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{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Borys Wrzesnewskyj
| image = Borys Wrzesnewskyj.jpg
| honorific-suffix ={{post-nominals|country=CAN|MP|size=100%}}
| riding = [[Etobicoke Centre (federal electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre]]
| parliament = Canadian
| term_start = October 19, 2015
| term_end = September 11, 2019
| predecessor = [[Ted Opitz]]
| successor = [[Yvan Baker]]
| term_start2 = June 28, 2004
| term_end2term_start2 = MayJune 228, 20112004
| term_end2 = May 2, 2011
| predecessor2 = [[Allan Rock]]
| successor2predecessor2 = [[TedAllan OpitzRock]]
| successor2 = [[Ted Opitz]]
| office3 = Chairman of the [[Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration|Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration]]
| term_start3 = February 16, 2016
| term_end3 term_start3 = SeptemberFebruary 1816, 20172016
| minister3term_end3 = September = [[John18, McCallum]]2017
| predecessor3minister3 = [[DavidJohn TilsonMcCallum]]
| successor3predecessor3 = [[David =Tilson]]
| successor3 =
| party = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1960|11|10}}
| birth_place = [[Etobicoke]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| profession = Businessman
| residence = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| spouse =
| children =
| education = [[Trinity College, Toronto]]
}}
'''Borys Wrzesnewskyj''' {{postefn|{{lang-nominalsuk|country=CANБорис Вжесневський|MPtranslit=Borys Vzhesnevsky}}}} ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|ɒr|ɪ|s|_|f|ʃ|ɪ|s|ˈ|n|ɛ|f|s|k|i}} {{respell|BORR|iss|_|fshiss|NEF|skee}};<ref>{{YouTube|DXTlvGQHq94|"Borys Wrzesnewskyj"}}</ref>{{efn|{{IPA-|pl|ˈbɔrɨz vʐɛˈsnɛfskʲi|lang}}; {{IPA-|uk|boˈrɪs u̯ʒesˈnɛu̯sʲkɪj|lang}}. In Polish, ''Borys'' is pronounced {{IPA-|pl|ˈbɔrɨs|}} in isolation.}} born November 10, 1960) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician who representsrepresented the riding of [[Etobicoke Centre (federal electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre]] in the [[House of Commons of Canada]]. He held the riding from 2004 to 2011 and was elected again infrom the [[2015 Canadianto federal election|2015 federal election]]2019. He is a member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]].
 
==Background==
Wrzesnewskyj was born in [[Etobicoke, Ontario]], Canada (now a part of [[Toronto]]). He is a third-generation [[Ukrainian Canadian]], of the [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Ukrainian Catholic Church]], and partly [[PolesPolish people|Polish]] from paternal family. He attended Humber Valley Village Public School and [[Upper Canada College]]. He received a [[Bachelor of Commerce]] from [[University of Trinity College|Trinity College]], [[University of Toronto]] and has been a member of [[Plast]]. He speaks [[English language|English]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[French language|French]], and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. He is the owner of Future Bakery, founded by his grandparents, and M-C Dairy.
 
==Humanitarian work==
Wrzesnewskyj is known for his [[humanitarian]] work both in his riding of [[Etobicoke Centre (federal electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre]] and abroad, including helping children causes in [[Ukraine]]. Through Future Bakery, Wrzesnewskyj was one of the original sponsors of the ''Out of the Cold'' program to aid the homeless and numerous other charitable organizations working in a number of Toronto's most challenging neighbourhoods.
 
In the late 1980s he helped organize and finance the nascent Rukh Movement ([[People's Movement of Ukraine]] (also known as Rukh). In 1991, financed and organized a group in support of the referendum for the independence of Ukraine. One of his projects was an underground printing press which produced and distributed several million pieces of pro-independence literature in the South and East of Ukraine. Throughout the 1990s, he was involved with various civil society and humanitarian projects in Ukraine, such as the building of libraries and providing scholarships for gifted students.
 
