Rob Oliphant

Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Oliphant studied commerce and art at the University of Toronto, graduating in 1978, with a Bachelor of Commerce. While at university he rowed on the men's varsity rowing crew, and was involved in music and student politics.

Oliphant lives in Sherwood Park, Toronto with his husband, Marco A. Fiola, the principal of York University - Glendon Campus.

Upon graduating from the University of Toronto, Oliphant returned to Sault Ste. Marie and worked at Algoma Steel as an accountant in computer systems development. He remained in Sault Ste. Marie for two years before entering the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia. He was sponsored as a candidate for ministry by his home church, Central United Church in Sault Ste. Marie. After completing his Master of Divinity studies at UBC, Oliphant was ordained as a United Church minister in 1984. He has been stationed in diverse communities such as Montreal, Toronto, Quyon, Quebec, Newfoundland and Whitehorse.

Between 1999 and 2008, Oliphant was a member of the Team Ministry at Eglinton St. George's United Church in Toronto, one of the largest congregations in the United Church of Canada. In 2004, he was given an award for 18 years of continuous work in interfaith dialogue.

On May 17, 2008, Oliphant obtained his Doctorate of Ministry (D.Min.) from the Chicago Theological Seminary.

Oliphant served as the president and CEO of the Asthma Society of Canada from 2011 to 2015, before being re-elected to the House of Commons as the representative for Don Valley West in the 2015 federal election.

Oliphant worked as a senior advisor in the Ontario government. In 1989, he was asked by then-Premier David Peterson to work in a senior role in the Premier's office. He subsequently went on to serve as Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff to two ministers, Mavis Wilson, Ontario Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, and Christine Hart, Ontario Minister of Culture and Communications.

Oliphant has worked on many campaigns at both the federal and provincial levels and has held official positions in the party. He was an active young Liberal serving as President of the University of Toronto Liberal Club, Chair of "Youth for Peterson", and served on the Executive of the Ontario New (Young) Liberals. In anticipation of a federal election in 1978, Oliphant was part of a group of young Liberals who trained in tour operations for Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He has worked in campaigns in Sault Ste. Marie, for candidates including Alex Sinclair and Ron Irwin, in Toronto, for Margaret Campbell, Roy MacLaren, Carolyn Bennett, Allan Rock and several others, and in Yukon, for former Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Shirley Adamson. During the 2006 federal leadership race, Oliphant was an advisor to Michael Ignatieff's campaign.

In December 2006, columnist Michael Valpy mentioned Oliphant's name as a possible contender for the federal Liberal nomination for Toronto Centre should Bill Graham decide not to seek re-election.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/liberals-take-aim-at-toronto-centre/article972757/|title=Liberals take aim at Toronto Centre|date=December 9, 2006|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=May 1, 2016}} It was subsequently reported in January 2007 that Oliphant was hosting exploratory meetings in the riding.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/liberals-ready-to-rumble/article721220/|title=Liberals ready to rumble|date=January 20, 2007|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=May 1, 2016}} However, Oliphant did not pursue this bid, deferring to former NDP Premier Bob Rae who became the Liberal candidate in this riding.

In January 2008, Oliphant sought the federal Liberal nomination of Don Valley West after John Godfrey announced his retirement.{{cite web|url=https://xtramagazine.com/power/oliphant-seeks-liberal-nod-in-don-valley-west-16560|title=Oliphant seeks Liberal nod in Don Valley West|date=February 13, 2008|work=Xtra!|access-date=June 3, 2023}} Others interested in the nomination included former Liberal MP Sarmite Bulte,{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2008/01/07/former_mp_seeks_liberal_nomination_in_riding_being_vacated_by_godfrey.html|title=Former MP seeks Liberal nomination in riding being vacated by Godfrey|date=January 7, 2008|work=Toronto|access-date=May 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/178326|title=Orchard knew Liberals wanted an aboriginal woman in Sask. byelection: Goodale|date=January 9, 2008|publisher=Canadian Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607073150/http://www.canadaeast.com/news/article/178326|archive-date=June 7, 2008|url-status=dead}} prominent constitutional expert Deborah Coyne, local imam Abdul Ingar, and Jonathan Mousley.{{cite news|title=Don Valley West Liberal nomination getting crowded, Bulte and Mousley interested|last=Abbas|first=Rana|date=January 14, 2008|work=The Hill Times}} During the nomination process, Coyne accused Oliphant and Bulte supporters of signing up members who hadn't paid a membership fee, a violation of party rules. Members of the press contacted several people who had signed up as members who confirmed they had not paid a fee. Oliphant replied that he had instructed his campaign team to follow the rules.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bitter-fight-for-liberal-nomination-in-don-valley-west-1.756911|title=Bitter fight for Liberal nomination in Don Valley West|date=February 15, 2008|publisher=CBC News|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

