Rachel Blaney

Blaney was raised in Terrace, British Columbia, as an adoptive daughter of a Stellat'en First Nation family.{{cite news |first= Terry |last= Farrell |url=https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/rachel-blaney-represents-diversity-in-parliament/ |title=Rachel Blaney represents diversity in Parliament |access-date=November 30, 2017 |date= November 4, 2015 |newspaper=Comox Valley Record}} She moved to Nanaimo to attend Malaspina University-College where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in First Nation studies.{{cite news |title=Meet the new head of the multicultural association |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=August 15, 2007 |page=A3}} She moved to Campbell River in 1998 where she married, and raised three children. She worked with the Homalco First Nation before becoming the executive director of the Immigrant Welcome Centre of North Vancouver Island (later the Multicultural and Immigrant Services Association of North Vancouver Island) in 2007.{{cite news |title=Blaney to carry NDP banner into federal election |last=Douglas |first=Kristen |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=November 25, 2014}}

In fall 2014, the 40-year-old Blaney sought to be the New Democratic Party candidate in the North Island—Powell River riding for the upcoming 2015 federal election, gaining the candidacy over challenger Dave Coles, a retired union leader also from Campbell River. She was encouraged by a visit from party leader Tom Mulcair in December 2014, and campaigned throughout 2015 in preparation for the October election in which she was viewed as a likely contender to wrest her riding away from the Conservative Party.{{cite news |title=Group urges anti-Tory vote to go NDP in five ridings |last=Cassidy |first=Olivier |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver, British Columbia |date=October 13, 2015 |page=A6}} In the election, she electorally benefited from a wave of NDP support over Vancouver Island{{cite news |title=Island's largest riding votes orange, Blaney maintains early lead |last=Cleverley |first=Bill |newspaper=Times - Colonist |location= Victoria, British Columbia |date=October 20, 2015 |page=A5}} and defeated Conservative Party political advisor Laura Smith, retired meteorologist Peter Schwarzhoff for the Liberal Party and financial administrator Brenda Sayers for the Green Party.{{cite news |title=Candidates outline their strengths |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=October 13, 2015}}

Though Blaney was elected as a member of Parliament to represent the North Island—Powell River constituency, her party had lost seats overall and formed the third party in the 42nd Canadian Parliament. She opened constituency offices in Powell River and a shared Campbell River office with MLA Claire Trevena. For constituency work, Blaney hosted numerous public meetings on a variety of topics,{{cite news |title= After one year in office Blaney inspired and determined |last=Doll |first=Jocelyn |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=October 25, 2016}} including hosting Romeo Saganash to discuss aboriginal affairs{{cite news |title=Aboriginal affairs critic tours to gather support for C-262 |last=Doll |first=Jocelyn |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=September 14, 2016}} and the NDP critic on international trade Tracey Ramsey to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership.{{cite news |title=Blaney hosts anti-TPP info session |last=Doll |first=Jocelyn |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=July 28, 2016}} Party leader Tom Mulcair assigned her to be the party's critic on multiculturalism issues and deputy critic (to Matthew Dubé) for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities. Mulcair reassigned her critic role from multiculturalism to seniors issues in February 2017.{{cite news |title=Blaney takes on critic role for seniors issues |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=February 16, 2017}} Also in 2017, Blaney was named as a defendant in a defamation lawsuit for a Facebook post that read, "Taxpayers paid $550,000 for what? No notes, nothing tracking the work he had done.". The lawsuit was filed by Gordon Wilson, whose politically appointed position as "LNG - Buy BC Advocate" was eliminated by a new provincial government and that Blaney ought to have known that the post was false.{{cite news |title=Sacked LNG advocate threatens to sue B.C. premier |last=Smyth |first=Mike |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver, British Columbia |date=August 6, 2017 |page=A9}}{{cite news |title=Horgan files defence in defamation case: Premier cites responsible communication, fair comment and qualified privilege in disputing former LNG advocate's accusation |last=Dhillon |first= Sunny |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 11, 2017 |page=S1}} In the October 2017 NDP leadership election Blaney endorsed Jagmeet Singh,{{cite web |url=https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/blaney-endorses-jagmeet-singh-in-ndp-leadership-race/ |title=Blaney endorses Jagmeet Singh in NDP leadership race |publisher=Black Press Media |date=September 21, 2017 |access-date=August 24, 2019}} who went on to win and appoint Blaney as the party's Deputy Whip under Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet,{{cite news |title= North Island - Powell River MP Rachel Blaney named NDP deputy Whip |last=Davies |first=Mike |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=January 26, 2016}} and a year later, in 2019, added critic for veterans affair to her portfolio.{{cite news |title= MPs Gord Johns and Rachel Blaney appointed to new NDP party roles |newspaper=The Courtenay Comox Valley Record |location= Courtenay, British Columbia |date=March 14, 2019}}

