richmond News|date=21 October 2019 |access-date=2020-02-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022151557/https://www.richmond-news.com/federal-election-2019/election-2019-steveston-richmond-east-riding-profile-and-candidates-1.23982797|archive-date=2019-10-22|url-status=live}}

Political career

For decades, Peschisolido was a member of the Liberal Party, where he had worked as a youth co-ordinator for Jean Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign. In 1993, he joined the Reform Party of Canada (later the Canadian Alliance), running as their candidate in Etobicoke North in the 1993 general election and a subsequent 1996 by-election. He placed second both times.

=First term (2000 to 2004)=

Peschisolido relocated to British Columbia, where he was elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2000 general election, defeating Liberal incumbent, Raymond Chan.

In 2002, Peschisolido left the Canadian Alliance and crossed the floor to the Liberal Party without consulting with his constituents. This was due to the "process of political realignment" which eliminated both the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party, and instead creating the Conservative Party of Canada.

While serving in office, Peschisolido fought to protect the rights of taxpayers by introducing the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" in the 37th Parliament's first, second, and third sessions.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/Result.aspx?SponsorPersonId=1825&Language=e&Mode=1|title=Bills Sponsored by Joe Peschisolido|access-date=2015-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075046/http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/Result.aspx?SponsorPersonId=1825&Language=e&Mode=1|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=live}}

In 2002, Peschisolido helped broker the original Garden City land deal, which saw the transfer of said lands from the Canadian federal government to the City of Richmond. This deal would have seen the City of Richmond receive 75 to 80 percent of the land, with the rest of the property set aside for a trade and exhibition center, as well as commercial development.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=92134a9b-3b7b-4312-a185-01e3df3cb9b4|title=Joe Peschisolido Begins Political Comeback|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124659/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=92134a9b-3b7b-4312-a185-01e3df3cb9b4|archivedate=2015-09-24}}

In 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=f9d84c5f-5f2a-4d2b-9a6a-ac01c1adccf3&Language=E&Section=ALL|title=Peschisolido as Parliamentary Secretary|access-date=2015-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327180357/http://www.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=f9d84c5f-5f2a-4d2b-9a6a-ac01c1adccf3&Language=E&Section=ALL|archive-date=2015-03-27|url-status=live}} He was also Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=f9d84c5f-5f2a-4d2b-9a6a-ac01c1adccf3&Language=E&Section=ALL|title=Peschisolido as Vice Chair|access-date=2015-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327180357/http://www.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=f9d84c5f-5f2a-4d2b-9a6a-ac01c1adccf3&Language=E&Section=ALL|archive-date=2015-03-27|url-status=live}}

Peschisolido lost the Liberal nomination to his predecessor as Member of Parliament, Raymond Chan, who went on to retain the riding for the Liberals in the 2004 election.

=2011 election=

In 2011, Peschisolido won the Liberal nomination over Raymond Chan for Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2011 Canadian federal election. In the general election, Peschisolido was defeated by Alice Wong by more than 17,000 votes.

=Second term (2015 to 2019)=

On August 11, 2015, Peschisolido again won the Liberal nomination for Member of Parliament in the new riding of Steveston—Richmond East for the 2015 Canadian federal election.{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Peschisolido+gets+Liberal+nomination+amid+party+turmoil/11282442/story.html|title=Joe Peschisolido Accepts Steveston—Richmond East Liberal Party Nomination for Fall 2015 Election|date=2001-11-24|access-date=2019-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927224512/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/peschisolido+gets+liberal+nomination+amid+party+turmoil/11282442/story.html|archive-date=2016-09-27|url-status=live}}

On October 19, 2015, as a Liberal majority government was formed,{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/canadian-election-2015-liberals-jump-to-early-lead-as-polls-close-in-newfoundland-and-labrador/|title=Justin Trudeau and the Liberals Have a Majority Government|date=2015-10-20|access-date=2015-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020134316/http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/canadian-election-2015-liberals-jump-to-early-lead-as-polls-close-in-newfoundland-and-labrador|archive-date=2015-10-20|url-status=live}} Peschisolido was returned to Parliament.{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2284492/liberal-joe-peschisolido-elected-in-steveston-richmond-east/|title=Liberal Joe Peschisolido Elected Member of Parliament Representing Steveston-Richmond East|access-date=2015-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151021042345/http://globalnews.ca/news/2284492/liberal-joe-peschisolido-elected-in-steveston-richmond-east/|archive-date=2015-10-21|url-status=live}}

