Ted Opitz

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Lieutenant-Colonel

| name = Ted Opitz

| honorific-suffix = CD

| image = File:OpitzMP.png

| caption = Opitz in 2017

| imagesize = 200px

| riding = Etobicoke Centre

| parliament = Canadian

| term_start = May 2, 2011

| term_end = August 4, 2015

| predecessor = Borys Wrzesnewskyj

| successor = Borys Wrzesnewskyj

| party = Conservative

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|08|25}}

| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| profession = Soldier, political advisor

| residence = Etobicoke, Toronto

| spouse = Cynthia

| nickname =

| allegiance = {{flag|Canada}}

| branch = {{army|Canada}}

| serviceyears = 1978–2011

| rank = Lieutenant-Colonel

| battles = Bosnian War

| mawards =See list

}}

Ted J. Opitz, CD (born August 25, 1961) is a Canadian politician and a retired Canadian Forces Lieutenant-Colonel who represented the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Centre as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada from 2011 to 2015.

Background

Opitz was born in the Parkdale area of Toronto in 1961 and is the youngest of four children. Opitz's parents were originally from Poland and immigrated to Canada shortly after World War II.{{cite web |title=About Ted Opitz |url=https://www.etobicokecentrecpc.ca/about_ted_opitz |website=Etobicoke Centre Conservatives |accessdate=10 December 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.conservative.ca/?cr=etobicoke-centre |title=Member of Parliament: Etobicoke Centre |publisher=Conservative Party of Canada |date=March 7, 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803173409/http://www.conservative.ca/?cr=etobicoke-centre |archivedate=August 3, 2012}}

In 1978, Opitz enrolled as a private in the Canadian Army Reserves and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel during 33 years of service. In 1998 and early 1999, he served in Bosnia as a member of NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR). During his military career, he performed various roles ranging from Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Canadian Forces College, a course instructor and military planner for Pope John Paul II and his World Youth Day visit to Canada in 2002. Prior to running and being elected to Parliament, Opitz was the Commanding Officer of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

During his military service, Opitz also had parallel careers in the Telecom industry, as well as completing a BA in English at York University. Starting as a technician, Opitz worked his way up to sales and marketing and managerial roles in product management and high speed internet development.

In June 2008 Opitz was one of three candidates for the Conservative nomination in Mississauga South, losing to financial consultant Hugh Arrison.{{cite news |url=http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/3138581-conservative-party-picks-new-candidate/ |title=Conservative Party picks new candidate |newspaper=Mississauga News |date=June 10, 2008}}

For the past two years, Opitz was the Senior Regional Advisor to Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. In that role, he represented the Government of Canada and the Minister in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.

In Etobicoke, Opitz has been recognized for his volunteer work with the Polish community and youth in the region. Opitz has lived in Etobicoke Centre with his wife Cynthia since 1994 and was elected as the Member of Parliament in May 2011, serving until 2015.

Politics

Opitz was elected in 2011 federal election.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/places/ontario-ridings/election-fed2011/r35022/ Election 2011: Don Valley West]. The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2011. He won by a margin of 26 votes over Liberal incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj in the initial count, triggering an automatic judicial recount.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/judicial-recounts-expected-in-2-ridings-1.995834|title=Judicial recounts expected in 2 ridings|publisher=CBC News|date=March 3, 2011|accessdate=November 24, 2015}} The recount confirmed his win but was later declared null and void on May 18, 2012 due to alleged irregularities in the voting registration process.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/05/23/recount_confirms_tory_win_in_etobicoke_centre.html |title=Recount confirms Tory win in Etobicoke Centre|newspaper=Toronto Star |date=May 23, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/toronto-riding-s-election-result-tossed-by-judge-1.1222980|title=Toronto riding's election result tossed by judge|publisher=CBC News|date=May 18, 2012|accessdate=November 24, 2015}} However, Opitz appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada,{{cite news|title=Tory MP asks Supreme Court to uphold Toronto riding result|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tory-mp-asks-supreme-court-to-uphold-toronto-riding-result-1.1216427|accessdate=November 24, 2015|publisher=CBC News|date=May 28, 2012}} which reversed the lower court's ruling and upheld the original election result on October 25, 2012.{{cite news|title=Conservative MP Ted Opitz can keep seat in Etobicoke Centre, Supreme Court rules|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/10/25/conservative_mp_ted_opitz_can_keep_seat_in_etobicoke_centre_supreme_court_rules.html|accessdate=November 24, 2015|work=Toronto Star|date=October 25, 2012}}

As a Member of Parliament, Opitz sat on the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMembership.aspx?Cmte=ACVA&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2 |title=ACVA - Members - House of Commons of Canada |website=www.parl.gc.ca |access-date=January 30, 2015}} and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/CommitteeMembership.aspx?Cmte=PROC&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2 |title=PROC - Members - House of Commons of Canada |website=www.parl.gc.ca |access-date=January 30, 2014}} In February 2012, Opitz was chosen as a delegate to represent the Parliament of Canada at both the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and at the 56th Conference on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.[http://www.tedopitz.ca/?p=72 "MP Ted Opitz Joins Canadian Delegation at the 56th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402161633/http://www.tedopitz.ca/?p=72 |date=2015-04-02 }}. tedopitz.ca, February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2012. He also is a vice-chairman of the Canada-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Association and chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.[http://www.parl.gc.ca/IIA/Default.aspx?DCId=4&DTId=1&P=other_interparliamentary_groups&Language=E Parliament of Canada], List of Interparliamentary Groups. Retrieved on March 10, 2015.

In 2013, Opitz acknowledged in an agreement with Elections Canada that his 2008 nomination donations violated the Canada Elections Act.{{cite web|url=http://www.hilltimes.com/news/politics/2014/02/19/elections-canada-says-opitz-exceeded-2008-nomination-campaign-donation-only/37543|title=Elections Canada says Opitz exceeded 2008 nomination campaign donation, only had one other donor for $50|work=The Hill Times|date=February 19, 2014|accessdate=November 24, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://o.canada.com/news/national/elections-watchdog-says-ted-opitz-exceeded-campaign-limit-in-2008|title=Elections watchdog says Ted Opitz exceeded campaign limit in 2008|publisher=Canada.com|date=January 28, 2014|accessdate=November 24, 2015}}

Opitz was one of thirteen Canadians banned from travelling to Russia under sanctions imposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/russian-sanctions-against-canadians-a-badge-of-honour-1.2584137|title=Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour'|author=Susana Mas|date=March 24, 2013|work=CBC News|accessdate=March 24, 2014}} He replied via his official Twitter account, "Today's sanctions by Russia on myself and colleagues demonstrate Canada has been an effective voice in the world in support of Ukraine."

In the 2015 federal election, Opitz faced Wrzesnewskyj in a rematch of the 2011 contest and was defeated by 9,542 votes.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/federal-ridings-toronto-gta/2015/10/19/liberal-borys-wrzesnewskyj-wins-etobicoke-centre.html |title=Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj wins Etobicoke Centre |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 19, 2015}}

In the 2019 federal election, Optiz ran for election in his former riding and finished second to the Liberal candidate, Yvan Baker.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/10/21/liberal-yvan-baker-cruises-to-victory-in-etobicoke-centre.html|title=Liberal Yvan Baker cruises to victory in Etobicoke Centre in Canada's 2019 election|date=October 21, 2019|last=Ogilvie|first=Megan|website=The Star|accessdate=October 24, 2019}}