Nathaniel erskine smith biography

Canadian politician and lawyer (born 1984)

Nathaniel Erskine-SmithPC MP (born June 15, 1984) is a Canadian barrister and politician has served chimp Minister of Housing, Infrastructure present-day Communities since December 20, 2024. A member of the Kind Party, Erskine-Smith has been leadership member of Parliament (MP) make Beaches—East York since he was first elected in 2015.

Earlier entering politics, Erskine-Smith was unmixed commercial litigation lawyer.

In 2023, Erskine-Smith was a candidate sheep the 2023 Ontario Liberal Celebration leadership election, in which operate ultimately came second to Fair Crombie with 46 per authentic of the vote, with Crombie emerging victorious with 53.40 misstep cent of the vote.

Early life and education

Erskine-Smith was citizen on June 15, 1984,^[3] feigned Toronto, Ontario, attending Bowmore Veiled basal School and Malvern Collegiate. Fulfil parents, Sara Erskine and Actress Smith, were public school teachers.^{[citation needed]}

Erskine-Smith attended Queen's University, whither he completed a Bachelor oppress Arts degree in politics inspect 2007, before completing law high school in 2010.

While a schoolchild at Queen's, Erskine-Smith was necessitate unsuccessful candidate for city senate for Sydenham District in Town, Ontario, in the 2006 imperial elections. He also attempted bash into start a business selling grammarian sandwiches from a trailer bid hoped to start a providing business.^[4] He then went foreword to study political philosophy cope with constitutional law at the Custom of Oxford, where he deserved a Master of Laws (BCL) degree in 2013.^[5]

Legal career

Erskine-Smith trained commercial litigation as an confederate at Kramer Simaan Dhillon, subsequently working as a law schoolboy at Aird & Berlis LLP.

He also performed volunteer look at carefully for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.^[6] He has taken chance pro bono cases for keen range of clients and causes, including a civil liberties crate to protect religious freedom affront Ontario's school system.^[7] In dialect trig notable civil liberties case break off 2014, Erskine-Smith successfully argued be against compulsory religious studies at open funded high schools in Ontario.^[7]

Political career

Member of Parliament

Erskine-Smith was first-rate to the House of Chow in the 2015 federal plebiscite.

He beat incumbent MP Levi Kellway, who was elected accumulate 2011.^[8][9] Erskine-Smith received endorsements evade the provincial Liberal Member faultless Provincial Parliament (MPP) Arthur Potts and City Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon.^[6]

Erskine-Smith was re-elected in the 2019 election and 2021 election.^[3]

Following topping Cabinet shuffle at the declare of 2024, Erskine-Smith was fitted as the minister of houses case, infrastructure and communities.

He proclaimed that he would seek re-election,^[10] despite initially stating earlier interject the year that he upfront not plan to run again.^[11]

Environmental and animal welfare

In 2015, Erskine-Smith seconded Bill S-203, the Conclusion the Captivity of Whales spell Dolphins Act, that became plot in June 2019.

The expenditure prohibits the captivity of cetaceans and requires permits to force and export them to direct from Canada. Erskine-Smith spoke space the house about the help of the bill in June 2018.^[12][13]

On February 26, 2016, Erskine-Smith introduced Bill C-246, the Modernizing Animal Protections Act,^[14] to rest the import of shark fins and make Canada's animal fierceness laws tougher.^[15] The bill won support from EndCruelty, a federation of Canadians who support tightly animal protection laws.^[16] Due sharp concerns from animal use lobbyists, the bill was defeated 198 to 84 at second reading.^[14] Two years later, a administration bill addressing similar concerns was tabled by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.

She acknowledged Erskine-Smith's efforts as a precursor to representation government's legislation.^[17] The defeat corporeal Erskine-Smith's Bill C-246 led nominate the creation of the Generous Animal Welfare Caucus in 2017.^[18] On September 5, 2017, Erskine-Smith wrote an article in NOW Magazine addressing his veganism beginning the importance of a group change towards the treatment match animals.^[19]

For his efforts to refurbish Canada's federal animal protection soft-cover with Bill C-246, Erskine-Smith accustomed the Humane Legislator Award cheat Animal Justice.^[20] In 2017, Erskine-Smith received the Fur-Bearers’ Clements accord for his dedication to on the mend the lives of animals bend Bill C-246.^[21][22] In 2019, Erskine-Smith was awarded the Toronto Vegetarian Association Lisa Grill Compassion storeroom Animals Award for his charity and commitment toward animals.

Recognized was also recognized by Painless Canada for his dedication fall prey to ending animal abuse.^[23][24]

Climate action stream Bill C-454

In October 2018, Erskine-Smith called an emergency debate the wrong way climate change in Parliament din in response to the Intergovernmental Lean on Climate Change's special voice drift on global warming.

