Joe Peschisolido

Joe Peschisolido (born April 27, 1963) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Richmond from 2000 to 2004 and as the MP for Steveston—Richmond East from 2015 to 2019. He was first elected as a member of the Canadian Alliance, but crossed the floor to the Liberal Party in 2002.


Joe Peschisolido

Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Steveston—Richmond East
In office
October 19, 2015  September 11, 2019
Preceded bynew district
Succeeded byKenny Chiu
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Richmond
In office
November 27, 2000  June 28, 2004
Preceded byRaymond Chan
Succeeded byRaymond Chan
Personal details
Born (1963-04-27) April 27, 1963
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal (Before 1993; 2002–present)
Other political
affiliations
Reform (1993-2000) Canadian Alliance (2000-2002)
ResidenceRichmond, British Columbia
ProfessionLawyer

Background

Peschisolido has a Bachelor of Arts (honours) degree in political science from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Peschisolido is a fourth degree knight of the Knights of Columbus in Richmond, a member of the Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset and a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.He is an active parishioner of Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church and is a vegan, who believes in making healthy and sustainable food choices.[1]

Political career

For decades, Peschisolido was a member of the Liberal Party, where he had worked as a youth co-ordinator for Jean Chrétien's 1990 leadership campaign. In 1993, he joined the Reform Party of Canada (later the Canadian Alliance), running as their candidate in Etobicoke North in the 1993 general election and a subsequent 1996 by-election. He placed second both times.

First term (2000 to 2004)

Peschisolido relocated to British Columbia, where he was elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2000 general election, defeating Liberal incumbent, Raymond Chan.

In 2002, Peschisolido left the Canadian Alliance and crossed the floor to the Liberal Party without consulting with his constituents. This was due to the "process of political realignment" which eliminated both the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party, and instead creating the Conservative Party of Canada.

While serving in office, Peschisolido fought to protect the rights of taxpayers by introducing the "Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights" in the 37th Parliament's first, second, and third sessions.[2]

In 2002, Peschisolido helped broker the original Garden City land deal, which saw the transfer of said lands from the Canadian federal government to the City of Richmond. This deal would have seen the City of Richmond receive 75 to 80 percent of the land, with the rest of the property set aside for a trade and exhibition center, as well as commercial development.[3]

In 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.[4] He was also Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.[5]

2011 election

In 2011, Peschisolido won the Liberal nomination for Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2011 Canadian federal election. However, he was defeated by Alice Wong by more than 17,000 votes.

Second term (2015 to 2019)

On August 11, 2015, Peschisolido again won the Liberal nomination for Member of Parliament in the new riding of Steveston—Richmond East for the 2015 Canadian federal election.[6]

On October 19, 2015, as a Liberal majority government was formed,[7] Peschisolido was returned to Parliament.[8]

In July 2019, Global News reported the Royal Canadian Mounted Police opened an investigation into Peschisolido "after confidential police informants alleged the veteran politician had been knowingly associating with Chinese organized crime figures through his former real estate law practice in Richmond, B.C." Peschisolido's law firm allegedly received money via illicit channels from China as part of an attempt by the firm's clients to circumvent the legal immigration process.[9] No charges have been laid against Peschisolido or lawyers at his firm.[10][11][12][13][14]

On February 5, 2020 the Ethics Commissioner of Canada released an investigative report on Peschisolido. The Commissioner found Peschisolido contravened subsections 21(3) and 20(1) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons for failing to file a statement of material change and by failing to file a full statement of the private interests of the members of his family, including his spouse.

He was defeated in the 2019 Canadian federal election.