In July 2019, Global News reported the Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened an investigation into Peschisolido "after confidential police informants alleged the veteran politician had been knowingly associating with Chinese organized crime figures through his former real estate law practice in Richmond, B.C." Peschisolido's law firm allegedly received money via illicit channels from China as part of an attempt by the firm's clients to circumvent the legal immigration process.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5895528/richmond-mp-attempts-to-distance-himself-from-illegal-international-money-laundering-scheme-court-case/|title=Richmond MP aims to distance himself from 'money-laundering scheme' court case|last=Cooper|first=Sam|date=September 13, 2019|work=Global News|access-date=September 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913231636/https://globalnews.ca/news/5895528/richmond-mp-attempts-to-distance-himself-from-illegal-international-money-laundering-scheme-court-case/|archive-date=September 13, 2019|url-status=live}} No charges have been laid against Peschisolido or lawyers at his firm.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5476467/embattled-liberal-mp-subject-of-rcmp-file-according-to-police-sources/|title=Sources say RCMP opened file on Liberal MP whose firm facilitated real estate deals in B.C.|last=Cooper|first=Sam|date=2019-07-11|website=Global News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711175501/https://globalnews.ca/news/5476467/embattled-liberal-mp-subject-of-rcmp-file-according-to-police-sources/|archive-date=2019-07-11|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsnews.com/richmond-mp-denies-representing-alleged-chinese-cartel-member-1.23860004|title=Richmond MP denies representing alleged Chinese cartel member|last=Wood|first=Graeme|date=June 18, 2019|website=North Shore News|access-date=2019-07-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713180316/https://www.nsnews.com/richmond-mp-denies-representing-alleged-chinese-cartel-member-1.23860004|archive-date=July 13, 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5383423/liberal-mp-bare-trust-deal-transnational-money-laundering-probe/|title=Liberal MP involved in second bare trust deal with client named in 'transnational money laundering' probe|last=Cooper|first=Sam|date=2019-06-17|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713043441/https://globalnews.ca/news/5383423/liberal-mp-bare-trust-deal-transnational-money-laundering-probe/|archive-date=2019-07-13|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5346848/alleged-gang-kingpin-liberal-mp-law-firm-launder-money-bc/|title=Alleged gang kingpin may have used Liberal MP's law firm to launder money through B.C. condo deal|last1=Cooper|first1=Sam|last2=Hill|first2=Brian|date=2019-06-11|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714050209/https://globalnews.ca/news/5346848/alleged-gang-kingpin-liberal-mp-law-firm-launder-money-bc/|archive-date=2019-07-14|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/richmond-mp-joe-peschisolido-under-investigation-by-federal-ethics-watchdog|title=Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido under investigation by federal ethics watchdog|last=Smith|first=Joanna|date=August 8, 2019|work=Vancouver Sun|access-date=September 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810084119/https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/richmond-mp-joe-peschisolido-under-investigation-by-federal-ethics-watchdog|archive-date=August 10, 2019|url-status=live}} Peschisolido turned in his law license in 2018.{{cite web |title=Former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido repeatedly broke conflict of interest rules, watchdog says |date=2020-02-06 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220040900/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-joe-peschisolido-conflict-of-interest-1.5453732 |archive-date=2022-12-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-joe-peschisolido-conflict-of-interest-1.5453732}}

On February 5, 2020 the Ethics Commissioner of Canada released an investigative report on Peschisolido. The Commissioner found Peschisolido contravened subsections 21(3) and 20(1) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons for failing to file a statement of material change and by failing to file a full statement of the private interests.{{cite web |title=Former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido repeatedly broke conflict of interest rules, watchdog says |date=2020-02-06 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220040900/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-joe-peschisolido-conflict-of-interest-1.5453732 |archive-date=2022-12-20 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-joe-peschisolido-conflict-of-interest-1.5453732}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ipolitics.ca/news/former-liberal-b-c-mp-broke-conflict-of-interest-code-ethics-commissioner-finds | title=Former Liberal B.C. MP broke conflict of interest code, ethics commissioner finds }}{{cite web | url=https://ciec-ccie.parl.gc.ca/en/news-nouvelles/Pages/NR02052020.aspx | title=Commissioner Dion finds former Member failed to meet disclosure obligations }}{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7352842/intelligence-experts-crime-networks-canada-shooting-richmond-b-c/ | title=Did Canadian politicians know the victims of a targeted shooting at a trendy Richmond restaurant? | Globalnews.ca }}

Peschisolido was defeated by Kenny Chiu in the 2019 Canadian federal election, and Parliament could not apply sanctions since Peschisolido was no longer a sitting MP.{{cite web | url=https://www.ipolitics.ca/news/former-liberal-b-c-mp-broke-conflict-of-interest-code-ethics-commissioner-finds | title=Former Liberal B.C. MP broke conflict of interest code, ethics commissioner finds }}