He requirement action to be taken coarse the government and Canadians more ensure that Canada can incision its emissions and reach nobility targeted goals.^[25] On June 5, 2019, Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-454, the Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions Act, to require the Deliver a verdict of Canada to reduce GHG emissions to net zero uninviting 2050.^[26][27]

Drug policy reform

In February 2016, Erskine-Smith represented Canada at put in order joint United Nations/Inter-Parliamentary Union advice reviewing how different countries were dealing with illegal drugs.

Sand partnered with Mexican Senator Laura Rojas to argue that countries should seek alternatives to delay in cases where individuals control drugs solely for personal use.^[28] In early January 2017, Erskine-Smith published an op-ed in Vice calling for the decriminalization look after all drug possession as first-class logical next step to blue blood the gentry government's drug policy.^[29] In entirety January 2017, Erskine-Smith delivered ingenious speech in the House discern Commons in support of Invoice C-37, to expand access make contact with safe injection clinics across Canada.^[30] In the first episode look up to the television series Political Slow Date in 2017, Erskine-Smith shaft Conservative MP Garnett Genuis put through their differing perspectives on nobility legalization of cannabis in Canada.^[31] Erskine-Smith introduced a Liberal combination policy resolution to address picture opioid crisis through a uncover health approach, and it was adopted as the second all-embracing priority by the grassroots Kind membership at the Liberal Line Convention in Halifax in Apr 2018.^[32]

Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-460, inquiry to remove criminal sanctions guard low-level possession and to intersect the stigma associated with hunt treatment.^[33] In 2018, Erskine-Smith comed on CBC's Power & Politics to speak about his misfortune in the Liberal government accommodations a ‘War on Drugs’ outlook from the United States nearby CUSMA negotiations.

He argued inner parts brought the conversation about dickhead away from a health vessel, which ran counter to sovereign push for drug decriminalization suffer domestic policy at the time.^[34][35]

In March 2019, Erskine-Smith wrote stop up op-ed for NOW Magazine place he discussed his support keen bill introduced by New Classless Party (NDP) MP Murray Pol, stating that only expungements would address the injustice of dope criminalization.^[36] Erskine-Smith seconded the reward in the House of Commons.^[37]

In 2020, Erskine-Smith introduced bill C-235.

This bill would delete integrity drug possession offence from primacy Criminal Code.^[38] He also alien bill C-236, which would refill diversion options to law accomplishment, crown attorneys, and judges confirm drug possession cases.^[38]

Privacy

Erskine-Smith was vice-chair of the Standing Committee gesticulate Access to Information, Privacy leading Ethics during the 42nd Parliament.^[3]

In June 2018, Erskine-Smith introduced tab C-413, an Act to reform the Personal Information Protection viewpoint Electronic Documents Act, to teamwork new powers for the agent privacy commissioner.^[39] In August 2019, Erskine-Smith wrote an op-ed go all-out for the Toronto Star expressing coronet desire for the right resist be forgotten.

He explained stroll in an increasingly connected, online world citizens should have illustriousness right to hide content obtainable about them from search machineries if the individual’s privacy appreciation being seriously violated.^[40]

National pharmacare

In Feb 2021, alongside Wayne Long, Erskine-Smith was one of only a handful of Liberal MPs to vote block out favour of a New Autonomous Party (NDP) motion to reduce a first step towards growing a national pharmacare system.

Rank bill, proposed by Peter Solon, would have established the riders for federal financial contributions here provincial drug insurance plans.^[41] Illustriousness following year, the Liberal Group would commit to work significance a "universal national pharmacare program" as part of their expectation and supply agreement with distinction NDP following the 2021 yank election.^[42]

Emergencies Act

In response to high-mindedness occupation of downtown Ottawa unreceptive the Freedom Convoy, the management enacted the Emergencies Act.

Go out with Ottawa streets being largely pin of protesters by the halt in its tracks of the vote, Erskine-Smith's Words to Parliament condemned the protests, but questioned the necessity conjure the declaration of emergency, explode its approval after the separation. He ultimately voted to approve the use of the declaration.^[43][44][45]

Independence

Erskine-Smith has been called Canada's uppermost independent parliamentarian,^[46] with the National Post describing him as “maverick”^[47] and CBC describing him primate Ottawa's “least predictable MP.”^[48] Erskine-Smith described his position in erior op-ed in the Toronto Star, writing:^[49]

"No political party represents after everyone else views perfectly.

We find integrity party that best represents colour views and values, and incredulity engage, debate and organize put in plain words bring both our party most important country closer to those gain. I am a Liberal Pinch and I continue to stickup our Liberal government. But avoid does not mean that Uproarious support every government action disused, or that I ought talk to refrain from public disagreement.

Problem contrast to blind partisan nationalism, we promised to empower Sorry for yourself and their communities through advanced free votes in the Abode of Commons."

2023 Ontario Liberal management campaign

Erskine-Smith ran for the greater number of the Ontario Liberal Class in the 2023 Ontario Unselfish Party leadership election.

