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Ted Falk

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Ted Falk
MP
Member of Parliament
for Provencher
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 25, 2013
Preceded byVic Toews
Personal details
Born (1960-05-23) May 23, 1960 (age 64)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Political partyConservative
Residence(s)Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada

Theodore J. "Ted" Falk MP (born May 23, 1960) is a Canadian politician, who currently represents the electoral district of Provencher in the House of Commons of Canada.[1] A member of the Conservative Party of Canada, he was first elected in a by-election on November 25, 2013.[2]

Political career

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Prior to his election, Falk was the owner of a construction and gravel-crushing company and also served 24 years (16 as president) on the board of the Steinbach Credit Union (SCU),[3] Manitoba's largest credit union.

Falk was first elected as Member of Parliament in the 2013 Provencher by-election, succeeding former cabinet minister Vic Toews, who had retired from politics three months earlier after almost 13 years as the area's MP.[4] Falk was re-elected in the 2015, 2019, and 2021 federal elections.[5]

In February 2016, Falk introduced his first private member’s bill, C-239 An act to amend the Income Tax Act (charitable gifts), or the Fairness in Charitable Gifts Act.[6][7] The bill called for a correction to be made to the deductibility/refund gap between donations made to charities and those given to political parties. The bill was defeated at second reading in the House.[7][8]

As MP for Provencher, Falk has served on numerous parliamentary committees. In his first term, under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, he served on Canadian Heritage, Public Accounts, and Public Safety and National Security.[9] In the 42nd Parliament, under interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose, he was appointed Vice Chair of the Justice Committee where he was the only MP to vote against Bill C-16, An act to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to enshrine gender identity rights.[10] Under newly elected Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, Falk was appointed Deputy Shadow Minister for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.[11][9] He was then appointed to the prestigious new National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians which does top secret work overseeing Canada’s military and intelligence apparatus.[12][13] Falk has also served on the Agriculture and Agrifood committee, Natural Resources, Scrutiny of Regulations and Finance.[9]

In 2017, the small community of Emerson, MB[14] in Falk’s riding made international headlines as hundreds of individuals began to cross illegally into Canada from the United States.[15] Falk raised this issue in the House of Commons sparking a fierce debate as to whether they should be considered “refugees, given the safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States[16]—a rule that requires asylum seekers to make their asylum claim in the first of the two countries they reached. Falk argued that many of those crossing at Emerson (and to an even greater extent at Roxham Road in Quebec[17]), were not genuine refugees as many had lived for years in the United States and they were “hedging their bets” given the policies of the incoming Donald Trump administration.[18][19] He and other Conservative politicians also argued that a tweet by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that appeared to welcome the migrants to Canada had caused the crisis.[20][18]

Falk is a staunch social conservative who opposes abortion. The Conservative Party of Canada has no official policy on abortion.[21]

When the first Pride Parade took place in Steinbach in 2016, Falk did not attend, citing other commitments.[22] When pressed, he responded with a statement:

"I've been clear on this issue many times and have made my position public on my values of faith, family and community. I will not be attending the Pride march taking place in Steinbach on July 9, nor do I intend to participate in any other events organized by this group. Just as I respect the right of people to participate in this event, I am hopeful the event organizers will be respectful of my choice, and the choice of many others, not to participate. Even without a scheduling conflict, my decision to not attend would be the same."[23]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Falk was a strong opponent of public health restrictions,[24][25] unprecedented government spending,[26] and vaccine mandates.[27] During the 2021 election, Falk was reported to have made erroneous statements about COVID-19 vaccines, for which he apologized.[28] However, Falk said his comments had been misrepresented and the apology was the product of party operatives working on the national campaign, not his own. Falk was a strong supporter of the “Freedom Convoy” against federal vaccine mandates.[29][30][31] He refused to disclose his own vaccination status on the grounds of personal privacy.[32]

“I think people’s personal healthcare choices are an issue of privacy, and I just don’t like the whole idea of ‘othering’ people that I’ve seen so much of the last 18 months. I’ve seen it in my church, I see it in my communities, I see it in places of work where it just creates division. These are very personal choices for a lot of people, and I want to support people no matter what choice they make.”[33]

As a result, Falk worked virtually as he was unable to take his seat in the House of Commons.[34] Falk’s’ was one of the few federal offices that stayed open for business as usual throughout the pandemic.[35] He has consistently called for a national public inquiry into government overreach during the pandemic.[35]

