Matthew Green (Canadian politician) explained

Matthew Green
Riding:Hamilton Centre
Parliament:Canadian
Term Start:October 21, 2019
Predecessor:David Christopherson
Office1:Hamilton, Ontario City Councillor
Term Start1:December 1, 2014
Term End1:December 1, 2018
Constituency1:Ward 3 (Hamilton Centre)
Predecessor1:Bob Morrow
Successor1:Nrinder Nann
Birth Date:September 10, 1980
Birth Place:Hamilton, Ontario
Party:New Democratic Party
Residence:Hamilton, Ontario[1]

Matthew Green (born September 10, 1980)[2] [3] is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Hamilton Centre in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 Canadian federal election, and re-elected in 2021.

Early life

Green was born and raised in Hamilton,[4] the son of Raymond Green, a former ironworker, and Susan Scharf-Green, a retired school teacher.[5] He received a BA degree in political science and legal studies from Acadia University.

Career

First elected to the Hamilton City Council in 2014, he led the way for the city to become the first in Ontario to license and regulate payday lending.[6] In 2018, he became the executive director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), a non-profit organization that promotes racial equality.[7]

Green has stated that the example set by Lincoln Alexander, the first Black Canadian MP and a former Hamilton politician, helped inspire him to get into politics. Green joined the NDP in 2017 after being inspired by Jagmeet Singh's stance against racial profiling.[8]

Prior to his election to the House of Commons, he was the first Black Canadian to serve on the Hamilton City Council, where he represented Ward 3 from 2014 to 2018.[9] [8] Ideologically, Green identifies as a "Stanley Knowles New Democrat".

In 43rd Canadian Parliament

One of Green's claims to fame is that he is the first Black Canadian to represent Hamilton in Parliament since Lincoln Alexander.[8]

As an MP, Green has been an outspoken opponent of police brutality, and has endorsed a nationwide ban on the use of tear gas.[10]

In 44th Canadian Parliament

Green was re-elected on 20 September 2021 in the 2021 Canadian federal election to a hung parliament,[11] its 44th Canadian Parliament.

In a July 2021 interview with American socialist magazine Jacobin, given jointly with his NDP colleague Leah Gazan, Green endorsed a national wealth tax.[12]

In March 2022, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh nominated Green to serve on the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency which had the mission to investigate the Freedom Convoy.[13] [14] [15]

Committees

As the MP for Hamilton Centre, Matthew Green has roles with several committees.[16]

Joint-Chair

DECD: Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency.

Early in the life of the DECD committee, Green said that committee members "have a 'responsibility' to work together" in light of the disagreement of the Conservative Official Opposition over the constitution of the committee. It consisted of seven MPs and four senators. On 6 March 2022 co-chair Green was "interested in looking at the actions of police (or the lack of them), the role played by 'dark money' raised through" the GoFundMe and GiveSendGo crowdfunding platforms,[14] even though the latter issue had been thoroughly debunked three days earlier when the FINA committee interviewed two executives from GoFundMe who testified that 86 per cent of the donors to the original GoFundMe campaign were Canadian, and 88 per cent of the donated funds to the original campaign were from Canadians.[17]

Member

PROC: Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

DEDC: Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency

ETHI: Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

SETH: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

NDP Critic Roles

Matthew Green is the NDP Critic of Ethics, and the Deputy Critic for Employment and Workforce Development, Deputy Critic for Labour, and Deputy Critic for Public Services and Procurement.[18] [19]

Controversy

In April 2016, Green was involved in an incident in which he was questioned on the street by Constable Andrew Pfeifer of the Hamilton Police Service. Green filed a complaint with the Hamilton Police Service and, as a result, the officer was charged with discreditable conduct after an independent investigation by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director. Green also filed a human rights complaint.[20] The officer was later found not guilty by a tribunal, with the hearing officer stating, "I lack the necessary confidence in Mr. Green's credibility to accept his evidence".[21]

Political and Social Causes

Palestine

Green has openly criticized Canada's lack of action for Palestinian victims of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment.[22]

Green released a statement[23] on November 14, 2023 following his attendance at a pro-Palestine demonstration hosted by justice-oriented community group Toronto4Palestine (@toronto4palestine),[24] affirming his position in favour of a ceasefire regarding the Israeli-Hamas war. Green further emphasized that he is against Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian hate, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy, and condemned Holocaust Denialism and incitement of violence against Jewish people.

