Robert-Falcon Ouellette

Robert-Falcon Ouellette (born November 22, 1976) is a Canadian politician, who also goes by the initials of RFO or simply called The Falcon, who represented the riding of Winnipeg Centre in the House of Commons of Canada for one term. He was previously a candidate for Mayor of Winnipeg in the 2014 municipal election, finishing third.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, CD, PhD
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Winnipeg Centre
In office October 19, 2015 – September 11, 2019
Preceded by	Pat Martin
Succeeded by	Leah Gazan
Personal details
Born	November 22, 1976 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Residence	West Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Education	Doctor of Philosophy, Anthropology Master of Education Master of Music Bachelor of Music (Secondary School Education)
Alma mater	Université Laval (Ph.D., M.A.) University of Calgary (B.A.)
Profession	Anthropologist
Military service
Allegiance	Canadian Forces
Branch/service	Royal Canadian Navy 1996-1998 Royal 22e Regiment 1998-2004 Royal Canadian Navy 2004-2007 5th Field Ambulance medical service 2007-2010 Royal Canadian Navy 2010-2019 Canadian Army 2019-present
Rank	Warrant Officer
Unit	Royal Winnipeg Rifles

He is of mixed Métis, Cree and English descent; Ouellette is a veteran of over twenty years in the Canadian Forces and was a university professor before his entry into politics. He has also completed a full Sundance cycle at the Sprucewoods Sundance under David Blacksmith.

Early life and career

Ouellette is from Red Pheasant Cree Nation, 30 minutes south of Battleford, Saskatchewan. He was raised in Calgary.[1]

His father, Jimmy is mixed Cree and Métis[2] and from the Red Pheasant First Nation, located south of North Battleford, Saskatchewan.[3] Ouellette's father was a student in the Canadian Indian residential school system and an alcoholic who was sometimes absent.[3]His namesake was his mother's younger brother Robert-Falcon Green[4] who died in 1961 at age 9.[5] Ouellette was raised primarily by his mother, Sharon, a poorly educated woman with a history of depression.[3] His mother was born in Tottenham, North London[6] and moved from England to Canada in 1974.

Ouellette grew up in poor conditions, often going hungry, and he once spent a summer homeless in Winnipeg sleeping in city parks.[3] Determined to change her son's future, Ouellette's mother insisted that he take the admissions test for the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, an elite private school.[3] After Ouellette was admitted, his mother paid for his tuition by taking out a loan she could not afford to pay back.[3][7]

Ouellette earned a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Calgary in 2001. In 2004 and 2007 he earned a Master's in Music and a Master's in Education from Laval University. In 2011 his finally completed a PhD in anthropology, also from Laval University in Quebec City. He was only the 2nd indigenous person in the 350 year history of UL to earn a PhD. While attending university in Quebec City he was also working full time in the Canadian Army, which required him to complete his course material at night or occasionally in the field. [7] While in Quebec City he learned to fluently speak, write and read French, after having been posted to the Royal 22e Regiment, a French-Canadian military unit.

From 2007 to 2010 he was appointed a Company Commander in the 5e ambulance du campagne or 5th Field Ambulance (the medical service) where he was responsible for helping to run the base hospital. He retired from the Royal Canadian Navy after nearly two decades of service with the rank of Petty Officer 1st class and remains as part of the Primary Reserves in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as a Warrant Officer. He moved to Winnipeg in 2011 from Quebec City after he was appointed as director of the Aboriginal Focus Programs at the University of Manitoba.

Municipal politics

In 2005, Ouellette ran for a city council seat for Quebec City Council, but lost by 170 votes.[7]

Ouellette finished third in the 2014 Winnipeg mayoral election.[8] He had run on a platform of dedicated to making Winnipeg a Child Friendly City (UNICEF model), Rail Relocation, Light Rail Transit, bridging economic divides, racial inequality, infrastructure funding and campaign finance reform. Shortly after his defeat, he declared that he was developing a business plan to open a Winnipeg university catering to indigenous post-secondary students to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous peoples.[8]

Federal politics

In the 2015 election, Ouellette took over 50% of the vote and defeated longtime NDP MP Pat Martin in Winnipeg Centre. Ouellette resigned his position with the University of Manitoba in July 2015 to focus on his campaign.[9] After his election, Ouellette was considered a leading candidate for the position of Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.[10]

