Steven Fletcher
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Steven John Fletcher, MP, B. Sc. (Engineering), MBA (born June 17, 1972) is a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He won his seat in the Canadian federal election of 2004, running for the Conservative Party of Canada. He is the first quadriplegic parliamentarian in the House of Commons.
Fletcher was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where his father was working as an engineer. He was twice elected president of the University of Manitoba's student union, and pursued a policy of debt reduction while holding this position. In November 2001, he co-chaired the Progressive Conservative Party's policy forum, "Solutions for the 21st Century". Before the 2004 election, he received a Masters Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Manitoba, from which he had previously received a degree in Engineering.
Fletcher was elected President of the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Party in 2001, and was re-elected to the position in 2003. He obtained the Canadian Alliance nomination in Charleswood-St. James for the 2004 federal election, and was a strong supporter of the "unite the right" movement which ultimately brought together the federal Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance as the Conservative Party of Canada. During the leadership race for the Conservative Party of Canada in 2004, Fletcher endorsed the candidacy of Stephen Harper.
Fletcher became a complete quadriplegic after hitting a moose with his vehicle while traveling to a new job in northern Manitoba in 1996. He has no voluntary control of muscles below his neck, and must have his needs attended to by others. He is the first MP with a permanent disability in Canadian history. A running joke during his campaign was that he will have to be a front bench MP, as the backbenches are not wheelchair-accessible. In addition, he has created the need for a "stranger to the House" - a person who is not officially an MP or officer of Parliament - to actually be on the Commons floor during sessions; Fletcher's assistant must handle almost any task.
Fletcher's victory in the 2004 election was generally regarded as an upset, although polls taken before election day indicated that the race would be close. He defeated a popular former Mayor of Winnipeg, Glen Murray, who was running for the Liberal Party. Fletcher received 18688 votes, against 17954 for Murray.
Fletcher has claimed that health care will be his main priority as an MP. He is also known as a moderate but does favour some socially conservative causes.
Harper named Fletcher to the high-profile position of Senior Health Critic in his shadow cabinet in the official opposition.
On May 21, 2005 Fletcher apologized for language he used the week previously at a Veteran's Convention in Winnipeg. The remark in question was centred around the following quote: "The Japs were bastards" referring to Japanese military during World War II. Fletcher defended the general tone of his remark, noting that his grandfather witnessed the Japanese army commit wartime atrocities when he was taken as a Prisoner of War after the fall of Singapore. "They used my grandfather's friend for bayonet practice", he told the Canadian Press. "They put my grandfather on a raft when he was ill to die. They shot people indiscriminately."
Fletcher has had an impressive first year as health critic. He successfully lead the fight to compensate Hepatitis C victims. On April 192005, the House of Commons supported Fletcher's health committee motion to compensate all those infected by Hepatitis C through tainted blood. This is a major development in the decade long fight to get the pre 1986 and post 1990 Hepititis C victims compensated.
On June 72005, Fletcher also brought forward a supply day motion to fully fund the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control and create funding for a National Strategy for Mental Health and Mental Illness and Heart Disease. According to CTV, the Liberal government was going to vote against the motion but faced a revolt by some Liberal back bench MP's. It is very rare that an opposition supply motion passes the Canadian parliament.
References
| Preceded by: The electoral district had its name changed from Charleswood—St. James in 2004. | Member of Parliament for Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia 2004-present | Succeeded by: Incumbent |