Micheal O'Brien (Canadian politician) explained

Micheal John O'Brien
Birth Name:Micheal John O'Brien
Birth Date:21 August 1950
Birth Place:Toronto, Canada
Spouse:Elaine Olive McCarty (1972–1993)
Jennifer Alaga-O'Brien (2016–present)
Children:Micheal O'Brien Jr.
Shane O'Brien
Diana Rose O'Brien
Justin Micheal O'Brien

Micheal John O'Brien (born August 21, 1950) is a Canadian commercial pilot,[1] [2] humanitarian leader, journalist,[3] [4] musician,[5] [6] [7] and politician,[8] [9] who was declared a winner on election night, November 21, 1988, and despite recounts that went back and forth, he was sworn into office as elected[10] and made his Maiden Speech[11] in the House of Commons of Canada on December 23, 1988.[12] [13] [14]

Personal life

O'Brien, a Canadian and also citizen of Ireland (European Union)[15] was born on August 21, 1950, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto, Canada to Barbara O'Brien, an artist, and Edward O'Brien, an engineer and executive of Spar Aerospace's predecessor company. O'Brien's studies include human behaviour and public health including postgraduate studies in the United States.

Career

After graduating with a University of Toronto BSc and a commercial pilot's license from Maple Flying School (established by Marion Alice Orr, one of Canada's first women pilots) in Vaughan (now a city) in York Region, Ontario, O'Brien in his early 20s became the chief pilot for Specialty Air Services Limited from 1972 to 1979, flying out of what was then called Maple Airport and the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport which is still in operation today.

From 1979 through 1989 O'Brien was a publisher, writer and editor with Maclean Hunter Limited's Business Publishing Division and in 1989 acquired some of the publishing properties including "The Wednesday Report",[16] [17] [18] "The Canadian Yong Astronaut" (terminated in 1992[19]), and "Canadian Aerospace and Defence Technology"[20]) he published for Maclean Hunter and merged them into MPRM Group Limited and continued publishing from 1989 to 2004. O'Brien worked for a time as the Director of Operations for the Toronto Cosmetic Surgery Center[21] which he left in 2014 to both work in several Asian countries with The RINJ Foundation while completing postgraduate studies. Currently O'Brien is the editor-in-chief of the global edition of Feminine-Perspective Magazine.[22]

Humanitarian work

O'Brien was the Vice President of the Southern Alberta office of the Canadian Cancer Society in Medicine Hat, Alberta (Now defunct.) in 1970 under Dr. Paul Racine. Returning to Ontario in 1972 O'Brien undertook an extensive life of Community involvement in Richmond Hill, Ontario[23] as a hockey coach, member of the Civic Improvement Committee of town council as well as the Canada Day Committee. At some point he became involved in helping community members locate missing children and troubled teens. This led to his and his associates forming a global civil society group, the RINJ Foundation, for which he is the chief executive officer.[24]

As the RINJ Foundation co-founder, O'Brien publicly accused Facebook[25] of ignoring the RINJ Rape Is No Joke Campaign for the rights of women and several online petitions to remove pro-rape Facebook pages in May 2010. O'Brien also claimed that the pages were maintained and supported by Australian college students and British teenage boys with links to the anonymous English-language imageboard website 4chan.[26] The RINJ campaign urged advertisers to cancel their advertising on the Facebook platform to avoid it being displayed on pages next to rape jokes and other pro-rape content.[27]

From 2009 through 2013, O'Brien led the RINJ campaign argument to Facebook executives that removing "pro-rape" pages from Facebook and other social media was not a violation of free speech in the context of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the concepts recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[28] [29]

In 2017 O’Brien slammed the HipHop / Rap Music sector for its sexism and misogyny having widely accused rappers Eminem and Big Sean of “encouraging rape & physical violence against American author Ann Coulter”,[30] and claimed it was “symbolic of the direction America appears to be headed”.[31] O'Brien issued a statement strongly urging the boycott of rape rappers and their labels. O'Brien, on behalf of RINJ, claimed that "In a poorly mastered rap recording by rape rappers Marshall Bruce Mathers (Eminem) and Sean Michael Anderson (Big Sean), America’s most popular and most vulgar heroes demonstrate why and how America became a global misogyny pariah."[32] [33]

Political career

On September 1, 1988, in a five-hour contest in a packed Richmond Hill Lion's Hall on Center Street, Progressive Conservatives chose O'Brien as their candidate in York North, over Martin Peterson and Peter Philips.[34] O'Brien won the nomination in a second ballot decision late in the night. "This is a winnable riding, although I think it will be a very tough riding," he was quoted as saying to the Toronto Star's Andrew Duffy.[35]

In the 1988 Canadian federal election, O'Brien "was declared the winner by 99 votes, was sworn in, and participated in the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement debate in the short-lived First Session of the Thirty-Fourth Parliament".[36] He made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on December 23, 1988.[37]

