Pat Martin

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Pat Martin (born December 13, 1955 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian politician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the social-democratic New Democratic Party of Canada in 1997, and was re-elected in the elections of 2000 and 2004.

Martin graduated from Argyle High School in 1974, and did not attend University thereafter. He worked as a journeyman carpenter for several years, and was also employed in mines, forest service and construction. Martin served as Business Manager of the Carpenters Union within Manitoba from 1989 to 1997, and was later Vice-President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. He has also been an executive member of the Manitoba Building Trades Council, and served on the Winnipeg 2000 Economic Development Committee.

In the 1997 federal election, Martin was elected to the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Winnipeg Centre (previously known as Winnipeg North Centre). From 1921 to 1984, the riding had been represented successively by J.S. Woodsworth and Stanley Knowles, two of the most prominent social-democrats in Canadian history. Liberal David Walker won the riding in 1988 and 1993, during a period of relative weakness for the New Democratic Party in Manitoba. In 1997, Martin defeated Walker by a margin of 10979 votes to 9895 and returned the riding to its historical position.

In the 2000 federal election, Martin defeated popular Liberal maverick Kevin Lamoureux by 11263 votes to 9310. He increased his margin of victory in the 2004 election, defeating star Liberal candidate David Northcott by about 3000 votes.

Martin is known as a clear, articulate speaker and a solid constituency worker. He has not yet established himself as a prominent figure in national politics, but is recognized as a strong performer within the New Democratic Party's parliamentary ranks. Martin has championed the rights of labour and aboriginals, and has spoken out against tax loopholes for private corporations.

Martin called for Svend Robinson to be removed from the NDP's foreign affairs portfolio in 2002, following Robinson's controversial visit to the Palestinian Authority.

When living in Ottawa (Canada's capital), Martin shares an apartment with fellow New Democratic MP Bill Blaikie, whom he supported for the NDP's leadership in 2003.