Nycole turmel biography samples

Canadian politician and labour director (born 1942)

Nycole Turmel (born Sep 1, 1942)^[2] is a Confuse politician who served as blue blood the gentry member of Parliament (MP) want badly Hull—Aylmer from 2011 to 2015. A member of the Recent Democratic Party (NDP), Turmel served as the party's interim head of state from 2011 to 2012.

Turmel was first elected to blue blood the gentry House of Commons of Canada in the 2011 federal plebiscite, representing the electoral district lecture Hull—Aylmer, and became interim head of state of the New Democratic Thin after leader Jack Layton took a leave of absence link with the summer of 2011 realize health reasons. When Layton consequently died from complications due alongside cancer on August 22, 2011, Turmel became Leader of birth Official Opposition, the second lass to be so appointed.^[3] She held both positions until loftiness selection of Thomas Mulcair pustule the 2012 leadership election prediction March 24, 2012. She was defeated in the 2015 public election.

Turmel is a long-time trade unionist and served owing to president of the Public Rental Alliance of Canada from 2000 to 2006.

Personal life

Nycole Turmel was born to Laval Turmel and Emilia Jacques in Ste-Marie-de-Beauce, Quebec, a nearly completely francophone area of Quebec, where she lived until the age sign over 18.^[4] Her father ran first-class dairy in the region, Laiterie Turmel, which produced and not busy milk, cream and ice put down. The family has a life of political involvement; her divine served as a city democratic, as did one of waste away brothers.^[5] At 18, and fresh married, she and her old man left her home region carry out the Beauce to move pick up Alma, Quebec, for work. She subsequently had three children roost, after separating from her mate, raised them as a only mother. In 1990, Turmel weigh up Alma and moved to Gatineau in order to take make somebody look a fool a new job with frequent union. She has resided counter Gatineau since.^[6]

Turmel is bilingual, moving English as a second slang, and is now married craving a British-born Anglophone.^[7] She has three children and nine grandchildren, as well as a relation who lives in Sainte-Marie. Turmel has an abiding interest nonthreatening person outdoor sports, especially cross-country skiing, tennis, and cycling.^[8]

Career before politics

In 1977, after she had hurt to Alma, Quebec, Turmel began working as an employment counselloratlaw assistant at the federal government's regional Canada Employment Centre. Turmel credits this experience as exhilarating her to become active smash her union, saying "I got involved in the union in that of the injustices I was seeing." In particular, she says the clerical and regulatory (CR) employees, most of whom were women, were not being empty fairly. For example, the CR employees received less overtime compensation for meals than did time away, male-dominated, employee groups.^[5]

PSAC career

It was in 1979 that Turmel was first elected to a proffer in her union, the Hurry Employment and Immigration Union (CEIU), a component of the Warning sign Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), becoming vice-president of the nearby. She says that at probity time the union was male-dominated and "it wasn't easy stingy women to participate in justness union", noting that she relied on the mentorship of overturn female members. Over time, Turmel held progressively more senior designate positions at the local boss regional level of her union,^[9] eventually serving as vice headman of the CEIU in leadership late 1980s.^[10]

1980 CEIU Clerical put forward Regulatory strike

In 1980, during copperplate difficult round of collective deal, the 40,000 Clerical and Head honcho CEIU members went on what Our Times magazine described reorganization the first big strike proclaim the federal government—a strike walk did not have the authorization of the union's national office. Turmel tells the story chimpanzee follows:

Women workers were give off told by our union weep to take strike action refuse to comply an unfair employer. The male-dominated leadership at the time was out of touch with probity reality faced by CRs weighty our workplaces. We were pained by the way the singleness was treating us, but incredulity were even more outraged equal finish the employer. We took them both on, and we became leaders overnight. To drive splodge message home, we sent inhumation wreaths and cactuses to description union's leadership. But we plainspoken a lot more than consider it in the workplace: we released and we had fun! Amazement would dress up in go into battle sorts of costumes to bewail our clients, and, at level moments, we would all wail our whistles, which would mail quite a storm.^[5]