Ouellette withdrew from the race to be Speaker of the House of Commons after making comments at a Winnipeg town hall meeting stating the position comes with "great influence" over the Prime Minister to the extent of calling the Prime Minister to the Speaker's Chair to address constituent's concerns.[11]

He was the only Liberal MP to have voted against the bill that legalized euthanasia, saying it was against his deep spiritual beliefs and would cause harm to Indigenous peoples.[12] He voted in support Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's Bill C-246: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Fisheries Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (animal protection).[13] Ouellette also voted against the bill that ordered striking Canada Post staff back to work for supporting employees in Canada Post dispute.[14]

Ouellette is known for voting on issues in Parliament according to his constituents desires, often voting against his own party and government. The vast majority of Members of Parliament in Canada vote according to instructions given by the Government Whip or Political Party Whips. Members of political parties in Canada who break ranks are often punished or ejected from their political party. He has still voted with the government 87% of the time.[15]

Ouellette was the chair of Indigenous Caucus and the member of Standing Committee on Health and Finance. He was also the co-chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to end Slavery and Human Trafficking.[16] He is a supporter of the Moose Hide Campaign which is aimed to fight against violence towards women and children and human trafficking in Canada.[17]

Since elected in 2015, Ouellette started to fight for rights of indigenous language rights. On May 4, 2017, Ouellette gave the first entire speech in an indigenous language (Cree) in the House of Commons. It was about violence and missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. He demanded the House of Commons provide interpretation and translation services for the speech, but this was refused because it was not permissible under the rules. After a lengthy debate the Speaker of the House Geoff Regan ruled against allowing the interpretation of Indigenous languages because no reference was found in the standing orders. Subsequently the matter was referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure where the issue was studied. [18][19][20][21] Eventually the House of Commons adopted changes to provide for the simultaneous interpretation of Indigenous languages during proceedings late in 2018.[22][23] On January 28, 2019 Ouellette became the first MP to speak in an indigenous language while the House provided live translation. Later he worked with colleagues in the Liberal and Conservative caucuses where a 20 minute debate was conducted fully in Cree; this included non-indigenous MPs. [24][25][26]

Ouellette made a campaign pledge in 2015 to reform Child Welfare in Canada, due to the major impact that CFS was having on populations in the inner city of Winnipeg and the resulting increase in the homeless population. After much lobbying and work in 2019 government legislation was introduced (C-92) to address many of the rampant inequalities and discrimination suffering indigenous children. [27] The legislation, Bill C-92, would ensure that Indigenous government jurisdiction on this matter over rides other levels of government including provincial and federal. This is permitted under section 92(24) of the Constitution. This bill was co-developed with Indigenous partners, including the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Metis National Council, Bill C-92 seeks to affirm Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services. Indigenous peoples should be allowed to care for their own children in a culturally appropriate way. For over 20 years in Manitoba, NDP and Conservative governments took more children into the child welfare system than at any point during the height of the Indian Residential School era. The Federal Child Welfare Reform legislation (C-92) has passed and came into force in its entirety on January 1, 2020. On June 21, 2019, Bill C-92 An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families became law. The Bill is a huge and unprecedented step forward in Canada. It is the first time the federal government has exercised its jurisdiction to legislate in the area of Indigenous child welfare.

In C-92, Ouellette was also able to ensure that customary adoption was included as articles of law to help indigenous communities and nations return to more traditional forms of childcare. Customary adoption is important to Ouellette because one of his children was adopted in a customary Cree manner and he felt the lack of current laws on this issue did not help or protect indigenous children.

Since 2016, Ouellette started to work with Lillian Dyck for a new law[28] which would help protect Indigenous women if they were victims of violent crime.[29] The vote was lost and the bill defeated during second reading in the House of Commons in April 2019.

In May 2016, Ouellete introduced his first Private Member's Bill C-318: National Residential School Memorial Day to Parliament.[30]

In February 2016, Ouellette sponsored Dougald Lamont's petition (from Winnipeg, Manitoba): E-211 (SOCIAL BENEFITS) to call upon the Minister of Finance to join with interested Provinces, Municipalities and Indigenous communities to fund and launch experimental pilot Mincome projects, as soon as possible, in order to determine the efficacy and viability of a Guaranteed Minimum Income in Canada, and to include funding for these projects in the 2016-2017 budget.

