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Joe Peschisolido

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The Honourable
Joe Peschisolido
PC
Member of Parliament
for Steveston—Richmond East
In office
October 19, 2015 – September 11, 2019
Preceded bynew district
Succeeded byKenny Chiu
Member of Parliament
for Richmond
In office
November 27, 2000 – June 28, 2004
Preceded byRaymond Chan
Succeeded byRaymond Chan
Personal details
Born (1963-04-27) April 27, 1963 (age 61)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal (Before 1993; 2002–present)
Other political
affiliations		Reform (1993-2000) Canadian Alliance (2000-2002)
Residence(s)Richmond, British Columbia
ProfessionLawyer

Joe Peschisolido (born April 27, 1963) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Richmond from 2000 to 2004 and as the MP for Steveston—Richmond East from 2015 to 2019. He was first elected as a member of the Canadian Alliance, but crossed the floor to the Liberal Party in 2002.

Background

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Peschisolido has a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in political science from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Peschisolido is a fourth degree knight of the Knights of Columbus in Richmond, a member of the Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset and a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. He is an active parishioner of Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church and is a vegan, who believes in making healthy and sustainable food choices.[1]

Political career

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For decades, Peschisolido was a member of the Liberal Party, where he had worked as a youth co-ordinator for Jean Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign. In 1993, he joined the Reform Party of Canada (later the Canadian Alliance), running as their candidate in Etobicoke North in the 1993 general election and a subsequent 1996 by-election. He placed second both times.

First term (2000 to 2004)

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Peschisolido relocated to British Columbia, where he was elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2000 general election, defeating Liberal incumbent, Raymond Chan.

In 2002, Peschisolido left the Canadian Alliance and crossed the floor to the Liberal Party without consulting with his constituents. This was due to the "process of political realignment" which eliminated both the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party, and instead creating the Conservative Party of Canada.

While serving in office, Peschisolido fought to protect the rights of taxpayers by introducing the "Taxpayers' Bill of Rights" in the 37th Parliament's first, second, and third sessions.[2]

In 2002, Peschisolido helped broker the original Garden City land deal, which saw the transfer of said lands from the Canadian federal government to the City of Richmond. This deal would have seen the City of Richmond receive 75 to 80 percent of the land, with the rest of the property set aside for a trade and exhibition center, as well as commercial development.[3]

In 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.[4] He was also Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.[5]

Peschisolido lost the Liberal nomination to his predecessor as Member of Parliament, Raymond Chan, who went on to retain the riding for the Liberals in the 2004 election.

2011 election

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In 2011, Peschisolido won the Liberal nomination over Raymond Chan for Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2011 Canadian federal election. In the general election, Peschisolido was defeated by Alice Wong by more than 17,000 votes.

Second term (2015 to 2019)

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On August 11, 2015, Peschisolido again won the Liberal nomination for Member of Parliament in the new riding of Steveston—Richmond East for the 2015 Canadian federal election.[6]

On October 19, 2015, as a Liberal majority government was formed,[7] Peschisolido was returned to Parliament.[8]

In July 2019, Global News reported the Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened an investigation into Peschisolido "after confidential police informants alleged the veteran politician had been knowingly associating with Chinese organized crime figures through his former real estate law practice in Richmond, B.C." Peschisolido's law firm allegedly received money via illicit channels from China as part of an attempt by the firm's clients to circumvent the legal immigration process.[9] No charges have been laid against Peschisolido or lawyers at his firm.[10][11][12][13][14] Peschisolido turned in his law license in 2018.[15]

On February 5, 2020 the Ethics Commissioner of Canada released an investigative report on Peschisolido. The Commissioner found Peschisolido contravened subsections 21(3) and 20(1) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons for failing to file a statement of material change and by failing to file a full statement of the private interests.[16][17][18][19]

Peschisolido was defeated by Kenny Chiu in the 2019 Canadian federal election, and Parliament could not apply sanctions since Peschisolido was no longer a sitting MP.[20]

