Rodger Cuzner
{{short description|Canadian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Rodger Cuzner
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| office = Senator for Nova Scotia
| term_start = October 31, 2023
| term_end =
| nominator = Justin Trudeau
| appointed = Mary Simon
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = Consul General of Canada to the United States
| term_start1 = October 30, 2020
| term_end1 = June 2023
| primeminister1 = Justin Trudeau
| predecessor1 = David Alward
| successor1 = Bernadette Jordan
| riding2 = Cape Breton—Canso
{{small|(Bras d'Or—Cape Breton; 2000–2004)}}
| parliament2 = Canadian
| term_start2 = November 27, 2000
| term_end2 = October 21, 2019
| predecessor2 = Michelle Dockrill
| successor2 = Mike Kelloway
| title3 = Parliamentary Secretary posts
| suboffice4 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
| subterm4 = 2015–2019
| suboffice5 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
| subterm5 = 2003
| title6 = Shadow Cabinet posts
| suboffice7 = Critic for Employment and Social Development
| subterm7 = 2013–2015
| suboffice8 = Critic for Human Resources and Skills Development
| subterm8 = 2011–2013
| suboffice9 = Critic for Fisheries and Oceans
| subterm9 = 2010–2011
| suboffice10 = Chief Opposition Whip
| subterm10 = 2008–2010
| suboffice11 = Critic for Veterans Affairs
| subterm11 = 2006–2007
| birth_date = {{birth date and age | 1955|11|04}}
| birth_place = Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = Cape Breton
| spouse = Lynn Cuzner
| profession = Diplomat, Politician, Community organizer
| party = Progressive Senate Group
| otherparty = Liberal (until 2019)
}}
Rodger Trueman Cuzner {{post-nominals|country=CAN}} (born November 4, 1955) is a Canadian politician and diplomat who currently serves as a Senator for Nova Scotia in the Senate of Canada. He previously served as the Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Cape Breton—Canso and its predecessor, Bras d'Or—Cape Breton, from 2000 to 2019. For most of 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister under Jean Chrétien, and served as Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour in the Justin Trudeau government.{{Cite web|url=https://pm.gc.ca/eng/parliamentary-secretaries/rodger-cuzner|title=Rodger Cuzner|website=Prime Minister of Canada|language=en|access-date=2018-11-24}} Between 2020 and 2023, Cuzner served as the Consul General of Canada to the United States (Boston).
Early life and education
Cuzner was born the second of six children born to Trueman and Kay Cuzner in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He studied physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. He worked as the Special Event Coordinator for the Cape Breton Department of Recreation, Culture and Facilities, where he was responsible for major events like the Millennium Countdown 2000. Cuzner has been very involved with hockey throughout his life. He coached Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Games in 1995 and 1999.
Political career
Cuzner was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Bras d'Or—Cape Breton and, later, Cape Breton—Canso. He was first elected in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000/11/28+232.raw+FE00Nov28+2|title=Liberals stage C.B. comeback|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=November 28, 2000|accessdate=2014-09-29|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124084348/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000%2F11%2F28+232.raw+FE00Nov28+2|archivedate=January 24, 2005|url-status=dead}} Cuzner served as Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from January 13, 2003, to December 11, 2003, and held other key positions within the Liberal Caucus, including chair of Nova Scotia Caucus, chair of Atlantic Caucus, and Chief Opposition Whip. He also served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.{{cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/news/local/cuzner-named-parliamentary-secretary-10700/|title=Cuzner named parliamentary secretary|work=Cape Breton Post|date=December 2, 2015|accessdate=2021-04-26}}{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-parliamentary-secretaries-named-1.3346942 | title=Bill Blair, Adam Vaughan among new parliamentary secretaries | publisher=CBC News | accessdate=2015-12-11 | author=Fitz-Morris, James | website=www.cbc.ca | date=2 December 2015}}
In his early years in parliament, Cuzner focused on matters surrounding both Veteran Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans. During the later part of his Parliamentary career, much of his attention was directed toward Workforce Development and National Labour issues.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Global Affairs |date=2019-03-28 |title=Rodger Cuzner, Consul General of Canada in Boston, United States |url=https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/boston-rep.aspx?lang=eng |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=GAC}}
As an elected official representing Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, he worked with community and industry to build and mature the tourism sector. Major investments in infrastructure contributed to this growth, notably two of the top-rated golf courses in the world, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs.