In July 2016, Ouellette sponsored Collin Bryce Theo Kennedy's petition: E-492 (TRANSPORTATION) to call upon the Minister of Health to and Minister of Transportation to request enforcement of the Canada Health Act to: 1. Ensure there is adequate cost-free parking for patients and caregivers in and around medical facilities; and 2. Where metered parking is not to be removed, that there is a means to identify those who are utilizing the parking space in order to gain access to medical facilities without cost to the patient; their family or caregivers regardless of the duration.[31]

In September 2017, Ouellette sponsored Jeff Ward's petition(from Victoria, British Columbia): E-607 (NATIONAL HOLIDAYS) to call upon the House of Commons to designate June 21 of each year as a legal holiday to be kept and observed throughout Canada. This day should serve to create and strengthen opportunities for Reconciliation and cultural exchange among Canadians. The day should facilitate connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians in positive and meaningful ways. This day should solidify the original intent of National Aboriginal Day as a day for Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

In September 2017, Ouellette sponsored Jodene McNarland's petition(from Winnipeg, Manitoba): E-1234 (OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF CANADA) to call upon the House of Commons to provide interpretation and translation services in Nehiyawewin/Cree in the House of Commons.

In October 2018, Ouellette sponsored Renate Schulz's petition(from Winnipeg, Manitoba):E-1866 (FIREARMS) to call upon the Government of Canada to draft legislation immediately in order to ban handguns and military-style assault weapons in Canada.

In December 2018, Ouellette sponsored Randolph Shrofel's petition(from Sandy Hook, Manitoba): E-1961 (CANADIAN HERITAGE) to call upon the Government of Canada to revise the Coat of Arms of Canada to include representation of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.[32]

In May 2019, Ouellette sponsored Renae Shingoose's petition(from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan): E-2160 (SENTENCES IN THE CRIMINAL CODE) to call upon the House of Commons to appeal and revise the decision of Bill S-215 to where treatment and rehabilitation is mandatory for all violent offenders of Aboriginal women.

In June 2019, Ouellette sponsored Yasir Naqvi's petition (from Toronto, Ontario): E-2240 (CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP) to call upon the House of Commons to cooperate and Pass Bill C-99 to update Canada's Oath of Citizenship to respect and recognize Indigenous rights before the House rises on June 21, 2019.

In September 2018, to raise awareness about the violence and drug addiction issues facing Winnipeg and get the provincial and city government's actions, Ouellette erected a tipi in Central Park, a no-go zone in Winnipeg, and slept out in the open for a few days.[33] Then he worked with Doug Eyolfson to provide a substantive House of Commons Health Committee Report on meth & addiction.[34] He also called on all MPs to combat meth crisis in November 2018.[35]

He was defeated in the 2019 election.[36]

Personal life

Ouellette lives in the inner city of West Broadway, Winnipeg.[37]

Electoral record

2019 Canadian federal election: Winnipeg Centre
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Leah Gazan	13,073	41.2	+13.2	–
	Liberal	Robert-Falcon Ouellette	10,704	33.7	-20.8	–
	Conservative	Ryan Dyck	5,561	17.5	+5.1	–
	Green	Andrea Shalay	1,661	5.2	+1.1	–
	People's	Yogi Henderson	474	1.5	–	–
	Christian Heritage	Stephanie Hein	251	0.8	+0.1	–
Total valid votes/Expense limit			31,724	100.0
Total rejected ballots			274
Turnout			31,998	54.2
Eligible voters			59,012
	New Democratic gain from Liberal		Swing		+17.0
Source: Elections Canada[38][39]

2015 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Robert-Falcon Ouellette	18,471	54.51	+43.44	$78,690.24
	New Democratic	Pat Martin	9,490	28.01	−25.65	$107,665.59
	Conservative	Allie Szarkiewicz	4,189	12.36	−15.28	$32,494.32
	Green	Don Woodstock	1,379	4.07	−2.98	$38,782.49
	Christian Heritage	Scott Miller	221	0.65	n/a	$1,210.15
	Communist	Darrell Rankin	135	0.40	−0.19	$0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit			33,885	100.00		$191,132.58
Total rejected ballots			281	0.82	–
Turnout			34,166	61.41	–
Eligible voters			55,633
	Liberal gain from New Democratic		Swing		+34.59
Source: Elections Canada[40][41][42]

