Romeo Saganash

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Romeo Saganash
Romeo Saganash Vancon 2011.jpg
Saganash speaking to the 2011 convention of the New Democratic Party in Vancouver, British Columbia
Shadow Minister for International Cooperation
In office
April 19, 2012 – October 21, 2012
LeaderThomas Mulcair
Preceded byJinny Sims
Succeeded byHélène Laverdière
Shadow Minister for Natural Resources
In office
May 26, 2011 – September 30, 2011
LeaderJack Layton
Nycole Turmel
Preceded byDenis Coderre
Succeeded byClaude Gravelle
Member of Parliament
for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
In office
May 2, 2011 – September 11, 2019
Preceded byYvon Lévesque
Succeeded bySylvie Bérubé
Deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees
In office
1990–1993[1]
Grand ChiefTed Moses
Personal details
Born
Diom Romeo Saganash[2]

(1961-10-28) October 28, 1961 (age 59)
Waswanipi, Quebec, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic Party
ResidenceQuebec City
Alma materUniversité du Québec à Montréal
ProfessionLawyer
Websitewww.saganash.ca

Diom Roméo Saganash (born October 28, 1961) is a Canadian Cree lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Quebec riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou from 2011 to 2019.[3] As a member of the New Democratic Party he was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2011 federal election, succeeding Yvon Lévesque of the Bloc Québécois. He was reelected in the 2015 federal election. He did not run for reelection in 2019.

Early life[]

Saganash was born on October 28, 1961 in Waswanipi, a native community in Quebec.[3] At the age of seven, he was among 27 Cree children taken from their homes to attend French-language schooling in La Tuque, while living with an English-speaking Anglican family.[4] The program was cancelled the following year, but he remained there for ten years, completing his schooling in French.[5] After that, he attended a meeting on the negotiations between the Cree and Government officials on constitutional and resource rights, which sparked his interest in pursuing a law degree. He attended law school at the Université du Québec à Montréal and in 1989 he became the first Cree to receive a law degree in Quebec.[6] Saganash is fluent in Cree, French and English.[7]

Career[]

Saganash at the 2012 NDP leadership convention in Toronto.

In 1985, Saganash founded the Cree Nation Youth Council.[8] He was the Deputy Grand Chief to The Grand Council of the Crees of James Bay from 1990 to 1993,[2] and he later became director of Quebec relations and international affairs for over ten years.[9] From 1997 to 2000, Saganash chaired the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment.[8]

As a prominent Cree figure in a riding with many aboriginal voters, Saganash received personal support from NDP Quebec lieutenant Thomas Mulcair, who referred to Saganash as a "very important candidate".[9] He was elected in the 2011 federal election to represent Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.

On Friday September 16, 2011, Saganash announced that he was running for the leadership of the NDP, to succeed Jack Layton.[10] He is believed to be the first aboriginal leader to run for the leadership of a major Canadian party.[7] He announced his withdrawal on February 9, 2012, citing illness in his family and a lack of confidence in his campaign.[11] On March 7, 2012, Saganash announced that he would support Mulcair for NDP leader.[12]

After an incident where he was removed from an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal to Val-d'Or for intoxication, Saganash took sick leave in October 2012 for the treatment of alcohol dependency. Saganash cited the death of his "friend and mentor" Jack Layton, as well as the "profound scars" he received while in the residential school system as the reasons for his dependency.[13] He completed his treatment in November 2012, and returned for the start of the House's first session of 2013.[14]

In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Saganash was reelected to a second term.

By July 2018, Saganash had decided not to run in the 43rd Canadian federal election.[15]

Electoral record[]

hide2015 Canadian federal election: Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Roméo Saganash 12,778 37.02 -7.80 $33,061.53
Liberal Pierre Dufour 11,094 32.14 +21.67 $29,180.64
Bloc Québécois Luc Ferland 6,398 18.54 +0.27 $31,842.28
Conservative Steven Hébert 3,211 9.30 -13.25 $11,040.28
Green Patrick Benoît 779 2.26 -1.63 $2,173.92
Rhinoceros Mario Gagnon 258 0.75 – $3.70
Total valid votes/Expense limit 34,518 100.0     $247,914.66
Total rejected ballots 609 – –
Turnout 35,127 55.55 –
Eligible voters 63,226
New Democratic hold Swing -14.73
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
hide2011 Canadian federal election: Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Roméo Saganash 13,961 44.79 +36.59 $61,976.57
Conservative Jean-Maurice Matte 7,089 22.74 -7.63 $75,028.15
Bloc Québécois Yvon Lévesque 5,615 18.02 -21.63 $61,279.33
Liberal Léandre Gervais 3,282 10.53 -7.89 $76,159.99
Green Johnny Kasudluak 1,221 3.92 +0.58 $0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 31,168 100.00
Total rejected ballots 480 1.51
Turnout 31,684 53.69
  New Democratic Party gain from Bloc Québécois Swing +29.11

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Bryden, Joan (November 3, 2011). "Saganash questions validity of NDP signature policy on Quebec secession". Winnipeg Free Press. Canadian Press. Retrieved December 29, 2011.[dead link]
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Q & A: Diom Roméo Saganash". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Cree politician Romeo Saganash". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  4. ^ Patrick, Donna (2003). Language, politics, and social interaction in an Inuit community. Berlin, Germany: Walter de Gruyter. p. 218. ISBN 3-11-017652-1.
  5. ^ Marcelino, Don (2000). Le voyage sacré amérindien. Année 2000, regard amérindien sur l'Europe (in French). ISBN 2-910677-39-7.
  6. ^ House of Commons Debates: Official Report Volume 2. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. 1989.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Authier, Philip (September 17, 2011). "Saganash announces bid for NDP leadership". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "About Romeo Saganash". New Democratic Party. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Dougherty, Kevin (March 31, 2011). "Popular Cree leader running for NDP". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Romeo Saganash says he will run for the NDP leadership". Winnipeg Free Press. Canadian Press. September 16, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  11. ^ Canadian, Press (February 9, 2012). "Saganash to bow out of NDP leadership race, announcement Friday". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  12. ^ Authier, Philip (March 7, 2012). "Romeo Saganash backs Thomas Mulcair for NDP leadership". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Payton, Laura. "NDP MP Saganash taking sick leave to treat alcoholism". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. ^ Cohen, Tobi (16 January 2013). "Romeo Saganash returns from rehab, NDP MP happy to be back at 'crucial' time for aboriginals". Postmedia News. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  15. ^ Ryckewaert, Laura (July 2, 2018). "Political parties busy laying groundwork this summer for 2019 election, Conservatives already ahead". The Hill Times. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  16. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, 30 September 2015
  17. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

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