Through his family foundation, Wrzesnewskyj has provided funding support for the following:
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* In 2014 he sponsored the publication of "This Blessed Land: [[Crimea]] and the [[Crimean Tatars]]" by [[Paul Robert Magocsi]]
 
In December 2010, he created the ''Roman Wrzesnewskyj Polish Endowment Fund'' with a $35,000 donation toward the preservation and development of advanced [[Polish language]] studies at the Department of [[Slavic Languages]] and Literatures, [[University of Toronto]].<ref>[http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/main/supporting/news-gift-stories/borys-wrzesnewskyj2019s-gift-to-polish-studies-at-u-of-t-honours-father Borys Wrzesnewskyj’s gift to Polish Studies at U of T honours father] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728125041/http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/main/supporting/news-gift-stories/borys-wrzesnewskyj2019s-gift-to-polish-studies-at-u-of-t-honours-father |date=2011-07-28 }}. [[University of Toronto]] Faculty of Arts & Science, January 13, 2011.</ref> Additionally, each [[Christmas]] and [[New Year's Day]], he donates his time by delivering toys and gifts to children in community housing projects in Etobicoke Centre.
 
==Politics==
Wrzesnewskyj was actively involved in the Canadian delegation to the [[2004 Ukrainian presidential election|contested Ukrainian election of 2004]], [[Orange Revolution]], and has often spoken to Canadian media on its behalf. Then, [[Canadian Prime Minister]], [[Paul Martin]] said that he was personally briefed by him to publicly warn [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] "hands off the Ukrainian election" in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] which fundamentally shifted Canada's position (Wrzesnewskyj telephoned Martin from [[KievKyiv]] during the [[Orange Revolution]]). Originally, the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade]] in [[Ottawa]] took a "hands off" approach to the contested Ukrainian election. Martin says that he, and the [[Government of Canada]] would not have stood up for democracy in Ukraine "if it hadn't been for Borys". Subsequently, he was instrumental in securing the Government of Canada's commitment to sending five hundred Canadian election observers to the December 2004 Presidential elections in Ukraine.
 
===Legislative work===
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* Bill C-180, "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda)", 6 May 2009; Bill C-181, "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking and transplanting [[human organs]] and other body parts)", 7 May 2009.
* Bill C-383, "An Act respecting education benefits for spouses and children of certain deceased federal enforcement officers", 12 May 2009.
* Bill C-394 "An Act to acknowledge that persons of Croatian origin were interned in Canada during the [[First World War]] and to provide for recognition of this event", 26 May 2009. This began as his Private Members' Bill C-374, which the ''[[Winnipeg Sun]]'' placed this item in its top ten list of bills (9 November 2006).<ref>{{cite news|last=Granic|first=Stan|title=A Strong Voice for Croatian Canadians: The Legacy of Borys Wrzesnewskyj|url=http://www.croatianchronicle.com/ccn/life/a-strong-voice-for-croatian-canadians-the-legacy-of-borys-wrzesnewskyj|archive-url=https://archive.istoday/20120722221947/http://www.croatianchronicle.com/ccn/life/a-strong-voice-for-croatian-canadians-the-legacy-of-borys-wrzesnewskyj|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2012|accessdateaccess-date=11 November 2011|newspaper=Croatian Chronicle Network|date=15 July 2011}}</ref>
* Bill C-450, "An Act respecting a national day of remembrance of the Ukrainian [[Holodomor]]-Genocide".
* Bill C-537, "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (judicial interim release for offenses involving firearms)" to toughen up bail conditions for perpetrators of crimes involving guns, June 2010.
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===International self-financed fact-finding missions===
From 7–14 August 2009, Wrzesnewskyj initiatedtook part in a self-financed fact-finding mission to Jordan, the [[West Bank]], and [[East Jerusalem]] along with fellow parliamentarians from the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|New Democratic Party]] and [[Bloc Québécois]]. The mission's goals were to gain firsthand knowledge and understanding and assess the opportunities to build towards a peaceful and just solution between [[Israel]], [[State of Palestine|Palestine]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]] and [[Egypt]]. He subsequently co-authored a report which offered several key recommendations to the Government of Canada. He also a self-financed a fact-finding mission to [[Darfur]], [[Sudan]], regarding the [[Darfur Conflict]], and another to [[Somalia]].
 
===RCMP pension scandal===
In April 2007, Wrzesnewskyj publicly called for a full judicial inquiry into the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP) [[Scandals surrounding the RCMP#Pension fund scandal|pension fund scandal]] and spoke to the media on the matter. He was instrumental in bringing forward to the Public Accounts Committee, and pursuing, an investigation into the misuse of the RCMP pension and insurance funds involving the upper echelons of Canada's national police force which pressured the government into establishing the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP.<ref>Accessed 2 April 2022, https://web.archive.org/web/20070401151008/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/28/rcmp-allegations.html</ref> Here again, Canadian Prime Minister [[Paul Martin]] emphatically stated that "nothing would not have been done (with the RCMP pension scandal) if it hadn't been for Borys."
 