On February 25, 2008, Coyne withdrew from the nomination race and endorsed Oliphant.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/19665-oliphant-wins-tough-federal-liberal-race/|title=Oliphant wins tough federal Liberal race|last=Queen|first=Lisa|date=March 3, 2008|publisher=Inside Toronto|access-date=May 1, 2016}} On March 2, 2008, he won the nomination in the fourth round of voting to become the Liberal party candidate in the federal by-election. The by-election had been called for September 22, 2008,{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2008/08/17/don_valley_west_federal_byelection_set_for_sept_22.html|title=Don Valley West federal by-election set for Sept. 22|date=August 17, 2008|work=Toronto Star|access-date=May 1, 2016}} but this was cancelled in the wake of the general election called for October 14, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://xtramagazine.com/power/whos-running-in-your-riding-14708|title=Who's running in your riding?|date=September 16, 2008|work=Xtra!|access-date=June 3, 2023}}

Oliphant was elected to the House of Commons on October 14, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://torontoobserver.ca/2008/10/14/election-2008-liberals-oliphant-holds-the-fort-in-don-valley-west/|title=Liberal's Oliphant holds the fort in Don Valley West|date=October 14, 2008|work=The Toronto Observer|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

He was named to the Shadow Cabinet by Stéphane Dion as Critic for Veterans Affairs in November 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/rob-oliphant/|title=Rob Oliphant|website=HuffPost Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} He was appointed to the same post by Michael Ignatieff in October 2009. On September 7, 2010, in announcing the team of Opposition Critics, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff named Oliphant to the Multiculturalism post.

He served as the co-chair of the Canada-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, treasurer-secretary of the Canada-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group and vice-chair of the All-Party Arts Caucus, the Liberal Caucus' Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison with Queen's Park on Ontario Issues, and the Federal Caucus Liaison of the Ontario Young Liberals.

In the 2011 election, Oliphant was defeated by the Conservative candidate John Carmichael.{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/05/03/liberals_crushed_in_gta.html|title=Liberals crushed in GTA|date=May 3, 2011|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=May 1, 2016}} Four years later, he reclaimed the riding, defeating Carmichael in a rematch.{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2283942/rob-oliphant-elected-in-the-don-valley-west-riding-for-the-liberal-party/|title=Rob Oliphant elected in the Don Valley West riding for the Liberal party|date=October 20, 2015|publisher=Global News|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

Oliphant was elected to the House of Commons on October 19, 2015, representing the federal riding of Don Valley West.

In May 2016, Rob rose in the House of Commons to co-sponsor Bill C-233, an Act respecting a national strategy for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, at second reading.{{Cite web|url=https://openparliament.ca/bills/42-1/C-233/?tab=mentions&singlepage=1|title=Bill C-233 {{!}} openparliament.ca|website=openparliament.ca|access-date=2019-07-22}} The bill legislated the creation of a National Alzheimer's and other Dementias Strategy. The Liberal government put $50 million over 10 years towards the strategy to fund awareness, research, and care and support for patients, families and caregivers all living with the challenges of dementia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/dementia-strategy.html|title=A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire|last=Canada|first=Public Health Agency of|date=2019-06-17|website=aem|access-date=2019-07-22}}

In March 2017, Oliphant successfully sponsored and revived a previous Senate Private Member's Bill (PMB) initiated by former Senator Jim Cowan known as (S-201) which sought to implement national penalties against genetic discrimination. This novel PMB was not supported by the government but passed successfully during its third reading due to Liberal backbenchers voting against Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould's suggested amendments, which would have limited the scope of the bill.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.hilltimes.com/2017/03/08/liberal-backbench-defy-government-pass-controversial-genetic-discrimination-bill/99206|title=Oliphant calls it a victory for Parliament, Grit backbenchers defy government to pass Genetic Discrimination Bill|date=2017-03-08|website=The Hill Times|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-02-14}}

