Derek Lee (politician) Information & Derek Lee (politician) Links at HealthHaven.com

**Derek Vincent Lee**
	Derek Vincent Lee
	Member of Parliament; for Scarborough—Rouge River
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 1988 election
Preceded by	Paul McCrossan
Born	October 2, 1948 (age 61); Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Ingrid Lee
Residence	Toronto
Profession	lawyer
Religion	Roman Catholic

For the current Major League Baseball player, see Derrek Lee. For the former Major League Baseball player, see Derek Lee (baseball)

Derek Vincent Lee (born October 2, 1948) is a lawyer and politician in Canada. He is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Scarborough—Rouge River.

[edit] Background

Lee was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.^[1] His father was an RCMP officer. Before entering politics, he was a political assistant to Federal MP Paul Cosgrove in 1982 and also Ontario Housing Minister Alvin Curling in 1985.^[2]

He is married to Ingrid Lee, and has two children, Katherine and Mackenzie.

[edit] Politics

In 1984 he lost a nomination bid for Liberal candidacy in the old riding of York—Scarborough.^[1] In 1988 he was first elected to the House of Commons in Scarborough—Rouge River and has been re-elected in every subsequent federal election. In the run up to the 1993 Federal election he was in danger of losing a nomination battle to challenger Gobinder Randhawa. However Liberal leader Jean Chrétien intervened and designated Lee as the candidate.^[3] From 1999 to 2001 He was the parliamentary secretary to the leader of the government in the House of Commons.

During his tenure as MP, he has supported judicial reform. In 1993 he tabled a private member's bill that would have given rape victims the right to have blood samples taken from an offender.^[4]

[edit] Books

Lee has written two books which discuss regulations of the House of Commons.^[5]

Matters related to the review of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner : report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. (2003).
Improving the Supreme Court of Canada appointments process : report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. (2004).

[edit] Beliefs

While Lee is a member of the Liberal party, he espouses social conservative viewpoints. He has expressed anti-abortion views^[6], and also supports the death penalty. He said "I believe the death penalty should always be available to reflect the degree of society's disgust at certain capital crimes."^[2] He also opposes same sex marriage.^[7]

In recent years, Lee has taken criticism for his support of the controversial Church of Scientology. Lee sometimes addresses Scientology seminars and has appeared in a promotional video for the Church of Scientology. Lee identifies as a Roman Catholic and is not a member of the Church of Scientology. He once considered becoming a priest but he is no longer drawn to the Roman Catholic religion. "I have done some cursory reading. I'm not personally drawn to (Catholicism), but I have to say that about many religious faiths."^[8]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Dan Smith. New Liberal at the centre of bitter Scarborough fight. Toronto Star. June 17, 1988. pA10.
^ ^a ^b Val Sears. 'Public spirit' drives new MP. Toronto Star. February 17, 1989. pA28.
^ Rival fumes as Lee given Liberal nod. Toronto Star. March 18, 1993. pSD4
^ Sterling Taylor. Derek Lee resumes attack on justice system. Toronto Star. november 11, 1993. pSD3
^ Toronto Public Library.
^ Pro-lifers plan fight at Liberal convention. Toronto Star. November 15, 1989. pA13
^ Emotional debate splits Liberal dominated GTA. Toronto Star. December 15, 2004. pA6
^ McGregor, Glen. Liberal MP stars in video promoting Scientology. Ottawa Citizen. October 26, 2005.[1]

[edit] External links

Federal Political Experience biography

[Smith-0] Dan Smith. New Liberal at the centre of bitter Scarborough fight. Toronto Star. June 17, 1988. pA10.

[Sears-1] Val Sears. 'Public spirit' drives new MP. Toronto Star. February 17, 1989. pA28.

[2] Rival fumes as Lee given Liberal nod. Toronto Star. March 18, 1993. pSD4

[3] Sterling Taylor. Derek Lee resumes attack on justice system. Toronto Star. november 11, 1993. pSD3

[4] Toronto Public Library.

[5] Pro-lifers plan fight at Liberal convention. Toronto Star. November 15, 1989. pA13

[6] Emotional debate splits Liberal dominated GTA. Toronto Star. December 15, 2004. pA6

[McGregor-7] McGregor, Glen. Liberal MP stars in video promoting Scientology. Ottawa Citizen. October 26, 2005.[1]

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