In January 2024, Green was one of five Canadian MPs to travel to the West Bank and Jordan to meet with Palestinian refugees and aligned Israeli groups.[25] [26] The trip was sponsored by a registered non-partisan non-profit charity, Canadian Muslim Vote. Green shared video footage on his Instagram profile of the Jenin Refugee Camp, calling attention to the decimated infrastructure and the expanding graveyard.[27] This week-long trip followed Canada's vote in favour for a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas at the United Nations General Assembly on December 12, 2023 (UNGA Resolution ES-10/22).[28]

Anti-Poverty Initiatives

Green advocates for community-led anti-poverty initiatives. As former Hamilton city Councillor and current MP, Green has opposed predatory payday lenders, referring to them as promoting "economic violence".[29] Green has also criticized the federal government's slow reaction to protect Canadians amidst the cost-of-living crisis.[30] [31] Affordable housing was also a key platform point on his most recent campaign.

Electoral record

|-!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Candidate!colspan="3"|Popular vote!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Expenditures|-! Votes! %! ±%|-| style="background-color:#7bbd55;" || style="text-align:left;" | Matthew Green| style="text-align:right;" |2,852| style="text-align:right;" |40.72%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" |$31,380.20|-| style="background-color:#FF0000;" || style="text-align:left;" | Ralph Agostino| style="text-align:right;" |1,229| style="text-align:right;" |17.55%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" |$22,900.91|-| style="background-color:#de292b;" || style="text-align:left;" | Drina Omazic| style="text-align:right;" |825| style="text-align:right;" |11.78%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" |$27,000.76|-| style="background-color:#ef8b42;" || style="text-align:left;" | Mark DiMillo| style="text-align:right;" |525| style="text-align:right;" |7.50%| style="text-align:right;" |−2.63%| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Sean Gibson| style="text-align:right;" |361| style="text-align:right;" |5.15%| style="text-align:right;" |−8.53%| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#f73e1e;" || style="text-align:left;" | Tim Simmons| style="text-align:right;" |334| style="text-align:right;" |4.77%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | $15,087.14|-| style="background-color:#062955;" || style="text-align:left;" | Bob Assadourian| style="text-align:right;" |330| style="text-align:right;" |4.71%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | $26,412.29|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Brian Kelly| style="text-align:right;" |172| style="text-align:right;" |2.46%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | $5,670.73|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Maria Anastasiou| style="text-align:right;" |93| style="text-align:right;" |1.33%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Byron Wayne Millette| style="text-align:right;" |73| style="text-align:right;" |1.04%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Eva John| style="text-align:right;" |55| style="text-align:right;" |0.79%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Carlos Pinho| style="text-align:right;" |51| style="text-align:right;" |0.73%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Victor Mejia| style="text-align:right;" |42| style="text-align:right;" |0.60%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Bernie Szajkowski| style="text-align:right;" |41| style="text-align:right;" |0.59%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | $0|-| style="background-color:#ffffff;" || style="text-align:left;" | Jol Hess| style="text-align:right;" |21| style="text-align:right;" |0.30%| style="text-align:right;" | –| style="text-align:right;" | n/a1|-| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" colspan="2" |Total votes| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |7,113| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |29.59%| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |−1.41| style="text-align:right;" ||-| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" colspan="2" |Registered voters| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |24,035| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |100%| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" || style="text-align:right;" ||-| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" |1 These candidates did not submit official Financial Statements and are, therefore, ineligible to run in the
2018 Municipal election
Note: All Hamilton Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.|-| style="text-align:left;" colspan="13" |Sources: City of Hamilton, "Nominated Candidates" |}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Official Voting Results. Elections Canada. January 23, 2021.
