Ed Fast

The Honourable
Ed Fast
PC MP QC
Official Opposition Critic for the Environment
Assumed office
20 November 2015
Leader Rona Ambrose
Preceded by Megan Leslie
Minister of International Trade
In office
May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Preceded by Peter Van Loan
Succeeded by Chrystia Freeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Acting
In office
February 3, 2015 – February 9, 2015
Preceded by John Baird
Succeeded by Rob Nicholson
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Abbotsford
Assumed office
January 23, 2006
Preceded by Randy White
Chair of the Standing Committee on
Justice
In office
February 3, 2009 – June 20, 2011
Minister Rob Nicholson
Preceded by Art Hanger
Succeeded by Dave MacKenzie
Personal details
Born Edward D. Fast
(1955-06-18) June 18, 1955
Winnipeg, Canada
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Annette Fast
Alma mater University of British Columbia
Religion Mennonite

Edward D. "Ed" Fast, PC, QC, MP (born June 18, 1955) is a Canadian politician, currently the Member of Parliament for Abbotsford, and recently served as the Minister for International Trade and as Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

Biography

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ed Fast grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. After graduating from law school at the University of British Columbia in 1982, Fast co-founded the law firm currently known as Linley Welwood. He was elected in 1985 and served two terms as an Abbotsford School Board Trustee. He was elected to Abbotsford City Council in 1996 and served for three 3-year terms. During that time, he served as Deputy Mayor and as Chair of the Parks Recreation & Culture Commission.

Fast was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Abbotsford on January 23, 2006. During his first term, Fast was appointed to the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage and the Standing Committee for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Fast was also the Vice-Chair of the B.C. Conservative caucus. On October 14, 2008, Fast was re-elected to his second term where he served as the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and as a member of the Copyright Modernization Committee.[1] On May 2, 2011, Fast successfully defended his seat in Parliament with 65% of the vote. He was appointed Minister of International Trade by Prime Minister Harper on May 18, 2011.

Ed and his wife Annette have lived in Abbotsford for over 30 years and have four adult daughters and four grandchildren.[2]

2006, 2008 and 2011 election results

In the 2006 Canadian Federal election Fast was elected with 63.27% of the vote. In the 2008 federal election, Fast received 30,853 votes, 63.3% of the total in Abbotsford.[3] Fast was re-elected in the 2011 federal election with 32,493 votes, representing 65% of the popular vote.

Parliamentary work

International Trade

Ed Fast @ Swedish - Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Ed Fast meets Argentina Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship Héctor Timerman

On May 18, 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Ed Fast to Cabinet to serve as Canada’s Minister of International Trade.[4] Fast oversaw the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a free trade agreement with Europe touted as broader in scope and deeper in ambition than the historic North American Free Trade Agreement.[5] Fast also announced a landmark Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada’s first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region.

As Minister, Fast assumed responsibility of the Government of Canada's Global Markets Action Plan – a plan focusing on Canada’s core strengths in priority markets through bold trade policy and vigorous trade promotion.[6] He also recently released Canada’s first International Education Strategy, a fundamental element of the Global Markets Action Plan and blueprint to attract international talent.[7]

Bill C-277

In 2006, Fast introduced Private Member's Bill C-277 which doubles from 5 to 10 years in prison the maximum sentence for luring a child over the internet for sexual purposes. The Bill received royal assent on June 22, 2007. Only 2% of private member’s bills are ever passed into law.[8]

Abbotsford-Huntington border crossing

In May 2009, Fast introduced a motion in the House of Commons to rename the Huntingdon border crossing to "Abbotsford-Huntingdon Port of Entry". The official renaming took place on May 28, 2010, preserving the historical significance of the "Huntingdon" name while at the same time more accurately reflecting the location of the border crossing within the Fraser Valley.[9] The name change represents a "coming of age" for Abbotsford.

Federal infrastructure investments

In 2009, Fast was successful in securing for Abbotsford an unprecedented $35 million in federal infrastructure investments. The projects funded by the federal government as part of its stimulus funding include reconstruction of the McCallum Rd.[10] and Clearbrook Rd. interchanges,[11] improvements to the Abbotsford International Airport,[12] improvements to the Abbotsford-Huntingdon Port of Entry, construction of a new Mill Lake Spray Park,[13] safety improvements to the Mission Bridge,[14] and development of the Matsqui and Discovery Trail systems.[15]

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

In his role as Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights, Fast worked with committee members to issue a significant report on impaired driving. In addition to reviewing numerous criminal justice bills tabled by the Conservative government, the committee is also completing a comprehensive study on organized crime in Canada.[16]

