Rick Perkins

Rick Perkins (born November 4, 1961) is a Canadian politician who was Member of Parliament for the riding of South Shore—St. Margarets from 2021 to 2025.^[1][2]

Background

Perkins holds an MBA from the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University. He worked on the political staff to Canadian Conservative Minister the Honourable Barbara McDougall during the two terms of the government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. After the 1993 federal election Rick worked for two financial services companies CIBC and Newcourt Credit Group before co-founding the investor relations firm Genoa Management. He left this firm to become retail executive and business strategist. His most notable business achievement was the hostile takeover he engineered of Liquor Stores North America, which was the largest publicly traded retailer of beverage alcohol in North America. He served on the Board of Directors and senior management of this company.^{[citation needed]} He previously ran in Scarborough—Agincourt for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1997 Canadian federal election^[3] and in South Shore—St. Margarets for the Conservatives in the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Political career

44th Canadian Parliament (2021–2025)

In the 2021 Canadian federal election, Perkins defeated Liberal incumbent and Ministers of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan.^[4]

On November 9, 2021, Perkins was named Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard by Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole.^[5] Upon assuming the role Perkins was appointed as Vice-Chair of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans,^[6] as well as a member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.^[7]

Following O'Toole's ousting as party leader in February 2022, Perkins was reappointed as Shadow Minister for Fisheries by interim party leader Candice Bergen.^[8]

In March 2022, Perkins was one of 313 Canadian officials barred from entering Russia. The Russian ban was in response to new Canadian economic sanctions targeting Russian officials and entities following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.^[9] In response to ban, Perkins stated on social media that he would “wear this [ban] as a badge of honor” as he continues to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.^[10]

During the 2022 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election Perkins endorsed hopeful leadership candidate Jean Charest and was further named co-chair of the campaigns national advisory board.^[11] Following Pierre Poilievre’s victory in the leadership race,^[12] Perkins immediately congratulated him on becoming the new party leader.^[13] In a post-leadership interview with the National Post Perkins stated that the Conservative caucus was now “totally united” behind Poilievre despite what the tone of the leadership contest might have indicated."^[14]

Upon becoming the new leader, Poilievre kept Perkins on as the fisheries critic until October 12, 2022, until he was then replaced by Newfoundland MP Clifford Small. Perkins then became the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science, and Industry, replacing former critic Ed Fast.^[15] Upon assuming the new critic position, Perkins was named Vice-Chair of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology,^[16] and was further appointed to the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure for the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology.^[17] Perkins was a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard for the 44th Canadian Parliament.^[18]

Political positions

2020 Mi'kmaq lobster dispute

Perkins was an outspoken critic of Minister Bernadette Jordan's handling of the 2020 Mi'kmaq lobster dispute. Perkins called on her to respect the Supreme Court’s R v Marshall decision, which stated that the Mi’kmaq treaty rights could be regulated and that the Mi'kmaq were not guaranteed an open season in the fisheries. Jordan's handling of the dispute and subsequent criticism played an important role in her electoral defeat.^[19]

After defeating Jordan in the 2021 Canadian federal election, Perkins stated in an interview with Global News that he would seek to "find a path forward that [would] bring everyone under the same set of rules and the same regulation through DFO."^[20]

References

1. ^ Groff, Meghan. "Conservative Rick Perkins takes South Shore-St. Margarets". halifaxtoday.ca. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
2. ^ "Rick Perkins - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada"
3. ^ "Canadian Elections Database"
4. ^ Tunney, Catharine & Raycraft, Richard (September 21, 2021). "The surprise upsets, dramatic losses and nail-biting races of election night". CBC News
5. ^ "Erin O'Toole announces Conservative Shadow Cabinet". Conservative Party of Canada. 9 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
6. ^ "FOPO - Home - House of Commons of Canada". 22 November 2021. Archived 2022-07-12 at the Wayback Machine.
7. ^ "Committee Members of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session". House of Commons. 22 November 2021.
8. ^ "Candice Bergen announces changes to Conservative Shadow Cabinet". Conservative Party of Canada. 23 May 2022.
9. ^ Gilmore, Rachel (March 15, 2022). "Justin Trudeau among 313 Canadians banned from Russia". Global News Canada
10. ^ Perkins, Rick (15 March 2022). "MP Rick Perkins". Facebook
11. ^ Charest, Jean (11 July 2022). "Jean Charest on Twitter". Twitter
12. ^ Aiello, Rachel (10 September 2022). "Pierre Poilievre wins conservative leadership on first ballot". CTV News
13. ^ Perkins, Rick (10 September 2022). "MP Rick Perkins". Facebook
14. ^ Karadeglija, Anja (11 September 2022). "Conservative caucus united following Poilievre's victory, MPs say". National Post
15. ^ "Pierre Poilievre announces Inflation-busting Conservative Shadow Cabinet". Conservative Party of Canada. 12 October 2022.
16. ^ "INDU - Home - House of Commons of Canada". 21 November 2022.
17. ^ "SIND - Home - House of Commons of Canada". 21 November 2022.
18. ^ "FOPO - Members - House of Commons of Canada"
19. ^ Thomas, Jesse (September 21, 2021). "Sipekne'katik Chief says new fisheries minister should be from outside Atlantic Canada". Global News. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
20. ^ Cooke, Alex (September 20, 2021). "Liberal Bernadette Jordan projected to lose to Conservative Rick Perkins, out as fisheries minister". Global News. Retrieved July 8, 2022.

External links

• "Meet Rick". Rick Perkins | South Shore-St. Margaret's. Retrieved Oct 22, 2021.