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Rodger Cuzner

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The Honourable
Rodger Cuzner
Senator for Nova Scotia
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 31, 2023
Nominated byJustin Trudeau
Appointed byMary Simon
Consul General of Canada to the United States
In office
October 30, 2020 – June 2023
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byDavid Alward
Succeeded byBernadette Jordan
Member of Parliament
for Cape Breton—Canso
(Bras d'Or—Cape Breton; 2000–2004)
In office
November 27, 2000 – October 21, 2019
Preceded byMichelle Dockrill
Succeeded byMike Kelloway
Parliamentary Secretary posts
2015–2019Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
2003Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Shadow Cabinet posts
2013–2015Critic for Employment and Social Development
2011–2013Critic for Human Resources and Skills Development
2010–2011Critic for Fisheries and Oceans
2008–2010Chief Opposition Whip
2006–2007Critic for Veterans Affairs
Personal details
Born (1955-11-04) November 4, 1955 (age 69)
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyProgressive Senate Group
Other political
affiliations		Liberal (until 2019)
SpouseLynn Cuzner
ResidenceCape Breton
ProfessionDiplomat, Politician, Community organizer

Rodger Trueman Cuzner (born November 4, 1955) is a Canadian politician and diplomat who currently serves as a Senator for Nova Scotia in the Senate of Canada. He previously served as the Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Cape Breton—Canso and its predecessor, Bras d'Or—Cape Breton, from 2000 to 2019. For most of 2003, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister under Jean Chrétien, and served as Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour in the Justin Trudeau government.[1] Between 2020 and 2023, Cuzner served as the Consul General of Canada to the United States (Boston).

Early life and education

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Cuzner was born the second of six children born to Trueman and Kay Cuzner in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. He studied physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. He worked as the Special Event Coordinator for the Cape Breton Department of Recreation, Culture and Facilities, where he was responsible for major events like the Millennium Countdown 2000. Cuzner has been very involved with hockey throughout his life. He coached Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Games in 1995 and 1999.

Political career

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Cuzner was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, representing the riding of Bras d'Or—Cape Breton and, later, Cape Breton—Canso. He was first elected in 2000.[2] Cuzner served as Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from January 13, 2003, to December 11, 2003, and held other key positions within the Liberal Caucus, including chair of Nova Scotia Caucus, chair of Atlantic Caucus, and Chief Opposition Whip. He also served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.[3][4]

In his early years in parliament, Cuzner focused on matters surrounding both Veteran Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans. During the later part of his Parliamentary career, much of his attention was directed toward Workforce Development and National Labour issues.[5]

As an elected official representing Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island, he worked with community and industry to build and mature the tourism sector. Major investments in infrastructure contributed to this growth, notably two of the top-rated golf courses in the world, Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs.[5]

Cuzner regularly represented the Liberal Party on the weekly MP panel on CTV News Channel's Power Play, and was regularly asked to appear on other national political affairs programs, on television, and radio.

Cuzner traditionally delivered a humorous, politically themed rewrite of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on the last house sitting before the holiday break.[6]

He was twice voted as "Most Collegial" Member of Parliament by his Parliamentary colleagues, and was described by Maclean's in 2017 as "Parliament's Sense of Humour".[7][8]

Cuzner was re-elected to a sixth straight term with 74.4% of the vote in the 2015 Canadian federal election.[9]

On April 26, 2019, Cuzner announced he wouldn't run for re-election in the 2019 election.[10][11]

Post-political life

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On October 31, 2020, it was reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Cuzner as the new Consul General to the United States (Boston).[12][13]

On October 31, 2023, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon, on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[14]

Personal life

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Cuzner and his wife Lynn (née Hopkins) have three children: Mitch, Scott and Brad.