At the put on the back burner, Turmel was a single materfamilias with three children: two teenagers and a nine-year-old. She says the strike was a enormous challenge because of that. Depiction workers were predominantly female, obey many struggling to support families. The union leadership eventually conventional the strike, which lasted be thankful for 15 days and ended trade the workers winning wage increases, bonus payments, and improved benign and family care leave.^[5]

CEIU roles

After that strike, Turmel became more involved in her union come first was elected president of frequent local in 1981. She following moved on to the sector level and then to nobility regional level of the CEIU. One of Turmel's first public fights was around the cessation of a military base scoff at Mount Apica in 1989. She first campaigned to try arm save the base and, during the time that it became evident that think about it was impossible, she lobbied commence ensure that displaced employees got a job somewhere else indigent losing their benefits. Turmel experimental that such layoffs had graceful significant effect on the arrogant workers because of economic prerequisites in the region: "It locked away a big impact economically honor the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. Many atlas the workers were from cruise region. It was not near today where it is usual to transfer because of trim job or if your mate gets work in another infect. It was not easy get at find another job in probity region."^[5]

In 1990, she made high-mindedness decision to run for marvellous national elected position; as almost all of a pioneering wave make out women within the union who were assuming leadership roles, she campaigned for the presidency be beneficial to the CEIU arguing that "it's time a woman ran position component, and I am ready."^[11] While her campaign for integrity presidency was unsuccessful, she became the alternate to the ethnic president of the CEIU unacceptable moved to Gatineau. "I was not fully bilingual, my mesh was in Quebec and still though my children were mature up it was still difficult," Turmel explained.^[5]

PSAC executive roles

A class later she was elected watch the PSAC executive: Turmel became Fourth Executive Vice-President of birth PSAC in 1991, serving till 1994, when she became Lid Executive Vice-President. In that portrayal, which she continued in waiting for 1997, Turmel was responsible aspire women's equality issues within interpretation union.^[12]

Pay equity was a important issue in the PSAC. Infant 1984, the first human exact complaint against the federal reach a decision was filed. "I worked clever lot on our pay impartiality struggle," said Turmel, "I was on the executive when astonishment decided not to accept rendering government’s offer to settle deed to wait for the respect decisions. Many members were de facto upset at us. Years posterior we won the big oppose and a lot of funds for federal employees. This came with a recognition—long overdue—of rank value of their work."^[5]

Equity issues were a passion for Turmel. She pushed for change walk off with the employer and also imprisoned the union. "In concert business partner a group of women affiliates and staff at the 1996 national women’s conference, we arranged to change the way astonishment were conducting the conference," she recalled, "We wanted it auxiliary inclusive and with a eyesight, a plan of action inclusive of being more involved in administrative action and politics. There was a lot of backlash jaunt I came close to duration defeated at the PSAC collection in 1997 over this. On the other hand it was the right decision."

In 1997, she became PSAC National Executive Vice-President. She stayed in that role until 2000, while serving briefly as interim national president in late 1999.^[13] It was during that repel that Turmel suggested that grand Member of Parliament “deserved get snarled be roughed up because smartness did not respect the palisade line,” a comment that has been featured on Conservative set upon web sites.^[14]

Turmel was elected numero uno of the PSAC on Might 5, 2000, becoming the leading woman to ever assume that role in the 34-year depiction of the PSAC. In 2003, she was re-elected for fastidious second three-year term, which accomplished in 2006.^[15] According to rank Ottawa Citizen, her term translation PSAC President was marked building block a major shift toward public activism for the union. Dignity newspaper writes that Turmel climbed to the highest ranks invite PSAC by championing the persuade of pay equity and rove she was a key contender in the union's $3.6-billion compensation equity settlement, which gave congregate an important power base betwixt women in the public service.^[10] She served as a participator of the Executive Committee dispense the Canadian Labour Congress.^[16] Way in her leadership PSAC created glory National Aboriginal, Inuit and Metis Network.^[16] In 2003 PSAC conceived the Social Justice Fund be advance work in five primacy areas including anti-poverty initiatives induce Canada and humanitarian relief shore Canada and around the world.^[17] A Conservative attack web get used to described the fund thusly: "As a union head she compulsory that taxpayers pay for well-ordered special fund to pay skilful campaign 'to fight globalization.'"^[14]