Blaney introduced two bills into parliament. First, An Act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to housing) (Bill C-325), sought to add the right to proper housing free of unreasonable barriers into the Canadian Bill of Rights.{{cite news |title=Blaney introduces right to housing bill |newspaper=Campbell River Mirror |location= Campbell River, British Columbia |date=December 8, 2016}} It was the same bill that Peter Stoffer had introduced in the previous four parliaments (38 through 41), but while it received first reading in December 2016, the bill was defeated at second reading in November 2017 with both the Liberal and Conservative parties voting against it. Blaney went on to introduced An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (monthly guaranteed income supplement) (Bill C-449), in May 2019, which sought to allow guaranteed income supplement recipients additional time to file taxes and to mandate Employment and Social Development Canada to provide assistance in their tax filings.{{cite web |url=https://www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/54695/north-island-powell-river-mp-wants-to-help-seniors-retain-pensions/ |title=North Island-Powell River MP wants to help seniors retain pensions |publisher=mycomoxvalleynow.com (Vista Radio) |location= Courtenay, British Columbia |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=June 4, 2019}} Along with Courtenay—Alberni MP Gord Johns, she advocated for reversing the previous government's scheduled closure of the Comox Marine Communications and Traffic Services.{{cite news |title=MPs fighting for Coast Guard station |newspaper=The Courtenay Comox Valley Record |location=Courtenay, British Columbia |date=December 23, 2015}} While the new government directed the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to review the closure, they ultimately upheld it.{{cite news |title=Sun sets on communications centre |newspaper=The Courtenay Comox Valley Record |location=Courtenay, British Columbia |date=May 11, 2016}}

Blaney sought re-election in 2019 Canadian federal election but was again challenged by Schwarzhoff for the Liberal Party, as well as Port McNeill town councillor Shelley Downey for the Conservative Party.{{cite web |url=https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/shelley-downey-acclaimed-as-north-island-powell-river-federal-conservative-candidate/ |title=Shelley Downey acclaimed as North Island—Powell River federal Conservative candidate |publisher=Campbell River Mirror |date=December 11, 2018}} While Blaney won her North Island—Powell River riding, the 43rd Canadian Parliament convened in December 2019 with a Liberal Party minority government with her NDP being the fourth largest party. NDP leader Singh appointed Blaney to be party whip and kept her as critic for veterans affairs.{{cite web |url= https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/north-island-powell-river-mp-rachel-blaney-selected-as-ndp-party-whip/ |title=North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney selected as NDP party whip |publisher=Campbell River Mirror |date=November 23, 2019}} During the 43rd Parliament Blaney introduced one private member's bill: Bill C-283 An Act to establish National Food Waste Awareness Day and to provide for the development of a national strategy to reduce food waste in Canada. It was the same bill as was introduced by Ruth Ellen Brosseau in the 42nd Parliament, though it never came up for second reading in either parliament. The bill proposed to require the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to develop and implement a national strategy to reduce food waste and make October 16 "National Food Waste Awareness Day".{{cite web |url= https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/anti-food-waste-bill-introduced-by-north-island-powell-river-mp/ |title=Anti-Food Waste bill introduced by North Island-Powell River MP |publisher=Campbell River Mirror |date=April 13, 2021 |first=Marc |last=Kitteringham}}

On April 4, 2024, she announced she would not run again for office in the 2025 Canadian federal election.{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Mike |date=2024-04-04 |title=Rachel Blaney Will Not Run in Next Federal Election |url=https://www.mycowichanvalleynow.com/81970/featured/rachel-blaney-will-not-run-in-next-federal-election/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=My Cowichan Valley Now |language=en-CA}} She was succeeded by Conservative Aaron Gunn.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Election 2025: North Island-Powell River riding results |url=https://www.campbellrivermirror.com/news/election-2025-north-island-powell-river-riding-results-7972733 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Campbell River Mirror |language=en}}

{{2021 Canadian federal election/North Island—Powell River}}

{{2019 Canadian federal election/North Island—Powell River}}

{{CANelec/top|CA|2015|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Rachel Blaney|24,340|40.21|-1.53|$139,441.92}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Laura Smith|15,840|26.17|-19.86|$83,346.00}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Peter Schwarzhoff|15,416|25.47|+19.11|$40,436.14}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Brenda Sayers|4,940|8.16|+3.01|$37,000.01}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|60,536|100.00| |$268,365.27}}

{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|177|0.29|–}}

{{CANelec/total|Turnout|60,713|75.21|–}}

{{CANelec/total|Eligible voters|80,730}}

{{CANelec/notgain|CA|NDP|Conservative|+9.17}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada}}

{{end}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|position=right}}

• {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=18442}}
• [http://rachelblaney.ndp.ca/ Rachel Blaney - New Democratic Member of Parliament (North Island—Powell River)]
• [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-325/first-reading Bill C-325]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blaney, Rachel}}

Category:1974 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Democratic Party MPs

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia

Category:People from Campbell River, British Columbia

Category:People from Powell River, British Columbia

Category:Women members of the House of Commons of Canada

Category:Women in British Columbia politics

Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada