Mike Morrice
Mike Morrice | |
|---|---|
 Morrice in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kitchener Centre | |
| Assumed office 20 September 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 |
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.
Early life and career
Morrice 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, founding Sustainable Waterloo Region in 2008 and later Green Economy Canada in 2013.
Politics
Morrice 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]
2021 election
While 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, who later faced multiple counts of sexual harassment from staffers.[5] Saini ended his campaign, though he remained on the ballot because it was after the candidate nomination deadline, and prominent Liberals in the region put their support behind Morrice.[5] On election day, Morrice was elected to Parliament with 34 per cent of the vote.[6][7]
Electoral record
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Kitchener Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Green | Mike Morrice | 17,872 | 34.9 | +8.9 | none listed | |||
| Conservative | Mary Henein Thorn | 12,537 | 24.5 | +0.5 | none listed | |||
| New Democratic | Beisan Zubi | 8,938 | 17.5 | +6.2 | none listed | |||
| Liberal | Raj Saini[a] | 8,297 | 16.2 | -20.5 | none listed | |||
| People's | Diane Boskovic | 3,381 | 6.6 | +4.7 | none listed | |||
| Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 154 | 0.3 | +0 | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes | 51,179 | 98.81 | -0.36 | |||||
| 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[8] | ||||||||
- ^ 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 | ||||
| Green | Mike Morrice | 14,394 | 25.99 | +22.94 | ||||
| Conservative | Stephen Woodworth | 13,191 | 23.82 | -6.54 | ||||
| New Democratic | Andrew Moraga | 6,238 | 11.27 | -5.33 | ||||
| People's | Patrick Bernier | 1,033 | 1.87 | – | ||||
| Animal Protection | Ellen Papenburg | 202 | 0.36 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 55,374 | 99.17 | -0.27 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 465 | 0.83 | +0.27 | |||||
| Turnout | 55,839 | 67.13 | -1.33 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 83,177 | – | – | |||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | |||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[9] | ||||||||
Notes
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "September 20, 2021 General Election: Kitchener Centre". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ "Kitchener Centre Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2021.