I live in the riding of Beaches-East York with my wife Donna and our three children.

I have a Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and have completed all but the dissertation of a PhD in Political Science.

I have held a variety of elected and staff positions with trade unions since 1991. My work for labour has included collective bargaining, collective agreement administration, research and policy development.

My family and I have been very active in the community. I have served on the board of my children’s daycare and I have chaired the parent council at my children’s school. I have also been very involved in local environmental issues. As a founding member and Co-Chair of the Toronto Energy Coalition, I led the community fight against the gas-fired generator on our waterfront.

I am currently serving my third term as President of the BEY NDP Riding Association.

For more detail on what I’ve been up to for the last twenty years, please see below:

Employment History

Staff Representative, Society of Energy Professionals, IFPTE Local 160
Tenure: 1997 to present

Staff Representative, Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO)
Tenure: June 1996 to Dec 1997

Economist, Ontario Ministry of Finance, Office of Economic Policy (Labour Economics Branch)
Tenure: Feb 1995 to June 1996

Teaching Assistant, York University (Dept of Social Sciences & Dept of Political Science)
Tenure: Sept 92 to Feb 1995

Legal and Labour Relations Assistant, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793
Tenure: Intermittently from May 1991 to Sept 1994

Research Assistant, York University (Centre for Research on Work and Society)
Tenure: May 1994 to Sept 1994

Teaching Assistant, University of Toronto (Department of Economics)
Tenure: Sept 1991 to April 1992

Research Assistant, University of Toronto (Centre for Industrial Relations)
Tenure: Sept 1991 to April 1992

Research Assistant, Queen’s University (Department of Political Studies)
Tenure: May 1990 to Sept 1990

Education

• PhD studies (all but dissertation complete), Department of Political Science, York University
• MIR (Master of Industrial Relations), University of Toronto, 1992
• BA (Hons, Political Studies), Queen’s University, 1990

Continuing education

• Certificate in Strategic Corporate Research, ILR School, Cornell University, 2008
• Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto, 1998

Academic awards and scholarships

Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 1992
York University Entrance Scholarship, 1992
University of Toronto Open Master’s Fellowship, 1991
University of Toronto Open Fellowship, 1990
University of Glasgow International Exchange Scholarship, 1988

Related experience

President, Beaches East York Federal and Provincial NDP Riding Associations, June 2007 to present

Member-at-Large, Beaches East York Federal and Provincial NDP Riding Association, August 2006 to June 2007

Co-Chair, Toronto Energy Coalition, Jan 2006 to present

Chair, St. John’s Catholic School Parent Council, Sept 2004 to Sept 2005 (including Chair of Academic Ctte, Sept 2002 to Sept 2004)

President, Society Staff Union, 2002

Member, Board of Directors, Hydrokids-OPG Daycare, Jan 2000 to Feb 2003

Secretary-Treasurer, AMAPCEO Ministry of Finance Chapter and Member, AMAPCEO Dispute Resolution Planning Committee and Collective Bargaining Advisory Team, 1995 – 1996

Public Member, Council of the College of Opticians, Dec 1994 to Dec 1996

Chief Steward of Grievances, CUPE Local 3903 (formerly CUEW Local 3), Feb 1994 to Jan 1995

Steward, CUPE Local 3903, Political Science Department, 1993 - 1994

Canvass Organizer, David Miller’s Metro Council campaign, 1994