===Hezbollah comments===
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===Special Advisor to the Liberal Leader on Emerging Democracies===
From 2009-11, Wrzesnewskyj held the position of Special Advisor to the Liberal Leader on Emerging Democracies.<ref>[http://boryswrzesnewskyj.liberal.ca/wrzesnewskyj-appointed-special-advisor-for-emerging-democracies/ Borys Wrzesnewskyj appointed Special Advisor to the Liberal Leader on Emerging Democracies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001142643/http://boryswrzesnewskyj.liberal.ca/wrzesnewskyj-appointed-special-advisor-for-emerging-democracies/# |date=2015-10-01 }}. Liberal Party of Canada news release. October 8, 2009.</ref>
 
As a [[Canadians|Canadian]] parliamentarian of partial Polish heritage, Wrzesnewskyj is the founder of the Canada-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Group. He has persistently criticized Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism [[Jason Kenney]] for reducing immigration quotas from [[Poland]], and [[Ukraine]] to Canada. He has also spoken to Canadian media on the [[Katyn Massacre]] and [[2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash]] that saw the deaths of Poland's senior government, diplomatic and military leaders, including President [[Lech Kaczynski]].
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In the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 election]], Wrzesnewskyj was defeated by [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] candidate [[Ted Opitz]] by a margin of just 26 votes.<ref name=recount>[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/995824--recount-confirms-tory-win-in-etobicoke-centre?bn=1 "Recount confirms Tory win in Etobicoke Centre"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 23, 2011.</ref> A [[judicial recount]] subsequently confirmed Opitz's victory.<ref name=recount />
 
Nearly a year after the election, allegations of an election dirty tricks campaign linked to the Conservative [[Harper government]] persists.<ref>[http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/675792--opposition-parties-slam-election-dirty-tricks-campaign-linked-to-tories-that-took-place-in-waterloo-region-guelph-ridings Opposition parties slam election dirty tricks]. ''[[The Record (Waterloo Region)|The Record]]'', February 23, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://globalnews.ca/news/215121/ndp-question-2011-election-results-amidst-robocall-investigation/ NDP question 2011 election results amidst robocall investigation]. [[Global News]], February 23, 2012.</ref><ref>[http{{cite news | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/23/robocalls-scandal-opposition_n_1296601.html "| title=Robocalls Scandal: Harper Denies Involvement In Dirty Tricks Campaign Linked To Racknine Inc."].| work= ''[[Huffington PostHuffPost]]'', | date=February 23, 2012}}</ref> At a news conference on 25 February 2012, interim Liberal Leader [[Bob Rae]] said that Wrzesnewskyj will be going to court on 2 May 2012 to call for a by-election.<ref>{{cite news| url=httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/02/25/pol-rae-claims-robocalls-saturdaycontributed-to-liberal-candidates-defeat-1.html1236373 | work=CBC News | title=Rae claims 'robocalls' contributed to Liberal candidates' defeat | date=25 February 2012}}</ref> Wrzesnewskyj will be alleging that there were irregularities at ten polls in the riding of Etobicoke Centre.<ref>[http://globalnews.ca/news/217130/defeated-liberal-takes-rare-court-action-to-contest-election-results/ Defeated Liberal takes rare court action to contest election results]. [[Global News]], February 28, 2012.</ref>
 
===After the 2011 election===
Despite the narrow loss in the May 2011 election, Wrzesnewskyj has continued dedicating himself to public service. This includes the closure of the immigration case of Arjan Tabaj, championed by Wrzesnewskyj and immigration lawyer Scott McDonald. Tabaj is a partly paralyzed survivor of an assassination attempt during elections in [[Albania]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/family-wrongfully-deported-to-albania-returning-to-canada/article2175575/ | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Family wrongfully deported to Albania returning to Canada|date=22 September 2011}}</ref> In September 2011, Tabaj, his wife Anilda, his daughter and twin sons returned to Canada after Jason Kenney had the family deported in 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1058350 | work=The Star | first=Wendy | last=Gillis | title=Video: Joy and tears as family arrives in Canada after deportation overturned | date=23 September 2011}}</ref> Later, a [[Canadians|Canadian]] federal court ruled that the family was wrongfully deported.<ref>[http://www.citynews.ca/2011/09/22/family-wrongfully-deported-to-albania-returning-to-canada/ Family wrongfully deported to Albania returning to Canada]. [[CityNews]], September 22, 2011.</ref> Lorne Waldman, a leading immigration lawyer said that stark reversals like the Tabaj case "are rarer than hen's teeth".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/deported-family-of-refugee-claimants-allowed-back-into-canada/article2177179/ | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Deported family of refugee claimants allowed back into Canada|date=22 September 2011}}</ref>
 