Shooting Gesture in Parliament Controversy

On April 9, 2014, rising on a point of order, MP Dan Harris accused Fast of "making a gun with his hand while saying "boom" in the direction of the member for Churchill [Nicki Ashton]" during question period in the House of Commons.[17] Shortly thereafter, Fast denied the claim in the House of Commons, saying "It's completely false. I made no such gesture. I said no such words."[18] Video from the House of Commons shows Fast making a pointing gesture.[19] Later that day, after video of the incident became more widely circulated, Minister Fast admitted that he had made a pointing gesture with his hand, contradicting his earlier statement that the accusation was "completely false. Nevertheless, Fast said that his hand gesture was "misconstrued by the opposition" as shaped as a gun and aimed at a member of Parliament. In his defence, Fast did not say why he was pointing his finger towards the front of the House at that time.[20]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 23,229 48.27 -18.61 –
LiberalPeter Njenga 15,777 32.78 +24.08 –
New DemocraticJen Martel 6,593 13.70 -5.54 –
GreenStephen Fowler 2,416 5.02 +0.37 –
Marxist–LeninistDavid MacKay 109 0.23 -0.30 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 48,124100.00   
Total rejected ballots 2020.42-0.03
Turnout 48,32670.91+11.24
Eligible voters 68,154
Conservative hold Swing -21.35
Source: Elections Canada[21][22][23]
Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 32,493 65.02 +1.70
New DemocraticDavid Murray 10,089 20.19 +6.97
LiberalMadeleine Hardin 4,968 9.94 -6.34
GreenDaniel Bryce 2,138 4.28 -2.17
Marxist–LeninistDavid MacKay 286 0.57 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,974100.00
Total rejected ballots 2250.45-0.07
Turnout 50,19959.67+0.67
Conservative hold Swing -2.6%
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 30,853 63.32 +0.05 $79,097
LiberalLionel Traverse 7,933 16.28 +3.61 $63,013
New DemocraticBonnie Rai 6,444 13.22 -3.75 $4,907
GreenKaren Durant 3,141 6.45 +0.64 $833
MarijuanaTim Felger 358 0.73 +0.03 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 48,729100.00$86,855
Total rejected ballots 2560.52
Turnout 48,98559.00-1.69
Conservative hold Swing +1.9
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeEd Fast 29,825 63.27 +1.90 $68,269
New DemocraticJeffrey Hansen-Carlson 8,004 16.97 +3.34 $6,955
LiberalDavid Oliver* 5,976 12.67 -7.27 $22,258
GreenStephanie Ashley-Pryce 2,740 5.81 +2.93
MarijuanaTim Felger 334 0.70 -0.13
Canadian ActionRichard Gebert 173 0.36 – $80
Marxist–LeninistDavid S. MacKay 86 0.18 +0.08
Total valid votes 47,138100.00
Total rejected ballots 1830.39
Turnout 47,32160.69
Conservative hold Swing -0.72

References

  1. ↑ "Member of Parliament Profile". webinfo.parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  2. ↑ "Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford". edfast.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  3. ↑ "Ed Fast, Conservative MP for Abbotsford". openparliament.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  4. ↑ "The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade", www.international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  5. ↑ "Opening New Markets in Europe" (PDF). actionplan.gc.ca. October 18, 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade", www.international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  7. ↑ "Canada's International Education Strategy", international.gc.ca, Retrieved 2014-08-11
  8. ↑ "LEGISinfo 39th Parliament - 1st Session". .parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  9. ↑ "Canada Border Services Agency". cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  10. ↑ "New McCallum Road Interchange for Abbotsford". news.gov.bc.ca/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  11. ↑ "Construction Begins for Clearbrook Road Interchange" (PDF). abbotsford.ca/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  12. ↑ "$30 Airport Project Takes Off". abbotsfordtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  13. ↑ "New Water Park Brings Out the Kid in Everyone". abbotsfordtimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  14. ↑ "Mission Bridge rails to be raised for cyclist safety". burnabynow.com/. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  15. ↑ "Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford". edfast/ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  16. ↑ "House of Commons: Ending Alcohol-Impaired Driving: A Common Approach". parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  17. ↑ "Tory Minister Ed Fast Accused Of Making 'Gun' Gesture At NDP MP". huffingtonpost.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  18. ↑ "Tory Minister Ed Fast accused of threatening NDP MP after making 'gun' gesture in House of Commons". nationalpost.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  19. ↑ "Trade Minister Ed Fast accused of making 'gun' gesture at NDP MP Niki Ashton". cbc.ca. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  20. ↑ "The House of Commons the Smoking Gun Video". youtube.com. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  21. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Abbotsford, 30 September 2015
  22. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  23. ↑
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Randy White		 Member of Parliament
for Abbotsford
2006–present 		Incumbent
28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs
2015
Acting		 Rob Nicholson
Peter Van Loan Minister of International Trade
2011–2015		 Chrystia Freeland
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