Electoral record

2019 Canadian federal election: Steveston—Richmond East
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKenny Chiu17,47841.7+3.3
LiberalJoe Peschisolido14,73135.1-9.9
New DemocraticJaeden Dela Torre6,32115.1+3.0
GreenNicole Iaci2,9727.1+3.5
IndependentPing Chan4491.1
Total valid votes/Expense limit 41,951100.0 105,107.07
Total rejected ballots 4311.0
Turnout 42,38257.4
Eligible voters 73,840
Conservative notional gain from Liberal Swing
Source: Elections Canada[15][16][17]
2015 Canadian federal election: Steveston—Richmond East
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalJoe Peschisolido19,48645.1+26.5
ConservativeKenny Chiu16,63038.5-15.42
New DemocraticScott Stewart5,24812.1-10.72
GreenLaura-Leah Shaw1,5873.7-0.44
LibertarianMatthew Swanston2740.6
Total valid votes/Expense limit 43,225100.0   $203,894.63
Total rejected ballots 287
Turnout 43,51260.8%
Eligible voters 71,526
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +20.96
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
2011 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeAlice Wong25,10958.36+8.59$89,330.05
LiberalJoe Peschisolido8,02718.66-12.19$54,757.85
New DemocraticDale Jackaman7,86018.27+6.46$9,038.79
GreenMichael Wolfe2,0324.72-1.71$2,933.09
Total valid votes/Expense limit 43,028100.0   $91,788.64
Total rejected ballots 2200.51+0.06
Turnout 43,24850.97+1
Eligible voters 84,855
Conservative hold Swing +10.39
2000 Canadian federal election: Richmond
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
AllianceJoe Peschisolido21,06444.40+8.44$58,128
LiberalRaymond Chan19,94042.04-1.77$63,896
New DemocraticGail Paquette2,6955.68-3.88$10,941
Progressive ConservativeFrank Peter Tofin2,5785.43-2.85$4,329
GreenKevan Hudson8971.89+0.53$61
Natural LawKathy McClement1640.34-0.05
Marxist–LeninistEdith Petersen930.19-0.02$10
Total valid votes 47,431100.0  
Total rejected ballots 2180.47-0.03
Turnout 47,64961.70-3.19
Alliance gain from Liberal Swing +5.10
By-election on March 25, 1996

Etobicoke North

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalRoy Cullen12,29046.3-9.3
ReformJoe Peschisolido9,56336.0+17.2
Progressive ConservativeMario Annecchini2,81210.6-8.2
New DemocraticMaxine Caron1,4005.3+1.6
Christian HeritageRon Gray2841.1
AbolitionistJohn Turmel1040.4
IndependentSylvie Charbin960.4
Total valid votes 26,549 100.0
1993 Canadian federal election: Etobicoke North
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalRoy MacLaren28,01555.6+10.3
ReformJoe Peschisolido9,47018.8
Progressive ConservativeJane MacLaren9,47018.8-15.8
New DemocraticCarmela Sasso1,8393.7-13.7
NationalEmanuele Danelon6611.3
LibertarianDaniel Hunt3630.7-0.2
Natural LawMarilyn Pepper3530.7
IndependentAntonio De Felice1050.2
Marxist–LeninistDavid Greig1040.2+0.1
Total valid votes 50,380100.0

References

  1. "ELECTION 2019: Steveston-Richmond East riding profile and candidates". Richmond News. Archived from the original on 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  2. "Bills Sponsored by Joe Peschisolido". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  3. "Joe Peschisolido Begins Political Comeback". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24.
  4. "Peschisolido as Parliamentary Secretary". Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  5. "Peschisolido as Vice Chair". Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  6. "Joe Peschisolido Accepts Steveston—Richmond East Liberal Party Nomination for Fall 2015 Election". 2001-11-24. Archived from the original on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  7. "Justin Trudeau and the Liberals Have a Majority Government". 2015-10-20. Archived from the original on 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  8. "Liberal Joe Peschisolido Elected Member of Parliament Representing Steveston-Richmond East". Archived from the original on 2015-10-21. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
  9. Cooper, Sam (September 13, 2019). "Richmond MP aims to distance himself from 'money-laundering scheme' court case". Global News. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  10. Cooper, Sam (2019-07-11). "Sources say RCMP opened file on Liberal MP whose firm facilitated real estate deals in B.C." Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  11. Wood, Graeme (June 18, 2019). "Richmond MP denies representing alleged Chinese cartel member". North Shore News. Archived from the original on July 13, 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-13.
  12. Cooper, Sam (2019-06-17). "Liberal MP involved in second bare trust deal with client named in 'transnational money laundering' probe". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  13. Cooper, Sam; Hill, Brian (2019-06-11). "Alleged gang kingpin may have used Liberal MP's law firm to launder money through B.C. condo deal". Global News. Archived from the original on 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  14. Smith, Joanna (August 8, 2019). "Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido under investigation by federal ethics watchdog". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  15. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  16. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  17. "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  18. "Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Steveston—Richmond East, 30 September 2015". Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  19. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
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