After the arrest of Ukrainian politician [[Yulia Tymoshenko]] in August 2011, Wrzesnewskyj participated in demonstrations at the Ukrainian Consulate in Toronto, calling for the support of democracy in Ukraine and release of all [[political prisoners]]. International organizations, representatives of the [[European Union]] and the [[United States]] called Tymoshenko's arrest "selective prosecution of political opponents".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14459446 | work=BBC News | title=Q&A: Ukraine's Yulia Tymoshenko on trial | date=11 October 2011}}</ref>
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===Potential Liberal leadership campaign in 2013===
After the Liberal Party suffered their worst defeat in history under [[Michael Ignatieff]] in the May 2, 2011 federal election, and the previous defeat of [[Stéphane Dion]] in 2008, party loyalists have objected to Liberal Party decision makers who reflexively promote and support high-profile or star leadership candidates. Supporters have quietly urged Wrzesnewskyj to run for the [[2013 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election]].{{citation needed |reason=Rumour and speculation|date=June 2015}}
 
Wresnewskyj's appeal for a successful leadership bid includes his refusal to play "back room politics", seen as a key factor in rejuvenating the Liberal Party. Referring to Michael Ignatieff and inner Liberal party circles at his annual general meeting in January 2011, Wrzesnewskyj said "They can't buy me, they can't silence me, so I remain a pain in their side." In his first major interview since the May 2011 election, Wrzesnewskyj stated "it would be such a shame to lose the Liberal Party of Canada as a consequence of being highjacked by a so-called party establishment."<ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/rogue-liberal-readies-leadership-bid-62194.html Rogue Liberal Readies Leadership Bid]. ''[[Epoch Times]]'', September 29, 2011.</ref>
 
Tackling the RCMP pension scandal wide open in early 2007 through the Public Accounts Committee when "fellow MPs had warned him it could cost him his career"<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/canada/former-mp-says-ignatieff-quashed-chinese-influence-questions-62122.html Former MP Says Ignatieff Quashed Chinese Influence Questions]. ''[[Epoch Times]]'', September 27, 2011.</ref> is seen as another example of Wrzesnewskyj's leadership appeal.
 
Previously, Ignatieff stopped Wrzesnewskyj "from calling witnesses and submitting evidence in a parliamentary hearing... that would have pointed to Chinese influence on Canadian politicians."<ref name=autogenerated1 />
 
In 2005, when Paul Martin served as Prime Minister, Wrzesnewskyj supported a Conservative MP [[Daryl Kramp]]'s private members bill for mandatory minimums for gun crimes. He described the events in a Virtual Town Hall meeting on 20 March 2011. Initially, Wrzesnewskyj was instructed by the Liberal leadership to oppose the bill. He refused on a matter of principle stating "If you use a gun, you're done. The moment you become a risk to the security of our neighbourhoods and communities, that's it".
 
He eventually convinced his Liberal colleagues on the merits of the bill and cast the deciding ballot for the Conservative bill to go forward.
 
Wrzesnewskyj stated that "Party elite needs to be ousted" and that he "is hoping to "unwedge the backroom boys" and open the party up through a grassroots effort to sign up new members. If all goes according to plan, it could lead to a run for the Liberal leadership."<ref name=autogenerated2 />
 
===Supreme Court of Canada case===
Wrzesnewskyj challenged the election results of May 2, 2011 in the Etobicoke Centre. Early in 2012, he launched his case in the [[Ontario Court of Justice]], arguing voting irregularities, including ballots cast by people who did not live in the riding, the possibility that at least some people voted multiple times, and mistakes made in the conduct of the election by Elections Canada.<ref>{{cite news| url=httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canadapolitics/toronto/story/2012/05/18/pol-courtriding-throwss-outelection-etobicokeresult-centretossed-electionby-judge-wrzesnewskyj1.html1222980 | work=CBC News | title=Toronto riding's election result tossed by judge | date=18 May 2012}}</ref>
 
