Richard Cannings | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Richard_Cannings_at_convention_2023.jpg) Cannings in 2023 | |
| Member of Parliament for South Okanagan—West Kootenay | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Atamanenko |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 31, 1954 Penticton, British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Penticton, British Columbia[1] |
| Profession | Biologist, author |
| Website | richardcannings |
Richard J. "Dick" Cannings MP (born March 31, 1954) is a Canadian biologist, author and politician. He was elected as the South Okanagan—West Kootenay Member of Parliament in the 2015 Canadian federal election for the New Democratic Party, and re-elected in 2019. As a member of the 42nd Canadian Parliament he sponsored three private member's bills: one to promote the use of wood in federal public works projects, one to add various lakes and rivers to Navigable Waters Protection Act, and another to a Minister of Environment to respond to a Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada report. Cannings was appointed the NDP Critic for Post-Secondary Education as well as the Deputy Critic for Natural Resources in the 42nd Canadian Parliament.[2] He became the NDP Critic for Natural Resources in 2016 and served in that position until 2021. In October 2021, he became the NDP Critic for Emergency Preparedness (Climate Adaptation) and Critic for Small Business and Tourism, as well as Deputy Critic for Natural Resources and Deputy Critic for Innovation, Science and Industry. In December 2021, he was named an inaugural member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research.
Prior to being elected as a member of parliament, Cannings unsuccessfully sought election as a member of the legislative assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 BC election. Prior to his involvement in politics, Cannings worked as a biologist specializing in birds, taught at the University of British Columbia for 17 years, wrote numerous books about birds and natural history, and was a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada for 8 years. He is an alumnus of Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of British Columbia.
- ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Kirkup, Kristy (November 12, 2015). "Tom Mulcair taps Nathan Cullen, Charlie Angus, Guy Caron for top critic roles". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 12, 2015.