Michael Morrice MP (born July 22, 1984) is a Canadian politician serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for Kitchener Centre since 2021. A member of the Green Party, Morrice was elected to the House of Commons in the 2021 federal election, becoming the party's first MP elected in Ontario and the second elected outside of British Columbia.
Mike Morrice | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre | |
| Assumed office September 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Raj Saini |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Morrice 22 July 1984 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Green |
| Residence(s) | Kitchener, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | Wilfrid Laurier University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Early life and career
editMorrice grew up on Montreal's West Island until 1997 when his family relocated to Newmarket, Ontario. In 2003 he enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University where he received a dual degree in business and computer electronics.[1][2] Following his university studies, Morrice focused on green ventures and sustainable economics; he founded Sustainable Waterloo Region in 2008 and later Green Economy Canada in 2013.[citation needed]
Politics
editMorrice was selected as the Green Party's candidate in the 2019 federal election for Kitchener Centre.[1] Morrice lost to incumbent Liberal MP Raj Saini, but increased the Green Party's vote share from 3 per cent to 26 per cent. Morrice later revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer during his 2019 campaign.[3][4][5]
2021 election
editWhile serving an eight-month term as a social entrepreneur in residence at Wilfrid Laurier University, Morrice took leave from his position to run in the 2021 federal election, again running against Saini.[6] Saini ended his campaign after multiple accusations of sexual harassment from staffers became public (though he remained on the ballot because his withdrawal occurred after the candidate nomination deadline) and prominent Liberals in the region endorsed Morrice's candidacy.[6] Morrice was elected to Parliament with 34 per cent of the vote, making him the first Green MP to be elected in Ontario; the party's only other MP elected in 2021 was its former and future leader Elizabeth May.[7][8]
Electoral record
edit| 2021 Canadian federal election: Kitchener Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Green | Mike Morrice | 17,872 | 34.9 | 8.9 | $110,414.01 | |||
| Conservative | Mary Henein Thorn | 12,537 | 24.5 | 0.5 | $71,022.32 | |||
| New Democratic | Beisan Zubi | 8,938 | 17.5 | 6.2 | $43,723.62 | |||
| Liberal | Raj Saini[a] | 8,297 | 16.2 | -20.5 | $70,160.14 | |||
| People's | Diane Boskovic | 3,381 | 6.6 | 4.7 | $2,346.29 | |||
| Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 154 | 0.3 | 0 | $8,074.38 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 51,179 | 98.81 | -0.36 | $112,017.63 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 525 | 1.02 | 0.19 | |||||
| Turnout | 51,275 | 62.41 | – | |||||
| Eligible voters | 82,159 | – | – | |||||
| Green gain from Liberal | Swing | 9.28 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[9] | ||||||||
- ^ Saini withdrew his candidacy, but after closure of nominations, so remained listed as the Liberal candidate on the ballot.
| 2019 Canadian federal election: Kitchener Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Raj Saini | 20,316 | 36.69 | -12.09 | $71,251.01 | |||
| Green | Mike Morrice | 14,394 | 25.99 | 22.94 | $72,289.70 | |||
| Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 13,191 | 23.82 | -6.54 | $86,969.26 | |||
| New Democratic | Andrew Moraga | 6,238 | 11.27 | -5.34 | $15,354.69 | |||
| People's | Patrick Bernier | 1,033 | 1.87 | – | none listed | |||
| Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 202 | 0.36 | – | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 55,374 | 99.17 | -0.28 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 465 | 0.83 | 0.28 | |||||
| Turnout | 55,839 | 66.57 | -0.93 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 83,884 | – | – | |||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -17.52 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[10][11] | ||||||||
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Mike Morrice to represent Green Party in Kitchener-Centre in federal election". KitchenerToday.com. March 7, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Russwurm, Lauren L. (February 22, 2019). "Meet The Nominees #KitCen". Waterloo Region Greens. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "Former Green Party candidate Mike Morrice reflects on his battle with cancer". kitchenertoday.com. May 27, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Green candidate Mike Morrice knew he had cancer, but stayed on the election trail". therecord.com. Waterloo Region Record. May 21, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Kitchener Centre Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Williams, Robert (September 10, 2021). "After Raj Saini drops out of Kitchener Centre, Green's Mike Morrice 'absolutely' sees his opportunity". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Kitchener Centre results: Mike Morrice wins riding for Green Party". CTV News Kitchener. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Green candidate Mike Morrice elected in Kitchener Centre". CBC News. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2021.