O'Brien, had been endorsed by MP Tony Roman---for whom O'Brien had been one of the community leaders who convinced Roman to run as a "Coalition" independent in 1984—became the candidate[38] for the Canadian federal Progressive Conservative Party. O’Brien, had initially been declared the winner[39] in the riding of York North in the 1988 federal election. Three days later, as a result of a recount supervised by a contingent of the Liberal opponent,[40] candidate Maurizio Bevilacqua, the latter was declared the winner. O'Brien sought a judicial recount, was declared the winner by 99 votes, was sworn in, and participated in the Canada-U.S. free-trade agreement debate[41] in the short-lived First Session of the Thirty-Fourth Parliament. Maurizio Bevilacqua appealed the recount and was subsequently declared the sitting Member by 77 votes (see Journals, April 3, 1989, pp. 2–3[42]). (According to House of Commons of Canada records, both men represented the Federal Riding of York North, O'Brien for the 1st Session and Maurizio Bevilacqua for the subsequent sessions.[43])O'Brien consulted extensively with the Honourable Erik Nielsen who had encountered a similar situation in 1957. With that precedent O'Brien and his riding association mounted a successful Controverted Election Act Petition to the Ontario Supreme Court. Two Ontario supreme court judges found that the number of irregularly cast ballots in the 1988 election had exceeded Bevilacqua's 77-vote plurality over O'Brien. The election was subsequently voided and the cases of O'Brien and Erik Nielsen have been cited as significant Supreme Court precedents in election law. (O'Brien v. Hamel (1990), 73 O.R. (2d) 87 (H.C.J.))[44]

See also: 1990 York North federal by-election and 1990 Beauséjour federal by-election.

The Brian Mulroney Government eventually declared a by-election for O'Brien and Jean Chrétien.[45] [46] The by-election which took place December 10, 1990, in the Federal Riding of York North saw the election of Maurizio Bevilacqua (Lib York North, Ontario) and Jean Chrétien (Lib) in Beauséjour, New Brunswick as Brian Mulroney introduced the General Sales Tax. The by-election became the "GST by-election" and the key winner became Jean Chrétien who had become the leader of the Liberal Party and Her Majesty's Official Leader of the Opposition.[47] [48] [49]

