When any political party has a significant increase in seats following an election, there is always some concern expressed about how the newcomers will adjust to the new legislature, especially if that party forms government (see: Alberta NDP 2015).

In the final days of the 2015 federal election campaign, the Liberal Party is poised to have a significant increase in their current representation of 36 MPs, perhaps more than tripling that number on October 19^th.  Thankfully for the party, these new rookies will potentially be joined by a strong core of veterans that had served as representatives in previous Parliaments.

Let’s look at 15 former MPs that may be making a triumphant return to the Liberal benches in Ottawa when the 42^nd Parliament gets underway.

Bill Casey – Cumberland-Colchester NS

• Almost 17 years’ experience as an MP
• First elected in 1988 as a Progressive Conservative MP
• Elected on six separate occasions as a Progressive Conservative, Conservative and an Independent
• Served as Deputy Whip, and lead Critic in the International Trade, National Revenue, Foreign Affairs and Transport portfolios

Denis Paradis – Brome-Missisquoi QC

• Has almost 11 years’ experience as an MP
• First elected in the 1995 by-election, won four consecutive terms in Brome-Missisquoi
• Has been defeated in each of the last three elections
• Served as Minister of State for Financial Institutions and Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa, as well as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, La Francophonie and International Cooperation

Alexandra Mendes – Brossard-Saint-Lambert QC

• Elected for her only term in 2008, served as MP for 2 ½ years before being defeated in 2011 by NDP candidate Pierre Jacob
• Served as Critic for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

Pablo Rodriguez – Honoré-Mercier QC

• Almost seven years’ experience as an MP
• First elected in 2004, served three consecutive terms before being defeated by the NDP (Paulina Ayala) in 2011
• Served as Critic for Official Languages, Canadian Heritage, Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Public Works and Government Services and the Francophonie

Mark Holland – Ajax ON

• Almost seven years’ experience as an MP representing Ajax-Pickering
• First elected in 2004, served three consecutive terms before being defeated by the Conservatives (Chris Alexander) in 2011
• Served as Critic for National Security, Public Safety, Public Works and Government Services, Natural Resources and Canada Border Services

Yasmin Ratansi – Don Valley East ON

• Almost seven years’ experience as an MP
• Elected for the first time in 2004, served three consecutive terms before being defeated in 2011 by Conservative Joe Daniel. She was also defeated in her first attempt to run for Parliament in 1988.
• Served as Deputy Whip and Critic for National Revenue, as well as Chair of the Government Operations and Estimates Committee and the Status of Women Committee

Rob Oliphant – Don Valley West ON

• Elected for the first time in 2008, the former church Minister has served 2 ½ years as an MP
• Defeated by the Conservatives (John Carmichael) in 2011
• Served as Critic for Multiculturalism and Veterans Affairs

Boris Wrzesnewskyj – Etobicoke Centre ON

• Has almost seven years’ experience as an MP
• First elected in 2004, served three-term as MP before being defeated by the Conservatives (Ted Optiz) in 2011 in one of the closest election results in the country
• Served as Critic for Citizenship and Immigration, Multiculturalism and Crown Corporations

Robert Nault – Kenora ON

• Has almost 16 years’ experience as an MP
• Elected for the first time in Kenora-Rainy River in 1998 and served four terms until he stepped down in 2004
• Served as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development for four years (1999-2003), as well as Parliamentary Secretary for Human Resources Development, Employment and Immigration and Labour

Omar Alghabra – Mississauga Centre ON

• Elected for the only time in 2006, he has served almost three years as an MP
• Has been defeated twice, in both 2008 and again in 2011 by the Conservatives
• Served as Critic for Natural Resources and Citizenship and Immigration

Navdeep Bains – Mississauga-Malton ON

• Has served almost seven years as an MP for Mississauga-Brampton South
• First elected in 2004, served three consecutive terms before being defeated by the Conservatives (Eve Adams) in 2011
• Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, as well as Critic for Tourism, Small Business, Natural Resources, International Trade, Treasury Board and Public Works and Government Services.

Anthony Rota – Nipissing-Timiskaming ON

• Has served almost seven years as MP
• First elected in 2004, re-elected in 2006 and 2008 before losing the seat to the Conservatives (Jay Aspin) in 2011
• Served as Liberal Party National Caucus Chair and Critic for Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Joe Peschisolido – Steveston-Richmond East BC

• Has served as an MP for 3 ½ years under both the Canadian Alliance and Liberal caucuses
• Elected for his only term in 2000 as a Canadian Alliance MP, crossed the floor to the Liberals in 2002 before stepping down.
• Has been defeated on four occasions; as a Reform candidate in Etobicoke North (ON) in 1993 and a 1996 by-election, as a Reform candidate in Mississauga South (ON) in 1997, and as a Liberal candidate in Richmond (BC) in 2011.
• Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Critic for Human Resources Development and National Revenue

Sukh Dhaliwal – Surrey-Newton BC

• Brings just over five years’ experience as an MP
• First elected in Newton-North Delta in 2006, served two-terms as MP before being defeated in 2011 by the NDP candidate Jinny Sims. Was also defeated in his first attempt to win a seat in Parliament in 2004.
• Served as Critic for Western Economic Diversification, Sports, Asia-Pacific Gateway and Competitiveness and the New Economy

Larry Bagnell – Yukon YT

 

• Served almost 10 ½ years as an MP
• First elected in 2000, he served four terms as MP before being defeated by the Conservatives (Ryan Leef) in 2011
• Served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Also served as Critic for Arctic Sovereignty, Northern Affairs and Northern Development