On May 18, Justice Thomas Lederer agreed with Wrzesnewskyj, declaring the election results null and void, and ordered a by-election in Etobicoke Centre.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/judge-throws-out-federal-election-results-in-toronto-riding/article2437218/ | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Toronto residents receive robo-calls after judge throws out election results|date=18 May 2012}}</ref>
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Despite Justice Lederer's decision, Ted Opitz appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada and has refused to step down as MP from the House of Commons and run again against Wrzesnewskyj in a by-election. Opitz continues to vote in the House of Commons. Wrzesnewskyj has stated Opitz should sit out votes in the House of Commons: "It undermines ... our confidence in the democratic system that we have if we don't know who the actual member of Parliament is."<ref>[http://www.globaltoronto.com/scoc+to+hear+overturned+election+case+this+week/6442675283/story.html SCOC to hear overturned election case this week]. [[Global News]], July 8, 2012.</ref>
 
On 10 July 2012 the Supreme Court of Canada interrupted its summer break to hear appeals from Ted Opitz and to decide whether a by-election is required. "The Supreme Court will likely make its decision quickly since by law, it has to expedite the case. If the court rules this summer, there could be a by-election in Etobicoke Centre early in the new year, or sooner."<ref name=autogenerated3>[httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/07/09/polstakes-high-in-etobicoke-centre-supreme-court-hearing-1.html1165052 Stakes high in Etobicoke Centre Supreme Court hearing]. [[CBC News]], July 9, 2012.</ref>
 
Instead of accepting the Ontario judge's decision and calling a by-election, the governing Conservatives decided to fight it, becoming the first party to take such a matter to the Supreme Court. Judge Lederer's May ruling was only the sixth time since 1949 that a [[Canadians|Canadian]] court has set aside federal election results in a riding.<ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/canadas-voting-system-at-the-heart-of-etobicoke-elections-case/article4401938/ Canada’s voting system at the heart of Etobicoke elections case]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', July 9, 2012.</ref>
 
While the Tory party is paying Opitz's legal bills, the Liberal Party of Canada refused to pay for Wrzesnewskyj's legal costs. Wrzesnewskyj has spent over $300,000 of his own money to bring the case to court.<ref name=autogenerated3 /><ref>[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/supreme-court-to-interrupt-summer-break-to-hear-tossed-election-case/article4265075/ Supreme Court to interrupt summer break to hear tossed election case]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 14, 2012.</ref>
 
On Thursday October 25, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in a split decision in favour of Opitz, allowing him to remain as MP for Etobicoke Center and once and for all putting an end to Wrzesnewskyj's dispute.<ref>[http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10/25/conservative-mp-ted-opitz-keeps-his-seat-in-etobicoke-centre-after-split-supreme-court-vote/ Conservative MP Ted Opitz keeps his seat in Etobicoke Centre after split Supreme Court ruling]. ''[[National Post]]'', October 25, 2012.</ref>
 
===2015&ndash;present2019===
In the 2015 election, Wrzesnewskyj defeated Conservative MP Opitz by a margin of over 9,500 votes. During the election, he criticized the lack of investment in public transit by the Harper regimegovernment. He also noted that Harper's time in office saw "increasing international jingoism," and criticized the Conservatives' handling of the global refugee crisis.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/federal-ridings-toronto-gta/2015/10/19/liberal-borys-wrzesnewskyj-wins-etobicoke-centre.html| title = Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj wins Etobicoke Centre {{!}} The Star| website = [[Toronto Star]]| date = 19 October 2015| last1 = Davis| first1 = Stephen Spencer}}</ref> Opitz also faced criticism for spending "more than $70,000 public dollars on self-service advertising flyers since 2011", including allegedly during an election period.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5947492-etobicoke-centre-political-rivals-opitz-wrzesnewskyj-go-head-to-head-on-pearson-night-flights-at-a/ | title=ETOBICOKE CENTRE: Political rivals Opitz, Wrzesnewskyj go head-to-head on Pearson night flights at all-candidates' debate | date=6 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/15/conservative-mps-flyer-violates-election-rules-liberal-opponent-says.html| title = Conservative MP's flyer violates election rules, Liberal opponent says {{!}} The Star| website = [[Toronto Star]]| date = 15 August 2015| last1 = Spurr| first1 = Ben}}</ref>
 
In late 2018, Wrzesnewskyj announced he would not be running for re-election in the coming [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4593050/borys-wrzesnewskyj-leaving-etobicoke-centre/|title=Liberal incumbent to leave Toronto-area seat, setting up rare GTA opening for Tories|date=October 24, 2018|last=Akin|first=David|website=Global News|accessdateaccess-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>
 