On May 3, 2019, Oliphant was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.{{Cite web|url=https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2019/05/03/prime-minister-announces-changes-parliamentary-secretaries|title=Prime Minister announces changes to parliamentary secretaries|date=2019-05-03|website=Prime Minister of Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} He had previously served as the Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Oliphant then worked closely with the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Rob is also Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the Canada-Pakistan Friendship Group.{{Cite web|url=https://pm.gc.ca/eng/parliamentary-secretaries/rob-oliphant|title=Rob Oliphant|date=2019-05-03|website=Prime Minister of Canada|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}} He served as Co-Chair of the House of Commons and Senate Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying and as Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security from 2015 to 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2772380/ottawa-has-no-place-in-the-deathbeds-of-the-nation-liberal-mp-rob-oliphant/|title=Ottawa has no place in the deathbeds of the nation: Liberal MP Rob Oliphant - National {{!}} Globalnews.ca|date=2016-06-19|website=globalnews.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}

He was re-elected in the 2019 federal election and has been serving as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs since May 3, 2019. Oliphant was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on December 3, 2021.{{cite web|date=December 3, 2021|title=Prime Minister welcomes new parliamentary secretaries|url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/12/03/prime-minister-welcomes-new-parliamentary-secretaries|access-date=December 4, 2021|work=Prime Minister of Canada}}{{Cite web|date=2021-12-20|title=Fergus, Oliphant shut out of cabinet, but sworn in as privy councillors, giving them access to cabinet docs|url=https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/12/20/fergus-oliphant-shut-out-of-cabinet-but-sworn-in-as-privy-councillors-giving-them-access-to-cabinet-docs/335176|access-date=2022-02-16|website=The Hill Times|language=en-CA}}

{{2025 Canadian federal election/Don Valley West}}

{{2021 Canadian federal election/Don Valley West}}

{{2019 Canadian federal election/Don Valley West}}

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

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Rob Oliphant| 27,472 | 53.78 | +12.29 |–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|John Carmichael| 19,206 | 37.6| -5.33 |–}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Syeda Riaz| 3,076 | 6.02 | -4.73 |–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Natalie Hunt| 848 | 1.66 | -1.91 |–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|John Kittredge| 325 | 0.64 |–|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Elizabeth Hill| 84 | 0.16 | -0.19 |–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Sharon Cromwell| 75 | 0.15 |–|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 51,086 | 100.0 | -4.48 |$202,821.40}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 217 | 0.4 | +0.07 }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 51,303 | 72.75 | +5.91 }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|70,524|–| -12.15 }}

{{CANelec/gain|CA|Liberal|Conservative|+8.81}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=35021&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 Don Valley West, 30 September 2015][http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates]}}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|John Carmichael| 22,962 | 42.93|+4.11|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Rob Oliphant| 22,351 | 41.79|-2.57|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Nicole Yovanoff| 6,280 | 11.74|+1.55|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Georgina Wilcock| 1,703 | 3.18|-3.12|–}}

{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Dimitris Kabitsis | 186 | 0.35|+0.02|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes| 53,482 |100.00|–}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 176| 0.33|–| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|53,658 | 66.84|–| }}

{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 80,276 |–|–| }}

{{CANelec/gain|CA|Conservative|Liberal|+3.34}}

{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Rob Oliphant | 22,212 | 44.36|-9.2 |$60,129}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|John Carmichael| 19,441 | 38.83|+5.6 |$82,633}}

{{CANelec|CA|NDP|David Sparrow | 5,102 | 10.19|+1.1 |$67,984}}

{{CANelec|CA|Green|Georgina Wilcock | 3,155 | 6.30| +2.8|$10,725}}

{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Catherine Holliday | 162 | 0.32|–|}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 50,072 |100.00|$85,470 }}

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

{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|–| 62.8}}

{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|-7.4}}

{{end}}

• Clan Oliphant, a Highland Scottish clan
• United Church of Canada
• Liberal Party of Canada
• Asthma Society of Canada

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{{Commons category|Rob Oliphant}}

• [http://www.roboliphant.ca Rob Oliphant]
• {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=17274}}

{{Current Members of the Canadian House of Commons}}

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Category:1956 births

Category:LGBTQ Protestant clergy

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