Electoral record

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2015 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 32,163 74.39 +30.29 $69,357.97
Conservative Adam Daniel Rodgers 6,246 14.45 –18.17 $36,970.92
New Democratic Michelle Smith 3,547 8.20 –11.84 $3,803.75
Green Maria Goretti Coady 1,281 2.96 –0.28 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,237 99.37   $205,381.80
Total rejected ballots 274 0.63
Turnout 43,511 71.58
Eligible voters 60,785
Liberal hold Swing +24.23
Source: Elections Canada[15][16]
2011 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 16,478 46.45 -1.65 $63,928.72
Conservative Clarence Derrick Kennedy 10,873 30.65 +7.15 $75,474.80
New Democratic Marney Simmons 6,984 19.69 -1.43 $2,528.46
Green Glen Carabin 1,141 3.22 -4.06 $346.95
Total valid votes/expense limit 35,476 100.0     $83,274.40
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 336 0.94 +0.14
Turnout 35,812 62.47 -0.84
Eligible voters 57,331
Liberal hold Swing -4.40
Sources:[17][18]
2008 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 17,447 48.10 -5.09 $35,405.44
Conservative Allan Murphy 8,524 23.50 -0.68 $51,511.90
New Democratic Mark MacNeill 7,660 21.12 +0.98 $6,483.40
Green Dwayne MacEachern 2,641 7.28 +4.78 $5,315.05
Total valid votes/expense limit 36,272 100.0     $80,776
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 292 0.80 +0.09
Turnout 36,564 63.31 -3.21
Eligible voters 57,753
Liberal hold Swing -2.20
2006 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 21,424 53.19 -0.07 $62,038.40
Conservative Kenzie MacNeil 9,740 24.18 +3.94 $47,590.43
New Democratic Hector Morrison 8,111 20.14 -4.18 $7,662.93
Green Rob Hines 1,006 2.50 +0.33 $323.17
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,281 100.0     $76,321
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 288 0.71 -0.24
Turnout 40,569 66.52 +2.72
Eligible voters 60,984
Liberal hold Swing -2.00
2004 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 20,139 53.26 -0.33 $63,078.17
New Democratic Shirley Hartery 9,197 24.32 +5.44 $21,160.51
Conservative Kenzie MacNeil 7,654 20.24 -7.19 $49,919.36
Green Seumas Gibson 820 2.17 – none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,810 100.0     $73,856
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 361 0.95
Turnout 38,171 63.80 -3.38
Eligible voters 59,825
Liberal notional hold Swing -2.88
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals.
2000 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton—Canso
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Rodger Cuzner 20,815 54.85 +16.41
Progressive Conservative Alfie MacLeod 8,114 21.38 +1.12
New Democratic Michelle Dockrill 7,537 19.86 -21.44
Alliance John Currie 1,483 3.91 –
Total valid votes 37,949 100.00
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +18.93

References

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  1. ^ "Rodger Cuzner". Prime Minister of Canada. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  2. ^ "Liberals stage C.B. comeback". The Chronicle Herald. November 28, 2000. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  3. ^ "Cuzner named parliamentary secretary". Cape Breton Post. December 2, 2015. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  4. ^ Fitz-Morris, James (2 December 2015). "Bill Blair, Adam Vaughan among new parliamentary secretaries". www.cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  5. ^ a b Canada, Global Affairs (2019-03-28). "Rodger Cuzner, Consul General of Canada in Boston, United States". GAC. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  6. ^ Maloney, Ryan (11 December 2015). "Rodger Cuzner's Christmas Poem Mocks Tories, Salutes Kevin Vickers". Huffington Post Canada. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. ^ "2013 Parliamentarians of the Year - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  8. ^ "Rodger Cuzner: Parliament's sense of humour - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  9. ^ "Here are Nova Scotia's final riding-by-riding results | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-11-24.
  10. ^ "Cape Breton-Canso MP Rodger Cuzner calls it a career". Cape Breton Post. April 26, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  11. ^ "Longtime Cape Breton Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner will not re-offer". CBC News. April 26, 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-27.
  12. ^ "Trudeau names former Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner as new consul general in Boston". Global News. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  13. ^ "Announcement of new diplomatic appointments". Global Affairs Canada. October 30, 2020. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  14. ^ "The Prime Minister announces the appointment of five senators". Prime Minister of Canada. October 31, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. 29 February 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  16. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Elections Canada – Official voting results, Forty-first general election, 2011
  18. ^ Elections Canada – Candidate's electoral campaign return, 41st general election
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