Chuck Cadman
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Charles "Chuck" Cadman, MP (born February 21, 1948) is a Canadian politician. Cadman has been a member of Parliament since 1997, representing the riding of Surrey North in Surrey, British Columbia.
Cadman's 16-year-old son Jesse was murdered on October 18, 1992. He and his wife Dona later founded a group to lobby the government to increase sentences in criminal cases, particularly for young offenders. He was first elected to Parliament for Surrey North in the 1997 election as a member of the Reform Party of Canada. He was re-elected under the banner of the Canadian Alliance in the 2000 election, and was appointed Justice Critic.
Cadman was again re-elected in the 2004 election and was the only candidate not affiliated with a party to win a seat. Cadman had lost the nomination for the Conservative Party to Jasbir Singh Cheema, a former television news anchor.
Originally sitting the only independent in a relatively tight minority government (Carolyn Parrish and David Kilgour,and Pat O'Brien all previously Liberals, now sit as independents as well), Cadman holds considerable power.
In any confidence vote, with all members attending or paired, none breaking ranks, and the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois grouped against the Liberals and the New Democrats, with former Liberal Kilgour siding with the Conservatives and Parrish with the Liberals, Cadman would decide whether the government stands or falls. (The Speaker of the House, a Liberal, and may vote only to break a tie; by custom, he would vote for a confidence motion to continue discussion). Two of three independents must side with the government for it not to fall, assuming every party is able to have all of its members present to vote. Cadman's history with the right-wing Reform/Alliance suggests he would vote against the government on most public policy issues, but Cadman has said he will vote the will of his constituents. His voting intention remained unclear until the vote, in which he voted with the government in Bill C-48, postponing any immediate election.
Cadman was also diagnosed with cancer in early May 2004 and underwent surgery to remove a tumour from his groin. He heard about the election call from his hospital bed.
On May 19, 2005, Cadman's vote on the 2005 budget, which had been amended by the NDP, forced a tie in the House of Commons. The tie was broken by the speaker which put the vote in favour of the Liberal's budget. The budget will go to a third reading.
| Name | Party | Percent | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Cadman | None | 43.79 | 15080 |
| Jim Karpoff | NDP | 24.13 | 8312 |
| Dan Sheel | LIB | 15.71 | 5413 |
| Jasbir Singh Cheema | CON | 12.6 | 4340 |
| Sunny Athwal | GRN | 1.91 | 658 |
| Gerhard Herwig | CHP | 1.34 | 460 |
| Joyce Holmes | COM | 0.27 | 93 |
| Roy Tyler Whyte | CAP | 0.25 | 85 |
| Preceded by: Margaret Bridgman (Reform) | Member of Parliament for Surrey North (1997—present) | Succeeded by: Incumbent |