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 24,294 48.7 -17.2 $83,776.96
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 8,472 17.0 +3.9 $25,158.99
People's Nöel Gautron 8,168 16.4 +14.2 $24,179.71
New Democratic Serina Pottinger 6,270 12.6 -0.2 $0.00
Independent Rick Loewen 1,366 2.7 N/A $0.00
Green Janine G. Gibson 1,272 2.6 -3.4 $1,596.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 49,901 99.5 – $117,118.32
Total rejected ballots 355 0.5
Turnout 50,156 67.4
Eligible voters 74,468
Conservative hold Swing -10.6
Source: Elections Canada[36]
2019 Canadian federal election: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 31,821 65.9 +9.84 $91,792.89
Liberal Trevor Kirczenow 6,347 13.1 -21.56 $13,417.34
New Democratic Erin McGee 6,187 12.8 +7.50 none listed
Green Janine G. Gibson 2,884 6.0 +2.02 none listed
People's Wayne Sturby 1,066 2.2 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 48,305 100.0
Total rejected ballots 322
Turnout 48,627 70.5
Eligible voters 68,979
Conservative hold Swing +7.85
Source: Elections Canada[37][38]
2015 Canadian federal election: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 25,086 56.06 -14.30 $116,699.56
Liberal Terry Hayward 15,509 34.66 +27.93 $28,135.06
New Democratic Les Lilley 2,371 5.30 -12.87 $4,287.04
Green Jeff Wheeldon 1,779 3.98 +1.01 $6,485.90
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,745 100.00   $216,321.86
Total rejected ballots 169 0.38
Turnout 44,914 69.53
Eligible voters 64,598
Conservative hold Swing -21.11
Source: Elections Canada[39][40]
Canadian federal by-election, November 25, 2013: Provencher
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Falk 13,046 58.20 −12.40 $ 83,542.19
Liberal Terry Hayward 6,711 29.94 +23.23 66,455.27
New Democratic Natalie Courcelles Beaudry 1,843 8.22 −9.67 17,878.16
Green Janine Gibson 817 3.64 +0.69 1,074.97
Total valid votes/expense limit 22,417 100.0   –   $ 97,453.98
Total rejected ballots 136 0.60 +0.17
Turnout 22,553 33.85 −27.88
Eligible voters 66,624    
Conservative hold Swing −17.86
By-election due to the resignation of Vic Toews.
Source(s)
"November 25, 2013 By-elections". Elections Canada. November 26, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
"November 25, 2013 By-election – Financial Reports". Retrieved October 29, 2014.


References

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  1. ^ Ted Falk – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. ^ "Provencher federal byelection results 2013: Conservative Ted Falk easily wins Manitoba riding". National Post, November 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Credit union chairman Provencher Tory hopeful". Winnipeg Free Press, September 6, 2013.
  4. ^ CBC News. "Ted Falk celebrates victory in Provencher byelection". CBC. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Falk seeks fourth term in Provencher". 14 September 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  6. ^ "Falk Introduces Fairness in Charitable Gifts Act".
  7. ^ a b "C-239 (42-1) - LEGISinfo - Parliament of Canada".
  8. ^ "M.P. Nater Disappointed by Vote on Bill C-239". 8 June 2016.
  9. ^ a b c "Roles - Ted Falk - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada".
  10. ^ "Information archivée dans le Web" (PDF).
  11. ^ "Falk Appointed Deputy Shadow Minister".
  12. ^ "Press release: NSICOP welcomes five new members".
  13. ^ "Falk Humbled by Appointment".
  14. ^ "Municipality of Emerson-Franklin - Home". www.emersonfranklin.com. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  15. ^ "International media spotlight on Emerson as more asylum seekers cross border on foot". 25 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement". 16 September 2003.
  17. ^ "LILLEY: Roxham Road sees record number cross into Canada illegally in 2022". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  18. ^ a b "Asylum seekers taking advantage of Canadian generosity, MP Ted Falk says". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  19. ^ "Fearful immigrants in U.S. Make perilous winter crossing to seek protection in Canada". Los Angeles Times. 7 March 2017.
  20. ^ https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/825438460265762816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E825438460265762816%7Ctwgr%5Eb9427ccda949ad52e3db5217b827158e8c422c7f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fmanitoba%2Fted-falk-refugees-emerson-1.4011441 [bare URL]
  21. ^ https://cpcassets.conservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/23175001/990863517f7a575.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  22. ^ "Steinbach-area politicians will be no-shows at city's 1st Pride parade". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  23. ^ "Jun 2016: Tory MP Falk won't go to Pride events, period". 20 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Time to End Federal Restrictions". 22 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Liberals Refuse to Provide Safe Reopening Plan". 26 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Statement on the Liberal government's 2021 Budget". 20 April 2021.
  27. ^ "Vaccine Mandates & New Travel Restrictions Go Too Far". 4 November 2021.
  28. ^ "Manitoba Conservative candidate Ted Falk apologizes for vaccine misinformation". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  29. ^ "Solidarity with Our Truckers". 21 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Emergencies Act is Overkill". 18 February 2022.
  31. ^ "End the Mandates". 28 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Nov 2021: Falk sticks to guns, won't reveal vax status". 29 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Nov 2021: Falk sticks to guns, won't reveal vax status". 29 November 2021.
  34. ^ "O'Toole won't discuss vaccination status of 4 absent Conservative MPs". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  35. ^ a b "MP Ted Falk calls for a national inquiry into government's handling of COVID-19". YouTube. 15 November 2022.
  36. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  37. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  38. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  39. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Provencher, 30 September 2015
  40. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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