2014 Winnipeg Mayoral

Candidate	Votes	%
(x) Brian Bowman	111,504	47.54
Judy Wasylycia-Leis	58,440	24.29
Robert-Falcon Ouellette	36,823	15.70
Gord Steeves	21,080	8.99
David Sanders	3,718	1.59
Paula Havixbeck	2,083	0.89
Michel Fillion	898	0.38

References

1. Ouellette, Robert-Falcon (June 6, 2014). "Introducing Robert Falcon Ouellette". YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
2. Nash, Chelsea (December 14, 2016). "Liberal MP: For reconciliation to happen, department needs to go". The Hill Times. Retrieved December 17, 2016. Mr. Ouellette’s father was a mix of Cree and Métis.
3. Raj, Althia (20 September 2015). "Winnipeg Centre: Pat Martin, Robert-Falcon Ouellette Make Riding Key NDP-Liberal Battle". Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
4. "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008". FamilySearch. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
5. "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007". FamilySearch. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
6. "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008". FamilySearch. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
7. Welch, Mary Agnes (18 October 2014). "The Most Interesting Man in the Game". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
8. Hatherly, Dana (3 December 2014). "Robert-Falcon Ouellette Wants Indigenous University". The Manitoban. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
9. Macdonald, Nancy (24 September 2015). "Winnipeg's amazing race". Maclean's. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
10. Roman, Karina (24 October 2015). "Justin Trudeau has strong slate of aboriginal MPs when considering cabinet". CBC News. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
11. "Rookie Winnipeg MP withdraws from Speaker race following comments at meeting". The Globe and Mail. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
12. Indigenous Liberal MP Ouellette voting against government assisted dying bill, 20 April 2016
13. Nathaniel Erskine-Smith's Animal Cruelty Bill Defeated, 6 October 2016
14. / Winnipeg Liberal MPs side with employees in Canada Post dispute, 26 November 2018
15. Liberal backbenchers, Tory leadership hopefuls among Parliament's biggest dissenters, 21 February 2017
16. ANTI-PORN MP SELECTED TO CO-CHAIR HUMAN TRAFFICKING PARLIAMENTARY GROUP, 10 May 2018
17. Robert-Falcon Ouellette Delivers Speech In Cree To Ask For Help Protecting Indigenous Women, 5 May 2017
18. House looking into Indigenous interpretation in the Commons, 14 December 2017
19. House of Commons gearing up for Indigenous languages in chamber, 11 December 2017
20. Indigenous languages matter: MP Falcon-Ouellete dreams of day when House debates are translated in his native tongue, 3 February 2018
21. 'This is it for Indigenous languages,' Manitoba MP says in funding plea, 27 March 2018
22. Les langues autochtones maintenant bienvenues aux Communes, 5 December 2018
23. This is something I’ve been fighting for now for two years almost, Indigenous language interpretation in the House important symbol for youth, says Liberal MP Ouellette, 28 January 2019
24. Helping make House history: meet Cree translator Kevin Lewis, 6 February 2019
25. Ouellette, interpreter bring Cree voice to House of Commons, 28 January 2019
26. Indigenous Winnipeg MP delivers speech in Cree in House of Commons, 29 January 2019
27. MPs hear the last arguments for and against the child welfare legislation, 9 May 2019
28. Manitoba MP stands behind bill aimed at deterring violence against Indigenous women, 6 May 2017
29. People who kill Indigenous women punished less than those who kill non-Indigenous women, Senator’s study finds, 28 November 2018
30. Robert-Falcon Ouellette to introduce bill for national residential school memorial day, 7 May 2016
31. Cancer patient who filled Winnipeg meter with spray foam to protest hospital parking fees dies, 12 December 2018
32. Canada’s Coat Of Arms Needs Redesign To Include Indigenous Peoples: Petition, 20 January 2019
33. MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette sleeps in Winnipeg's Central Park in response to spike in crime, 6 September 2018
34. Manitoba meth crisis under the microscope at federal committee hearing, 29 November 2018
35. Winnipeg Liberal MP Ouellette calls on all MPs to combat meth crisis, 19 November 2018
36. "Gazan ousts Ouellette to return riding to NDP". Winnipeg Free Press. 21 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
37. RobertFalcon.ca | About
38. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
39. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
40. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Winnipeg Centre, 30 September 2015
41. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
42. http://www.elections.ca/WPAPPS/WPF/EN/CC/DistrictReport?act=C23&eventid=41&returntype=1&option=3&queryid=72c1eb8bd75a4964986c724956f5a358

External links

• Official bio