Electoral record

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2019 Canadian federal election: Steveston—Richmond East
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Kenny Chiu 17,478 41.66 +3.19 $98,603.15
Liberal Joe Peschisolido 14,731 35.11 -9.97 none listed
New Democratic Jaeden Dela Torre 6,321 15.07 +2.93 $2,143.97
Green Nicole Iaci 2,972 7.08 +3.41 none listed
Independent Ping Chan 449 1.07 – none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,951 98.98 – 105,107.07
Total rejected ballots 431 1.02 –
Turnout 42,382 56.94 –
Eligible voters 74,428
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.58
Source: Elections Canada[21][22][23]
2015 Canadian federal election: Steveston—Richmond East
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Joe Peschisolido 19,486 45.08 +26.48 $76,684.16
Conservative Kenny Chiu 16,630 38.47 -15.44 $152,116.66
New Democratic Scott Stewart 5,248 12.14 -10.68 $12,292.51
Green Laura-Leah Shaw 1,587 3.67 -0.46 $1,891.69
Libertarian Matthew Swanston 274 0.63 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,225 99.34   $204,726.35
Total rejected ballots 287 0.66 –
Turnout 43,512 60.25 –
Eligible voters 72,225
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +20.96
Source: Elections Canada[24][25]
2011 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Alice Wong 25,109 58.36 +8.59 $89,330.05
Liberal Joe Peschisolido 8,027 18.66 -12.19 $54,757.85
New Democratic Dale Jackaman 7,860 18.27 +6.46 $9,038.79
Green Michael Wolfe 2,032 4.72 -1.71 $2,933.09
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,028 100.0     $91,788.64
Total rejected ballots 220 0.51 +0.06
Turnout 43,248 50.97 +1
Eligible voters 84,855
Conservative hold Swing +10.39
2000 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Alliance Joe Peschisolido 21,064 44.40 +8.44 $58,128
Liberal Raymond Chan 19,940 42.04 -1.77 $63,896
New Democratic Gail Paquette 2,695 5.68 -3.88 $10,941
Progressive Conservative Frank Peter Tofin 2,578 5.43 -2.85 $4,329
Green Kevan Hudson 897 1.89 +0.53 $61
Natural Law Kathy McClement 164 0.34 -0.05
Marxist–Leninist Edith Petersen 93 0.19 -0.02 $10
Total valid votes 47,431 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 218 0.47 -0.03
Turnout 47,649 61.70 -3.19
Alliance gain from Liberal Swing +5.10
By-election on March 25, 1996
Etobicoke North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Roy Cullen 12,290 46.3 -9.3
Reform Joe Peschisolido 9,563 36.0 +17.2
Progressive Conservative Mario Annecchini 2,812 10.6 -8.2
New Democratic Maxine Caron 1,400 5.3 +1.6
Christian Heritage Ron Gray 284 1.1
Abolitionist John Turmel 104 0.4
Independent Sylvie Charbin 96 0.4
Total valid votes 26,549 100.0


1993 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Roy MacLaren 28,015 55.6 +10.3
Reform Joe Peschisolido 9,470 18.8
Progressive Conservative Jane MacLaren 9,470 18.8 -15.8
New Democratic Carmela Sasso 1,839 3.7 -13.7
National Emanuele Danelon 661 1.3
Libertarian Daniel Hunt 363 0.7 -0.2
Natural Law Marilyn Pepper 353 0.7
Independent Antonio De Felice 105 0.2
Marxist–Leninist David Greig 104 0.2 +0.1
Total valid votes 50,380 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "ELECTION 2019: Steveston-Richmond East riding profile and candidates". Richmond News. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Bills Sponsored by Joe Peschisolido". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Joe Peschisolido Begins Political Comeback". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Peschisolido as Parliamentary Secretary". Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Peschisolido as Vice Chair". Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Joe Peschisolido Accepts Steveston—Richmond East Liberal Party Nomination for Fall 2015 Election". 24 November 2001. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Justin Trudeau and the Liberals Have a Majority Government". 20 October 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Liberal Joe Peschisolido Elected Member of Parliament Representing Steveston-Richmond East". Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  9. ^ Cooper, Sam (13 September 2019). "Richmond MP aims to distance himself from 'money-laundering scheme' court case". Global News. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  10. ^ Cooper, Sam (11 July 2019). "Sources say RCMP opened file on Liberal MP whose firm facilitated real estate deals in B.C." Global News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  11. ^ Wood, Graeme (18 June 2019). "Richmond MP denies representing alleged Chinese cartel member". North Shore News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  12. ^ Cooper, Sam (17 June 2019). "Liberal MP involved in second bare trust deal with client named in 'transnational money laundering' probe". Global News. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  13. ^ Cooper, Sam; Hill, Brian (11 June 2019). "Alleged gang kingpin may have used Liberal MP's law firm to launder money through B.C. condo deal". Global News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  14. ^ Smith, Joanna (8 August 2019). "Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido under investigation by federal ethics watchdog". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  15. ^ "Former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido repeatedly broke conflict of interest rules, watchdog says". CBC News. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Former Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido repeatedly broke conflict of interest rules, watchdog says". CBC News. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Former Liberal B.C. MP broke conflict of interest code, ethics commissioner finds".
  18. ^ "Commissioner Dion finds former Member failed to meet disclosure obligations".
  19. ^ "Did Canadian politicians know the victims of a targeted shooting at a trendy Richmond restaurant? | Globalnews.ca".
  20. ^ "Former Liberal B.C. MP broke conflict of interest code, ethics commissioner finds".
  21. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  23. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  24. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Steveston—Richmond East, 30 September 2015
  25. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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