Cuzner regularly represented the Liberal Party on the weekly MP panel on CTV News Channel's Power Play, and was regularly asked to appear on other national political affairs programs, on television, and radio.
Cuzner traditionally delivered a humorous, politically themed rewrite of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on the last house sitting before the holiday break.{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/12/10/rodger-cuzner-christmas-poem-kevin-vickers_n_6304402.html | title=Rodger Cuzner's Christmas Poem Mocks Tories, Salutes Kevin Vickers | publisher=Huffington Post Canada | date=11 December 2015 | accessdate=30 August 2015 | author=Maloney, Ryan}} After his retirement, Darren Fisher delivered it.https://globalnews.ca/video/10171775/liberals-recite-2023-christmas-poem-in-house-of-commons-tradition
He was twice voted as "Most Collegial" Member of Parliament by his Parliamentary colleagues, and was described by Maclean's in 2017 as "Parliament's Sense of Humour".{{Cite news|url=https://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/presenting-the-2013-parliamentarians-of-the-year/|title=2013 Parliamentarians of the Year - Macleans.ca|date=2013-11-18|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/rodger-cuzner-parliaments-sense-of-humour/|title=Rodger Cuzner: Parliament's sense of humour - Macleans.ca|date=2017-11-07|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US}}
Cuzner was re-elected to a sixth straight term with 74.4% of the vote in the 2015 Canadian federal election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-federal-election-1.3278654|title=Here are Nova Scotia's final riding-by-riding results {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US}}
On April 26, 2019, Cuzner announced he wouldn't run for re-election in the 2019 election.{{cite web|url=https://www.capebretonpost.com/news/local/cape-breton-canso-mp-rodger-cuzner-calls-it-a-career-305821/|title=Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner calls it a career|work=Cape Breton Post|date=April 26, 2019|accessdate=2019-04-27}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/longtime-cape-breton-mp-rodger-cuzner-will-not-re-offer-1.5112047|title=Longtime Cape Breton Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner will not re-offer|publisher=CBC News|date=April 26, 2019|accessdate=2019-04-27}}
Post-political life
On October 31, 2020, it was reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Cuzner as the new Consul General to the United States (Boston).{{Cite web|title=Trudeau names former Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner as new consul general in Boston|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7432563/trudeau-names-former-liberal-mp-rodger-cuzner-as-new-consul-general-in-boston/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Global News|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2020/10/announcement-of-new-diplomatic-appointments0.html|title=Announcement of new diplomatic appointments|publisher=Global Affairs Canada|date=October 30, 2020|accessdate=2023-05-18}}
On October 31, 2023, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.{{cite web|title=The Prime Minister announces the appointment of five senators|url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/10/31/prime-minister-announces-appointment-senators|publisher=Prime Minister of Canada|date=October 31, 2023|accessdate=November 1, 2023}}
Personal life
Cuzner and his wife Lynn (née Hopkins) have three children: Mitch, Scott and Brad.
Electoral record
{{2015 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
{{2011 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
{{2000 Canadian federal election/Cape Breton—Canso}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=4246}}
- [http://rodgercuzner.liberal.ca/en/default.aspx Official website]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Senate of Canada}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuzner, Rodger}}
Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Nova Scotia
Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs
Category:Canadian senators from Nova Scotia
Category:Independent Canadian senators
Category:Progressive Senate Group
Category:People from Glace Bay
Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada