Conservative MP Karen Vecchio won't run again in next election
Elgin-Middlesex-London MP told local radio station that politicians have ‘expiry dates’
A Conservative MP with a reputation for being able to work across party lines has confirmed to a local radio station that she's planning to leave federal politics and will not run again in the next election.
Elgin-Middlesex-London MP Karen Vecchio was first elected in 2015 and has won the last three elections handily, with about 50 per cent of the vote each time.
But in an interview excerpt that radio station 94.1 St. Thomas Today posted online, Vecchio said she would not be going for a fourth straight victory.
"Unfortunately, my name will not be on the ballot," she said. "Next year, when the federal election occurs, I will have been at 10 years. And for me, I believe everybody has an expiry date, and I know when it's time to be home."
The radio station also quotes Vecchio as saying she had "put my riding first" and now wants "to return to the needs and commitments of my family."
Vecchio "has proudly served her community since 2015 and has been a dedicated member of the Conservative caucus," said party spokesperson Sarah Fischer in a statement.
"We wish her all the best following the next election, as she continues to serve her constituents until then."
'Truly listened'
Vecchio's decision not to run again is disappointing, said Nawaz Tahir, a constituent and spokesperson for Hikma Public Affairs Council, a group that strives to increase the political participation of Muslims in the London, Ont., area.
"I thought she was one of the members of Parliament that truly listened and took time to sit down and spend as much time with you as needed. So that's a loss for our community," he said in an interview with CBC News.
Tahir said her constituents admire her for being down to earth, sincere, and for taking time to connect with people and issues.
"In this day and age, where you can contrast people who seem fake or overly hyper-partisan, she seemed to be the exact opposite of that," he said.
Vecchio,
seen here in 2022, was the 'exact opposite' of a fake or hyper-partisan
politician, according to one of her constituents. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Shuffled out of committee chair role
Vecchio has a reputation for being able to work across party lines to get things done, according to Liberal and NDP members who served with her on the standing committee on the status of women.
In April, Vecchio was abruptly shuffled out of her role as chair of that committee, a position she had held since 2017 and which came with a pay bump of $13,700.
The Conservatives on the committee voted to replace her with another Conservative MP, Shelby Kramp-Neuman.
At the time, a spokesperson for the opposition leader said that reshuffling committee assignments is not unusual.
The committee has tackled issues including missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, intimate partner violence and safety in sports.
Vecchio was one of 16 MPs who supported former Quebec premier Jean Charest in the 2022 Conservative leadership contest, which was decisively won by current leader Pierre Poilievre.
She was also the lone federal Conservative in the room during an April 2023 announcement that St. Thomas, Ont., would be home to Volkswagen's first electric vehicle battery plant in North America.
After praising the politicians and workers who secured the deal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched into a pointed partisan attack on Poilievre — and noted Vecchio's presence at the event.
"Pierre Poilievre came out and said this project was a waste of money," Trudeau said at the announcement. "Karen, you have your work cut out for you."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
About Hikma
Founded in 2015 during an important Federal Election year, Hikma (Arabic for “wisdom”) has worked towards combating Islamophobia in all its forms, including by increasing the political participation of Muslims.
Our advocacy work has involved political and media advocacy efforts on behalf of Muslims in London that combat Islamophobia, preserve interests of Muslims, and ensure that public policies are focused on improving the lives of Muslims in London and around Canada.
Hikma’s work has focused on addressing the root causes of Islamophobia locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally, through lobbying, community mobilization, relationship building with politicians and decision makers, and constant advocacy.
Meet Hikma’s Team
Board Members:
- Samer Abou-Sweid, Health Care Executive (Chair of the Board)
- Nawaz Tahir, Lawyer,
- Amir Hage, Lawyer
- Dr. A.R. Lawendy, Orthopedic Surgeon
- Dr. Hassan Mostafa, Dental Surgeon
- Dr. Wael Haddara, Chief of Critical Care
- Fatima Hamou, Teacher
Staff:
- M. Awawdeh, Advocacy Coordinator
CONTACT US
PROFILE
With the same vigour he brought as a champion football
coach, Nawaz Tahir approaches litigation with a relentless and singular
focus on one goal: Success for his clients. A former defensive
coordinator and head coach of championship-winning high school football
teams, Nawaz knows that success on a football field or a courtroom is
unattainable without a game plan. A game plan that cannot be one size
fits all. From the Court of Appeal to the License Appeals Tribunal,
from representing various insurers in the Toronto Propane class action
to having one of the first successful catastrophic impairment decisions
at the LAT, Nawaz has appeared at and had success at all levels of
Courts and Tribunals in Ontario.