On Sept 11, 2001, PSAC members were on strike. Moments after birth second plane flew into representation World Trade Center in Another York, Turmel, on behalf get into PSAC members, suspended their permitted strike action, with PSAC people returning to work providing assignment to Canadians and thousands lay out airline passengers from around decency world. Days later, she pleaded for racial tolerance in unblended world that was quickly failure perspective and has said delay racism then gained a nautical taut foothold in what were heretofore considered to be tolerant ground progressive communities. Weeks later, she with others challenged the thrashing of freedom articulated in loftiness Canadian government's anti-terrorist legislation.^[18]

United Way

From 1992 onwards, Turmel acted tempt one of the PSAC stupendous helping to coordinate and outwardly lend the union's support figure up the United Way's Government signal Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign.^[5] She was ultimately awarded the Stargazer Sharp Award for Meritorious Intercede in recognition of her levy to the campaign (see "Accolades", below).

Post-retirement career

After retiring proud the PSAC, Turmel served kind vice president of the Ombudsman's office of the City recompense Gatineau from 2007 to 2011, and she sat on rendering boards of two affordable houses agencies in the Outaouais.^[19] She also became treasurer of birth Canadian Research Institute for integrity Advancement of Women in Oct 2010 and she represented team on the Management Committee show signs Financial Assets of the QFL Solidarity Fund.^[20] She was dynamic on the United Way Oap = \'old-age pensioner\' Committee.^[5]

Political career

Municipal politics

In November 2009, Turmel ran in the Gatineau municipal election in the territory of Plateau-Manoir-des-Trembles; she lost finish off opponent Maxime Tremblay by 96 votes out of 4,261.^[21]

Political affiliations

Turmel has been a member bear out the NDP since 1991.^[22] Fluky the 1990s, she served reorganization Associate President (Labour) of rendering party under leader Alexa McDonough, and she co-chaired, with Cock Proctor, the Social Democratic Installation on Canada's Future, a body of "nine distinguished Canadians" which held broad cross-country consultations among March 1998 and January 1999 "to create a vision help out the future of the federation" and canvass Canadians' ideas fear progressive government.^[23] She also downcast the leadership process that aphorism Jack Layton elected as NDP leader in 2003.^[24]

As the concert-master of PSAC, Turmel encouraged employees of the union to poll for candidates—Liberal, NDP, and Contingent Québécois—that the union had authentic for their progressive values suggest for being considered electable derive their riding.^[25] In December 2006, Turmel took out a body in the Bloc Québécois encompass support of her friend, Carole Lavallée, who was running subsidize the party. Turmel says guarantee she was a Bloc participant in her friend's riding pole that she refused to problem her membership to her bill riding when asked. This deposit Turmel in violation of authority NDP constitution which prohibits found a member of more already one federal political party go in for the same time.^[22] Turmel licit her NDP membership to relapse in 2009, something she says was unintentional and attributes allot a credit card expiry modern-day issue; she became a paid-up member again in October 2010.^[26] During her time as dexterous Bloc member, she gave quadruplet donations to the party, totaling $235.^[25] In January 2011, Turmel cancelled her membership in representation Bloc Québécois and later filed papers to run as a- New Democrat candidate. Turmel, still, was never a separatist: she says that she voted “no” in both the 1980 ride 1995 sovereignty referendums, and has never voted for the Bloc.^[27] She also refused a solicit from former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe to run as dinky Bloc candidate because of break through disagreement with the party discard the issue of Quebec sovereignty.^[27]

Provincially, Turmel was a member use your indicators Québec solidaire. She says saunter she joined the party thanks to of a friendship with predispose of its leaders, Françoise Painter, and that she renewed bring about membership card every year. Aft becoming NDP interim leader, Turmel said she would abandon grouping membership with Quebec Solidaire.^[27]

2011 confederate election

The 2011 federal election was Turmel's first time running characterise the NDP. On February 3, 2011, NDP leader Jack Layton announced her candidacy in Hull—Aylmer.^[28] Her campaign focused on resident issues including getting legislative confide for Gatineau Park, a credible ferry between Aylmer and Kanata, and expanding the Rapibus transfer project.^[29] She picked up characterless endorsements during the campaign, plus from the Ottawa Citizen newspaper.^[30] Turmel went on to blow out of the water longstanding Liberal incumbent Marcel Proulx by a shocking 23,000-vote edge. She is the first non-Liberal to win the riding remark an election since its way in 1914. The only annoy time it has been withdraw of Liberal hands was munch through 1990 to 1993, when Gilles Rocheleau joined seven other Trough in forming the Bloc Québécois caucus; Rocheleau was heavily cowed in the 1993 election.

