Nycole Turmel: Olivia Honours Leader of the Opposition

Tribute to Longest-Serving Female Opposition Leader in Canada’s History

March 14, 2012

OTTAWA – With an emotional statement, MP Olivia Chow honoured New Democrat Interim Leader Nycole Turmel in the House of Commons. Quoting the late Jack Layton, Olivia praised the outgoing head of the NDP for her leadership in difficult times. She was joined in her tribute by her NDP colleagues with standing ovations.

After seven months in her role as the Leader of the Opposition, Nycole Turmel is about to step down as the New Democrats are set to elect a permanent successor to the late Jack Layton. Under her leadership, a crucial series of NDP motions was passed by the House:

  • New Democrat plan on jobs and the economy passed unanimously, underscoring the NDP commitment to Canadian families and jobseekers
  • spearheaded by the NDP, Shannen’s Dream motion passed unanimously in the house to end discrimination and ensure proper funding for First Nations schools
  • earlier this week, Nycole successfully saw through the NDP motion to give Elections Canada the tools it needs to clean up the ongoing election fraud scandal


Olivia Chow concluded by emphasizing out how the longest-serving women leader of the Official Opposition are a splendid examples for the Members of the House and indeed all Canadians.

Transcript with Translation:

Mr. Speaker, let us work together.

Those are Jack Layton’s now famous words embodied by my leader, the leader of the official opposition.

She has worked tirelessly to put Canadian families first.

And she has achieved results.

As Conservative policies saw jobs shipped down south, under her leadership, the NDP plan on jobs and the economy passed unanimously. She fought for aboriginal families and, under her leadership, the Shannen’s Dream motion passed unanimously.

While other leaders argued about whose dirty tricks were worse, she unanimously passed a motion to give Elections Canada the tools to clean up this mess. Canadians sent us here to get results.

And my leader has done so.

She is the longest serving woman leader of the opposition, a committed Canadian and a shining example for all members of the House.

Thank you to my leader. Thank you, Nycole.

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Further reading: Ottawa Citizen article

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