When not battling in a courtroom (or on a football field), Nawaz is
passionate about public speaking – to clients, industry groups, and
fellow lawyers. He served as an adjunct professor at Western Law
School, teaching Civil Procedure. He is a community leader, currently
serving as the Chair of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Hospital;
serving on the Board of YMCA of Southwestern Ontario, and serving on
the Board of Hikma Public Affairs Council where he is the past chair of
the Board. He is a champion for democracy and political participation,
co-editing a book on Democracy and co-chairing an International
Conference at Western University on the subject of Islam and
Democracy. He has been recognized by his peers as a Lexpert-ranked
lawyer.
In 2023, Nawaz was named to the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List for his outstanding contributions to Humanitarianism in the city of London.
A leader. A negotiator. A relentless advocate. Nawaz always looks forward to the next challenge and appreciates the opportunity to work on your case.
MP Karen Vecchio to step aside after a 10-year career – ‘I have put my riding first’
The decision will bring to a conclusion what will be a 10-year run as MP.
She was first elected in 2015, easily defeating Liberal runner-up Lori Baldwin-Sands by almost 11,000 votes.
In the 2021 vote, Vecchio stretched that margin of victory to more than 19,000 votes over Liberal candidate Afeez Ajibowu.
But her career in politics began in 2004 in then MP Joe Preston’s office.
Audio PlayerVecchio eventually became Preston’s Executive Assistant before being elected in 2015 after he stepped away from federal politics.
in 2019, Vecchio was named the new Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality. She had spent the past four years serving on the Status of Women Committee as both a member and as the chair. Vecchio previously worked as the Shadow Minister for Families, Children and Social Development.
The following year, then Conservative leader Erin O’Toole named her Deputy Houser Leader of the Official Opposition.
She is thankful for Preston’s unwavering support throughout her political career.
Audio PlayerA career that would not have been possible without a cheerleader like her husband, Mike Vecchio.
Audio PlayerVecchio has no regrets that her time spent as an MP was sitting on the Opposition side of the aisle.
Audio PlayerHer political career has been “the best life lesson,” acknowledged Vecchio.
Audio PlayerShe is most proud of the work her office was able to undertake on behalf of the residents in Elgin-Middlesex-London.
Audio PlayerWith a Conservative majority a very distinct possibility after the next federal election, does Vecchio regret walking away from the opportunity to form the government?
Audio PlayerWe asked Vecchio what to expect in her final year in Ottawa.
Audio PlayerAnd, stresses Vecchio, ensure it remains a Conservative stronghold.
Audio PlayerAs to life after representing her constituents on Parliament Hill, well, Vecchio is leaving her options open.
Audio PlayerAnd although there is a year left in her term, Vecchio took the time to thank the residents of Elgin-Middlesex-London for the opportunity to represent them for what will be a full decade when she steps away.
Audio PlayerKaren Vecchio was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London in 2015.
She has served as the Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth; Deputy House Leader for the Official Opposition; Shadow Minister for Women and Gender Equality; Chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women; Shadow Minister for Families, Children and Social Development.
She participates regularly as the Co-Chair of the All-Party Child Health Caucus, All-Party Agricultural Caucus, the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Caucus, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.
Prior to entering elected, Karen owned and operated a small business in London, ON and worked alongside former Member of Parliament Joe Preston as his Executive Assistant for 11 years. Karen was raised on a turkey and hog farm in Sparta, ON and remains connected to her rural roots in Southern Ontario.
Karen is married to Mike Vecchio and they have five children
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 5:32 PM
Subject: Automated Response: Thank you for your email
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for your email.
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Subject: Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to pass with support of the NDP because of Trudeau's predictable confidence vote EH ON?
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Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to pass with support of the NDP
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From: "Bergen, Candice - M.P."<candice.bergen@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2022 19:14:55 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to
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Subject: Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to pass with support
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Deployment of Emergencies Act expected to pass with support of the NDP
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