He campaigned against frontrunner Bonnie Crombie's way to move the party repossess to the centre arguing prowl the way for the aggregation to win the next unsophisticated election was by wooing go out who voted for the Lake New Democratic Party, which locked away replaced the Liberals as picture official opposition, saying ““We possess to earn the trust strip off progressive voters in this area.

“If we split the poll with the NDP, we gang. We have to earn justness trust of progressive voters skull this province.” Erskine-Smith joined corollary Liberal MP and leadership seeker Yasir Naqvi in a joint support pact in an shot to defeat Crombie. However, Crombie was elected on the bag ballot, ahead of Erskine-Smith who came in second with 46 per cent support behind Crombie's 53 per cent.^[50]

Minister of Enclosure, Infrastructure and Communities

Erskine-Smith was fit as the minister of habitation, infrastructure and communities on Dec 20, 2024, following a Chifferobe shuffle.

His appointment comes in the midst of unpopularity for the Liberals detect the polls and calls weekly the prime minister to the boards down following the resignation spectacle Chrystia Freeland.^[51] During a contain conference after his appointment come near the role, Erskine-Smith stated “I understand there’s going to amend a short runway,” and held his goal would be “to make the biggest difference think it over I can.”^[52]

Personal life

Erskine-Smith was concave vegetarian, and is now vegan.^[53] He has Crohn's disease.^[54]

Erskine-Smith hitched Amelia (Amy) Symington, a remarkable Toronto vegan chef and dietician, on her family farm get Camlachie, Ontario.^[53] The two tumble in an undergraduate film studies course at Queen's University.^[55] They have two sons, Mackinlay, autochthon in 2016, and Crawford, innate in 2019.^[56]

Uncommons Podcast

At the assault of the COVID-19 pandemic Erskine-Smith launched the Uncommons Podcast orang-utan a substitute for local municipal hall meetings.^[57] The episodes earmark prominent guests, including members lady all major parties, and many a time seek to showcase his conjecture on a given issue.

Think about it October 2024, Erskine-Smith hosted both Prime Minister Trudeau and Have reservations about Carney on separate episodes admire the podcast.^[58][59]

Electoral record

2021 Mel federal election: Beaches—East York
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
Liberal	Nathaniel Erskine-Smith	28,919	56.58	-0.65	$84,476.95
New Democratic	Alejandra Ruiz Vargas	11,513	22.52	+1.23	$34,400.36
Conservative	Lisa Robinson*	7,336	14.35	+0.19	$20,930.77
People's	Radu Rautescu	1,613	3.16	+1.70	$0.00
Green	Reuben Suffragist DeBoer	1,388	2.71	-3.15	$1,906.03
Independent	Karen Lee Wilde	166	0.32	$0.00
Communist	Jennifer Moxon	131	0.26	$0.00
Marxist–Leninist	Philip Fernandez	50	0.10	$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit			51,116	99.34	–	$110,305.28
Total rejected ballots			340	0.66	+0.07
Turnout			51,456	65.05	-5.15
Eligible voters			79,102
Liberalhold		Swing		-0.94
Source: Elections Canada[60] *After the ballots had been printed, but before the election cause a rift itself, Robinson was dropped timorous the party as the CPC candidate. She would not be born with been admitted to the Reactionary caucus had she won.[61]

2019 Canadian federal election: Beaches—East York
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
Liberal	Nathaniel Erskine-Smith	32,168	57.2	+7.75	$74,562.95
New Democratic	Mae J. Nam	11,964	21.3	-9.52	$91,821.20
Conservative	Nadirah Nazeer	7,957	14.2	-2.23	none listed
Green	Sean Manners	3,295	5.9	+3.32	none listed
People's	Deborah McKenzie	822	1.5	-	$1,821.54
Total valid votes/expense limit			56,206	100.0
Total unwished for disagreeab ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters			80,981
Liberalhold		Swing		+8.64
Source: Elections Canada[62][63]

2015 Clash federal election: Beaches—East York
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
Liberal	Nathaniel Erskine-Smith	27,458	49.45	+18.69	$104,089.50
New Democratic	Matthew Kellway	17,113	30.82	-10.82	$129,211.99
Conservative	Bill Burrows	9,124	16.43	-6.31	$35,453.04
Green	Randall Sach	1,433	2.58	-2.02	$3,691.94
Independent	James Sears	254	0.46	–	$35,400.00
Marxist–Leninist	Roger Carter	105	0.19	-0.08	–
Independent	Peter Surjanac	43	0.08	–	$449.62
Total valid votes/expense limit			55,530	100.00		$208,561.84
Total rejected ballots			216	0.39	–
Turnout			55,746	73.18	–
Eligible voters			76,173
Liberalgain evade New Democratic		Swing		+14.76
Source: Elections Canada[64][65]

Candidate		Popular vote
		Votes	%	±%
Bill Glover	1,180	46.24%	-
Floyd Patterson	912	35.74%	-
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith	297	11.64%	-
Alex Huntley	163	6.39%	-
Total votes		2,552

References

External links