Notes and References

  1. News: . August 20, 1978. Mike O'Brien is Toronto's Only Skywriter. Page E9. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  2. News: . June 10, 1979. Mike's Smoke Get's in Your Skies. Page A1. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  3. Web site: Writers . The Wednesday Report – Maclean Hunter . August 7, 1987. November 27, 2020 . The Wednesday Report Staff .
  4. Web site: Authors. Feminine-Perspective Magazine . August 28, 2018. November 27, 2020 . Sharon Santiago.
  5. Web site: Biography: Lead Singer, Ruffian Angel of Themis 2009 . Themis Music Inc.. November 14, 2009 . December 24, 2020 . Amanda Miles .
  6. Web site: Your Angel by Ruffian Angel of Themis . Itunes.. October 25, 2009 . December 24, 2020 . Itunes .
  7. Web site: Christmas in Toronto's Lockdown . WebRadio Canada Inc.. December 15, 2020 . December 24, 2020 . WebRadio Canada .
  8. Web site: Library of Parliament . Parliament of Canada. December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  9. Web site: Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North) . Commons Debates Hansard . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  10. Web site: Canada House of Commons Votes and Proceedings Members Elected . Commons Debates Hansard . December 15, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  11. Web site: Canada-United States Free Trade agreement implementation act, measure to enact 1988 . University of Toronto . December 12, 2016. November 22, 2020 . Kaspar Beelen.
  12. Web site: Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North) . Commons Debates Hansard . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  13. Web site: Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North) . Commons Debates Hansard . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  14. Web site: Canada House of Commons debates Mr. Micheal O'Brien (York North) . Commons Debates Hansard . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  15. Web site: FPMag Authors . The RINJ Foundation. August 19, 2015. November 18, 2020 . Melissa Hemingway.
  16. News: Peter Howell. July 25, 1991. Kealey charges prompt defence industry call for confessions.. Page10 The Daily News (Halifax) . Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  17. News: Peter Howell. July 26, 1991. Aerospace Association criticizes kickback accusations of Mike O'Brien, Editor The Wednesday Report. Page A11 Kitchener - Waterloo Record. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  18. Web site: The Wednesday Report Index 1988 . Maclean Hunter. January 6, 1988. November 18, 2020 . Martin Shadwick.
  19. Web site: The Canadian Young Astronaut Program . Government of Canada. July 18, 2014. November 18, 2020 . Government of Canada.
  20. News: Philip Day. July 25, 1991. The Kealey scare: Fess up, defence magazine editor tells contractor.. Page F1 The Ottawa Citizen . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  21. Web site: Better Business Bureau . Better Business Bureau. March 12, 2012. November 18, 2020 . BBB.
  22. Web site: Feminine-Perspective Magazine . The RINJ Foundation. August 19, 2015. November 18, 2020 . Melissa Hemingway.
  23. Web site: Brian Dexter. November 15, 1988 . "Progressive Conservative O'Brien is publisher of several defence and aerospace magazines for Maclean Hunter. He's been a Richmond Hill Resident and community volunteer since 1956 and has a steady career track record. O'Brien says frankly that it looks like a neck-and-neck race in York North." . New voters will decide two-way contest . Page L6 Toronto Star (1971-2009) . Toronto, Ontario, Canada. February 15, 2021 .
  24. Web site: Biography Founders of Unlimited Investigations . Unlimited Investigations. January 12, 2000. November 18, 2020 . Ted McBrien.
  25. Web site: Paranjoy Guha Thakurta. October 16, 2011. Facebook removes "pro-rape" pages. The Unofficial Guide to Social Media Politics . India. February 14, 2021 .
  26. Web site: Philip Sherwell and David Harrison. October 16, 2011. Cyber anarchists blamed for unleashing a series of Facebook 'rape pages'. The Telegram . United Kingdom. February 14, 2021 .
  27. Web site: Philip Sherwell. October 17, 2011. Facebook refuses to shut rape page run by schoolboy. The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, Australia. February 14, 2021 .
  28. Web site: Kathy Schiffer. August 29, 2013. Dear Facebook If This Isn’t Hate Speech, Then What Is?. Seasons of Grace, A woman's Blog . Detroit, Michigan. February 14, 2021 .
  29. Web site: Facebook 'rape page' whitelisted and campaign goes global. Meanwhile, campaigns in other countries have begun, most notably in Canada with the Rape is no joke (RINJ) campaign, which has not only campaigned fiercely but has also put together a YouTube video. . Womensviewsonnews.org.
  30. Web site: Carl Wiser. 2017 . "During Eminem's verse, he seemingly validates the raping of Ann Coulter. In a post on its website, the Canadian women's rights group RINJ (Rape Is No Joke) Foundation branded Eminem and Big Sean rape rappers and urged fans to boycott the two MCs" . No Favors by Big Sean (featuring Eminem) . Page L6 Toronto Star (1971-2009) . United States. February 15, 2021 .
  31. Web site: E-Radio US. February 7, 2017. Eminem and Big Sean criticized for ‘rape-rap’ lyrics in new anti-Trump song. E-Radio USA . Detroit, Michigan. February 14, 2021.
  32. Web site: Kyle Eustice. February 7, 2017. RINJ Foundation Boycotts "Rape-Rap" Of Big Sean & Eminem .... Hip Hop DX . " A Canadian women’s group, the RINJ Foundation (Rape Is No Joke), is calling for a boycott of “rape rappers,” namely Big Sean and Eminem." . United States . February 15, 2021 .
  33. Web site: Logan Saether. February 7, 2017. Eminem and Big Sean’s Anti-Trump ‘No Favors’ Criticized for ‘Rape-Rap’ Lyrics. Song Lyrics Hip Hop, Roundup, Rap . United States. February 15, 2021 .
  34. News: . September 6, 1988. Stevens Stronach race in National Eye. Page G5. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  35. News: Andrew Duffy. September 2, 1988. Magazine publisher wins tory race in york north.. Page B15 The Toronto Star . Toronto, Ontario, Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  36. Web site: Canada House of Commons . The House Of Commons And Its Members . January 12, 2000. November 22, 2020 . Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit .
  37. Web site: Canada House of Commons . The House Of Commons And Its Members . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  38. Web site: Forty-year-old Michael O'Brien, a publisher from Aurora, was officially approved by then Prime Minister Brian_Mulroney October 30 1988 as the Progressive Conservative standard bearer . Toronto Public Library. October 30, 1988. November 18, 2020 . Brian Dexter.
  39. Web site: Former Liberal MP in court over vote irregularities . CTV News . March 1, 2012. December 19, 2020 . The Canadian Press.
  40. News: Peter Howell. November 23, 1988. Tory winner may lose seat in york north vote recount. Page A20. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  41. Web site: Canada House of Commons . The House Of Commons . December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript.
  42. Web site: The House of Commons and Its Members . Our Commons (Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit). January 12, 2000. November 18, 2020 . Marleau . Robert.
  43. Web site: Library of Parliament . Parliament of Canada. December 23, 1988. November 22, 2020 . Hansard Transcript .
  44. Web site: Supreme Court of Canada . Supreme Court of Canada . May 18, 2012. November 18, 2020 . Court File No. 34845 .
  45. News: Brian Dexter. November 8, 1990. NDP Enthusiastic heading into By-election. Page N2. Toronto Star (1971-2009). Toronto, Ontario Canada. February 14, 2021 .
  46. Web site: Running at Full Tilt . Maclean's. December 10, 1990. November 18, 2020 . Glen Allen.
  47. Web site: House Of Commons Procedure And Practice . OurCommons (Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit). January 12, 2000. November 18, 2020 . Marleau, Robert.
  48. Web site: Toronto riding's election result tossed by judge . CBC. May 18, 2012. November 18, 2020 . Laura Payton.
  49. Web site: Newmarket – Aurora . CBC. September 22, 2010. November 18, 2020 . CBC Writers.

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