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Ted Opitz

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Ted J. Opitz, CD (born August 25, 1961) is a former Canadian politician and a retired Canadian Forces Lieutenant-Colonel who represented the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Centre as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada from 2011 to 2015.

Lieutenant-Colonel
Ted Opitz
CD
Member of Parliament
for Etobicoke Centre
In office
May 2, 2011 – October 19, 2015
Preceded byBorys Wrzesnewskyj
Succeeded byBorys Wrzesnewskyj
Personal details
Born (1961-08-25) August 25, 1961 (age 63)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyConservative
SpouseCynthia
Residence(s)Etobicoke, Toronto
ProfessionSoldier, political advisor
Military service
Allegiance Canada
Branch/service Canadian Army
Years of service1978–2011
RankLieutenant-Colonel
Battles/warsBosnian War
AwardsSee list

Background

Opitz was born in the Parkdale area of Toronto in 1961 and is the youngest of four children. Opitz's parents were originally from Poland and immigrated to Canada shortly after World War II.[1][not verified in body]

In 1978, Opitz enrolled as a private in the Canadian Army Reserves and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel during 33 years of service. In 1998 and early 1999, he served in Bosnia as a member of NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR). During his military career, he performed various roles ranging from Assistant to the Chief of Staff at Canadian Forces College, a course instructor and military planner for Pope John Paul II and his World Youth Day visit to Canada in 2002. Prior to running and being elected to Parliament, Opitz was the Commanding Officer of The Lincoln and Welland Regiment.[1]

During his military service, Opitz also had parallel careers in the Telecom industry, as well as completing a BA in English at York University. Starting as a technician, Opitz worked his way up to sales and marketing and managerial roles in product management and high speed internet development.

In June 2008 Opitz was one of three candidates for the Conservative nomination in Mississauga South, losing to financial consultant Hugh Arrison.[2]

For the past two years, Opitz was the Senior Regional Advisor to Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. In that role, he represented the Government of Canada and the Minister in the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario.[1]

In Etobicoke, Opitz has been recognized for his volunteer work with the Polish community and youth in the region. Opitz has lived in Etobicoke Centre with his wife Cynthia since 1994 and was elected as the Member of Parliament in May 2011, serving until 2015.[1]

Politics

Opitz was elected in 2011 federal election.[3] He won by a margin of 26 votes over Liberal incumbent Borys Wrzesnewskyj in the initial count, triggering an automatic judicial recount.[4] The recount confirmed his win but was later declared null and void on May 18, 2012 due to alleged irregularities in the voting registration process.[5][6] However, Opitz appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada,[6][7] which reversed the lower court's ruling and upheld the original election result on October 25, 2012.[8]

As a Member of Parliament, Opitz sat on the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs[9] and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.[10] In February 2012, Opitz was chosen as a delegate to represent the Parliament of Canada at both the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region and at the 56th Conference on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.[11] He also is a vice-chairman of the Canada-Poland Parliamentary Friendship Association and chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.[12]

In 2013, Opitz acknowledged in an agreement with Elections Canada that his 2008 nomination donations violated the Canada Elections Act.[13][14]

Opitz was one of thirteen Canadians banned from travelling to Russia under sanctions imposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2014.[15] He replied via his official Twitter account, "Today's sanctions by Russia on myself and colleagues demonstrate Canada has been an effective voice in the world in support of Ukraine."[15]

In the 2015 federal election, Opitz faced Wrzesnewskyj in a rematch of the 2011 contest and was defeated by 9,542 votes.[16]

In the 2019 federal election, Optiz ran for election in his former riding and finished second to the Liberal candidate, Yvan Baker.[17]

Electoral history

2015 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj 32,612 52.77 +12.21 $183,159.14
Conservative Ted Opitz 23,070 37.33 -4.53 $123,382.55
New Democratic Tanya De Mello 4,886 7.91 -6.72 $86,715.88
Green Shawn Rizvi 856 1.39 -1.30 –
Progressive Canadian Rob Wolvin 378 0.61 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 61,802 100.00   $226,574.91
Total rejected ballots 303 0.49
Turnout 62,105 71.03
Eligible voters 87,440
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +8.37
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]


2011 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Ted Opitz 21,644 41.2% +3.7% –
Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj 21,618 41.2% -7.7% –
New Democratic Ana Maria Rivero 7,735 14.7% +6.4% –
Green Katarina Zoricic 1,377 2.6% -2.8% –
Marxist–Leninist Sarah Thompson 149 0.3% –
Total valid votes/expense limit 52,523 100.0   –
Total rejected ballots 271 0.51 +0.02
Turnout 52,794 65.49 +3.8
Eligible voters 80,603

Honours and decorations

Opitz received the following honours and decorations during and after his military career.

     
     
     

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Member of Parliament: Etobicoke Centre". Conservative Party of Canada. March 7, 2014. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012.
  2. ^ "Conservative Party picks new candidate". Mississauga News. June 10, 2008.
  3. ^ Election 2011: Don Valley West. The Globe and Mail, May 2, 2011.
  4. ^ "Judicial recounts expected in 2 ridings". CBC News. March 3, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Recount confirms Tory win in Etobicoke Centre". Toronto Star. May 23, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Toronto riding's election result tossed by judge". CBC News. May 18, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tory MP asks Supreme Court to uphold Toronto riding result". CBC News. May 28, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Conservative MP Ted Opitz can keep seat in Etobicoke Centre, Supreme Court rules". Toronto Star. October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  9. ^ [1] Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ^ [2] retrieved on January 30, 2014
  11. ^ "MP Ted Opitz Joins Canadian Delegation at the 56th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. tedopitz.ca, February 29, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  12. ^ Parliament of Canada, List of Interparliamentary Groups. Retrieved on March 10, 2015.
  13. ^ "Elections Canada says Opitz exceeded 2008 nomination campaign donation, only had one other donor for $50". The Hill Times. February 19, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  14. ^ "Elections watchdog says Ted Opitz exceeded campaign limit in 2008". Canada.com. January 28, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Susana Mas (March 24, 2013). "Russian sanctions against Canadians a 'badge of honour'". CBC News. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  16. ^ "Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj wins Etobicoke Centre". Toronto Star. October 19, 2015.
  17. ^ Ogilvie, Megan (October 21, 2019). "Liberal Yvan Baker cruises to victory in Etobicoke Centre in Canada's 2019 election". The Star. {{cite web}}: Text "accessdate-October 24, 2019" ignored (help)
  18. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Etobicoke Centre, 30 September 2015
  19. ^ Elections Canada – Final Candidates Election Expenses Limits
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