During the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Wrzesnewskyj helped organize Canadian volunteers going to Ukraine to serve in the [[International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/world/exclusive-so-many-canadian-fighters-in-ukraine-they-have-their-own-battalion-source-says|work=National Post|title=Exclusive: So many Canadian fighters in Ukraine, they have their own battalion, source says|first=Tom|last=Blackwell|date=March 9, 2022}}</ref>
 
==Awards and recognition==
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On February 25, 2011 Wrzesnewskyj was awarded the Estonian Canadian Medal of Merit for his outstanding contribution to Canadians of Estonian heritage.
 
On November 15, 2014, President of [[Poland]] [[Bronisław Komorowski]], awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit to Wrzesnewskyj, which advocated, among others, the abolition of visas to Canada for Polish citizens and donated the program of Polish language and literature at the University of Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ottawa.msz.gov.pl/en/news/poland_s_independence_day_celebrated_in_ottawa |title=Poland's Independence Day celebrated in Ottawa |access-date=2014-11-17 |archive-date=2014-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021425/http://ottawa.msz.gov.pl/en/news/poland_s_independence_day_celebrated_in_ottawa |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
==Electoral record==
{{2015 Canadian federal election result/top|CA|2015|Etobicoke Centre (electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{2011 Canadian federal election, 2006/Electoral District/Etobicoke Centre}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Borys Wrzesnewskyj|32,612|52.8|+11.6|&ndash;}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election, 2004/Electoral District/Etobicoke Centre}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Ted Opitz]]|23,070|37.3|-3.9|&ndash;}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Etobicoke Centre}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Tanya De Mello|4,886|7.9|-6.8|&ndash;}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Etobicoke Centre}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Shawn Rizvi|856|1.4|-1.2|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Progressive Canadian|Rob Wolvin|378|0.6||&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|61,802|100.0|&nbsp;|$225,720.80}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|303|0.49|-0.02}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|62,105|71.02|+5.5}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|87,440}}
{{CANelec/gain|CA|Liberal|Conservative|+7.75}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Canada]]<ref>[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=35027&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=ON&PROVID=35&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Etobicoke Centre, 30 September 2015]</ref><ref>[http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045200/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e |date=2016-03-04 }}</ref>}}
{{end}}
 
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|Etobicoke Centre (electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Ted Opitz]]|21,644|41.2|+3.7|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Borys Wrzesnewskyj|21,618|41.2|-7.7|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Ana Maria Rivero|7,735|14.7%|+6.4|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Katarina Zoricic|1,377|2.6%|-2.8|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Sarah Thompson|149|0.3|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|52,523|100.0|&nbsp;|&ndash;|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|271|0.51|+0.02 | }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|52,794|65.49|+3.8| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|80,603}}
{{CANelec/gain|CA|Conservative|Liberal|+5.7}}
{{end}}
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|Etobicoke Centre (electoral district)|Etobicoke Centre|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Borys Wrzesnewskyj| 24,537| 48.9| -3.5|$72,089}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Axel Kuhn | 18,839| 37.5|+4.3 |$83,207}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Joseph Schwartz| 4,164| 8.3| -1.3|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Marion Schaffer | 2,688| 5.4| +1.6|$352}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit| 50,228| 100.0|&nbsp;|$85,584}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 247| 0.49}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 50,475| 62.7}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|Liberal|-3.9}}
{{End}}
{{Canadian federal election, 2006/Electoral District/Etobicoke Centre}}
{{Canadian federal election, 2004/Electoral District/Etobicoke Centre}}
 
==Notes==
Line 210 ⟶ 170:
 
==External links==
{{wikinewsWikinews|Liberal MP resigns as deputy foreign affairs critic}}
*{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=16783}}
 
{{Authority control}}
{{Current Members of the Canadian House of Commons}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrzesnewskyj, Borys}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:PoliticiansBusinesspeople from Toronto]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Ukrainian descent]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario]]
[[Category:MembersCanadian members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from Canada]]
[[Category:CanadianPeople peoplefrom of Ukrainian descentEtobicoke]]
[[Category:CanadianPoliticians peoplefrom of Polish descentToronto]]
[[Category:Trinity College (Canada) alumni]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:Upper Canada College alumni]]
[[Category:People21st-century frommembers Etobicokeof the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian politicians]]