Highest ranking black politician (mayor, culture, community)

[Sonrise]

We don't use that term though, it seems so....racist? No not really racist, divisive. Anyway, not to hijack my own thread but on another forum they said that GG was an appointed position, so back to my op; who's the highest ranking black Canadian politician elected by the people? Thanks

[nickjbor]

This is an odd question, and I'm thinking it may have come from an american, as its not something that is normally asked.

The GG would have to be my answer. As for elected, I'd have to say many opposition bloc member Maka Kotto. In recent histoy, Alvin Curling would also take a high spot.

[nickjbor]

and a partial list from wikipedia...

Michael Thompson, current Toronto city councillor
Calvin Ruck, senator
Stuart Parker, leader of the Green Party of British Columbia 1993 to 2000, the first (and only) black leader of a political party in Canada
Daurene Lewis, first black woman mayor in North America
Maka Kotto, black author and actor from Quebec elected to Canadian Parliament in 2004 (Bloc Québécois, independentist party)
Marlene Jennings, first black woman from Quebec to be elected to Parliament
Michaëlle Jean, former broadcaster and current Governor General of Canada, the first black person in Canadian history appointed to that position
William P. Hubbard, former Toronto alderman, controller and acting mayor
Gordon Earle, former NDP Member of Parliament for Halifax West
Alvin Curling, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Speaker of the Legislature of Ontario
Anne Cools, Canada's first black senator
Mary Anne Chambers, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister
Rosemary Brown, British Columbia legislator, and the first black woman to run for the leadership of a political party in Canada (the federal New Democratic Party)
Emery Barnes, first black Speaker of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
Vivian Barbot, Bloc Québécois member of parliament for the riding of Papineau
Lincoln Alexander, first black Member of Parliament in Canada and former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Zanana Akande, former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister
Jean Augustine, Former Member of Parliament, First Black Canadian Cabinet Minister, former deputy Speaker of the House of Commons
Wayne Adams, Nova Scotia's first black MLA, Liberal
Yvonne Atwell, Nova Scotia's first black woman MLA, NDP


my reaction to half of the people on the list is "oh yea, he/she is black!" In canada, its not really an issue, at least not to the scale as it is in the US.

currently, the "most powerful" would likely have to be Mary Anne Chambers, or Michaëlle Jean; but all-time, perhaps Jean Augustine, or Marlene Jennings

[Sonrise]

nickjbor,
Thanks for the answer, really appreciate the effort.

[Robynator]

I find that the race of politicians is a product of local demographics, and we have to take this into context.

In Canada, there are many different visible minorities elected into politics, and it's been overlooked up until this point. In fact, many Canadian immigrants get into politics and become elected into high power positions. This is not something new that has been happening recently, either.

For example, before Michaelle Jean became the Governor General of Canada, Adrienne Clarkson was the Governor General. She's Chinese Canadian.

Adrienne Clarkson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A local example for myself, Ujjal Dosanjh, born in India, raised in England/Canada is currently a Member of Parliament (MP) of Vancouver South.

Ujjal Dosanjh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Likewise, another politician of Indian heritage is Wally Oppal. He's the Attorney General of BC and an MLA for the BC Liberal party. I often see him while I walk to work in the morning. He was born in Vancouver mind you, but is a visible minority.

Hon. Wally Oppal, Q.C. | Members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

In my home town of Richmond BC, Raymond Chan was the MP of the Liberal Party for the longest time. He was born in Hong Kong. It says, "Chan is the third Chinese Canadian to be elected to Parliament, after Douglas Jung, who secured a seat in 1957, and Art Lee in 1974."

Raymond Chan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Speaking of Chinese Canadians, my former neighbour Jim Chu has been elected to be the new police chief of the Vancouver Police Dept:

Chief Constable Jim Chu

And this may interest you, but James Douglas, the Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island (which would eventually join with BC and become the province of British Columbia during Canadian Confederation) was black. Or perhaps half black

The Black Historical and Cultural Society

So I guess my whole point to this is, yes, in Canada black people are elected into positions of high power in politics. But likewise, our black politicians are not the exclusive visible minority who have been elected into political power. Many visible minorities are in power in Canada.

[Acajack]

Yolande James, Quebec’s Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities:
http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/Membres/notices/j-l/jamy1.shtml

Any other Canadian provinces have black cabinet ministers? Can't think of any, but they may be out there...

[Acajack]

Replying to myself, but here is Ontario's Minister of Health Promotion:

Premier of Ontario - Biography of Margarett Best

Ontario and Quebec have Canada's largest black populations. Nova Scotia also has a significant black population, but no black ministers.

This Ontario ministerial portfolio is actually a fairly junior one, but I would say that Ms. James' position in Quebec (responsible for Immigration) is fairly important. It would certainly rank her higher than opposition Members of Parliament like Kotto, Barbot or Jennings that people referred to in previous posts.

[Sonrise]

Acajack,
Was she elected or appointed? Thanks

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Acajack,
Was she elected or appointed? Thanks

Both Ms. James (Quebec) and Ms. Best (Ontario) would have been elected to the parliaments of their provinces as representatives of ridings (electoral districts representing a specific geographic area). Ministers are not elected, but are appointed from the group of people who have first been elected to the parliament.

[motorcyclemano]

Originally Posted by Sonrise

Hi,
I was just thinking that with one of our potential presidential candidates being black, who in Canada is the highest ranking black pol? Thanks

You mean half black, don't you?