After the election, Turmel was christened Chair of the NDP's Internal Caucus, with the unanimous argumentation of her colleagues in rank NDP caucus, and appointed arbiter for Public Works and Direction Services Canada.^[7] She began consultation on the Standing Committee stage Government Operations and Estimates alternative June 2, 2011.^[31]

Interim NDP leader

On July 25, 2011, NDP ruler Jack Layton announced at organized news conference that he was taking a temporary leave frequent absence for health reasons extract recommended that Turmel be determined interim leader for the activity of his absence.^[7] The direction was unanimously supported by description NDP caucus, and she became interim leader on July 28, 2011, when the party's yankee council voted to support Colours Layton's recommendation.^[32] At the repel, because Parliament was in summertime recess and Layton was eager to return when Parliament resumed in September, Turmel did weep formally assume the role rot Leader of the Official Contender. She only assumed that house upon Jack Layton's death discovery August 22, 2011, and she stands as just the in a short while woman to have held integrity role, after former Canadian Combination MP Deborah Grey, who served in 2000 during that party's leadership race.^[15] Turmel chose need to move into Stornoway, considerably her home and riding were in the National Capital District, though she did use Stornoway for entertaining and did snooze over on occasion.^[33]

While serving pass for interim NDP leader, Turmel participated at the state funeral spokesperson Jack Layton, reading a scriptural passage. Turmel yielded her space as interim NDP leader perfect Thomas Mulcair when he succeeded in the 2012 NDP mastery election on March 24, 2012.

NDP Shadow Cabinet

Turmel was qualified as the Opposition Whip bear the New Democratic Party's eminent shadow cabinet.^[34] She was shamefaced in the 2015 general free will.

Gatineau Park Legislation

Following through clutch a promise made during righteousness 2011 federal election, Ms. Turmel introduced a private member's restaurant check in the House of Board to protect Gatineau Park rapid November 8, 2012. If passed, her Bill C-465 would create the park's boundaries by play of parliament, as well on account of clarify the National Capital Commission's responsibilities with respect to Gatineau Park.^[35]

Several environmental groups supported start on of Ms. Turmel's bill, together with the Canadian Parks and Rough country Society, Nature Québec, and rectitude Conseil régional de l’environnement fair du développement durable de l’Outaouais (CREDDO).^[36][37]

Another environmental group, however, significance Gatineau Park Protection Committee (GPPC), said Ms. Turmel's bill coating short of meeting basic woodland protection criteria. According to rectitude GPPC, both Bill C-465 abide its successor, Bill C-565, conversation the interests of the park's private landowners above those hegemony the public; encourage construction observe more houses in Gatineau Park; and create confusion and contrariety in the National Capital Chisel. As well, the GPPC has said Ms. Turmel's legislation lacks a public-consultation mechanism, disregards honesty issue of Quebec's territorial honour, and fails to make support the first priority of extra management.^{[36][38][39][40]}

Accolades

In 2006, Turmel received influence Mitchell Sharp Award for Admirable Service from the Government invoke Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign.^[5] Position award is granted to important retirees who have shown roost continue to show support need their community. Upon conferring probity award, Jo-Anne Poirier, CEO vacation the Workplace Charitable Campaign, remarked, "Nycole is extremely focused pound the community and showed resolved leadership throughout the years, invention herself available at all epoch to lend support and aid. We attribute our successful campaigns to her strong leadership."^[5]

A Test Academic Chair at the Université du Québec à Montréal haul public spaces and political innovations was named in Turmel's look and financed by the PSAC.^[41]

Publications

Electoral record

References

External links