  2. Web site: CBC News. Matthew Green to run for NDP in Hamilton Centre, aims to replace MP David Christopherson. Craggs. Samantha. July 17, 2018. October 22, 2019.
  3. MatthewGreenNDP. 1303539924541603840 . 8 September 2020 . Thanks for all the (early) 40th Birthday love. It was *almost* a year to the day that I hosted @theJagmeetSingh for my @HamCentreNDP campaign office launch on Sept. 10th 2019 (my birthday) So his shout out tonight on my live steam was in advance of my Birthday on Thursday. .
  4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-centre-1.6174218 Riding profile: Hamilton Centre, a longtime NDP riding, has 7 candidates
  5. https://www.ronfanfair.com/home/2019/10/30/2zg6ooi9lvwa9wb1e720z1nrfycj5t Hamilton's first Black City Councillor Matthew Green is now a Member of Parliament
  6. Web site: What School Did You Go To?. 2018. Policy Alternatives.
  7. Web site: Craggs. Samantha. September 26, 2018. Matthew Green becomes new executive director for civic inclusion centre. Canadian Broadcasting Company.
  8. Web site: Hamilton's first Black City Councillor Matthew Green is now a Member of Parliament. 2021-10-09. Ron Fanfair. en-US.
  9. News: Green keeps Hamilton's urban heartland NDP orange. Hamilton Spectator. October 22, 2019. October 22, 2019.
  10. Web site: Jun 11. Jolson Lim Published on. 2020 3:53pm. 2020-06-11. NDP MP Green sponsors petition calling for nationwide ban on use of tear gas. 2021-10-09. iPolitics. en-US.
  11. News: Tasker. John Paul. 20 September 2021. Canadians have re-elected a Liberal minority government. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 September 2021.
  12. Web site: Two MPs Reflect on Sixty Years of Canada's New Democratic Party. 2021-10-11. jacobinmag.com. en-US.
  13. News: Committees DEDC Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency . 22 May 2022 . Parliament of Canada.
  14. News: Wherry . Aaron . The committee reviewing Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act faces a daunting task . CBC . 6 March 2022.
  15. News: Boutilier . Alex . Committee examining Liberals' emergency powers debates scope of inquiry . Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc . 24 March 2022.
  16. Web site: Matthew Green - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada . 2024-01-26 . www.ourcommons.ca.
  17. Web site: Turnbull . Sarah . 2022-03-03 . GoFundMe head testifies over Freedom Convoy fundraising, says most donors were Canadian . 2022-03-22 . CTVNews . en.
  18. Web site: Meet Matthew . 2024-01-26 . MP Matthew Green . en.
  19. Web site: Your NDP Team . 2024-01-26 . Canada's NDP . en.
  20. Web site: Was officer OK to question Matthew Green? Lawyers clash over role of race in police stop. CBC News. November 16, 2017. December 8, 2023.
  21. Web site: Tribunal rejects black councillor's claim Hamilton police stop was racial profiling. CBC News. 2018-04-26. 2023-12-08.
  22. Web site: Matthew Green, "Foreign Affairs" on Nov. 9th, 2023 openparliament.ca . 2024-01-26 . openparliament.ca.
  23. Web site: Matthew Green's statement on comments made by a speaker at the ceasefire rally . 2024-01-26 . Canada's NDP . en.
  24. Web site: Instagram . 2024-01-26 . www.instagram.com.
  25. Web site: 2024-01-20 . A glimpse of Palestinian life under occupation strengthens resolve of some MPs to push for Gaza ceasefire . 2024-01-26 . CTVNews . en.
  26. Web site: Boudjikanian . Raffy . January 14, 2024 . Liberal, NDP MPs to travel to West Bank to connect with Palestinians . January 25, 2024 . CBC News.
  27. Web site: @mathewgreenndp . January 21, 2024 . This was one of my most difficult places to visit with @idrfcanada since I started with IDRF. Jenin Refugee Camp, situated in the West Bank and established in 1953, stands as one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps. The distruction, devastation and the amount of people who are suffering from the occupation and daily raids is just unfathomable. Not a single house, school, health facility or any of the infrastructure is spared. The graveyard had to be expanded because of the number of people being killed on a daily basis. I am glad that @heathermacnow @lindsay.mathyssen and @matthewgreenndp joined us to witness this with their own eyes and to understand first hand from the people who are facing these atrocities on a daily basis directly from them . January 25, 2024 . Instagram.
  28. Web site: 2023-12-12 . UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session UN News . 2024-01-26 . news.un.org . en.
  29. Web site: Noseworthy . Kelly . February 17, 2016 . Hamilton ready to lead the way regulating payday loan business . January 25, 2024 . CBC News.
  30. Web site: December 4, 2023 . Debates (Hansard) No. 261 - December 4, 2023 (44-1) - House of Commons of Canada . January 25, 2024 . www.ourcommons.ca . en.
  31. Web site: Matthew Green, "Grocery Industry" on Dec. 4th, 2023 openparliament.ca . 2024-01-26 . openparliament.ca.

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