Wayne Marston Information & Wayne Marston Links at HealthHaven.com

The Honourable Member for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
Wayne L. Marston
MP
	The Honourable Member for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek; Wayne L. Marston ; MP
	Member of the Canadian Parliament; for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 2006 federal election
Preceded by	Tony Valeri
Born	February 27, 1947 (age 62); Sisson Ridge, New Brunswick
Political party	New Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Barbara Marston
Residence	Hamilton, Ontario
Profession	Technician

Wayne L. Marston (born February 27, 1947 in Sisson Ridge, New Brunswick) is a Canadian politician. Marston was the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate for the Hamilton, Ontario riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in the 2006 federal election. He defeated Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri.

Prior to his election to the Canadian House of Commons, Marston served as President of the Hamilton and District Labour Council for 14 years. Marston was also a School Board Trustee for Ward 5 of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board for two terms from 2000 until his resignation, after his federal election victory, on January 24, 2006.

Marston had previously ran for the NDP in the former federal riding of Hamilton East in the 1993 and 1997 federal elections. He was defeated both times by Liberal cabinet minister Sheila Copps. He was also the NDP candidate in the 1996 Hamilton East byelection, triggered by Copps' resignation over her government's failure to repeal the unpopular Goods and Services Tax as promised by her and her party in 1993.

Although Copps ran in and won the 1996 byelection, Marston finished a strong second to her, reducing Copps' margin of victory significantly. Copps' riding was once the strongest Liberal riding in the Hamilton area (holding even during the 1984 Mulroney sweep), but after the byelection, Hamilton East emerged as the weakest Liberal riding in the Hamilton area (Hamilton West, Hamilton Mountain and Stoney Creek all subsequently gave the Liberals larger margins of victory). Copps also lost personal standing within the Liberal Party after the byelection, and she was eventually defeated by fellow Liberal MP Tony Valeri in a pitched battle for the Liberal nomination in the new Hamilton East-Stoney Creek riding when it was created out of her former Hamilton East riding and Valeri's former Stoney Creek riding in 2004.

Many would argue that Marston's previous candidacy therefore set the stage for his and the NDP's resurgence in Hamilton East—Stoney Creek in 2006.

In Hamilton, over 28 years, Marston was a well known Labour Activist. He first gained significant public recognition as one of the co-chairs of the Hamilton Days of Action in 1996. The other co-chair was Andrea Horwath who has gone on to become the current Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario.

Marston served as President of CWC/CEP Local 42 from 1988 until 1995. He also was the founding President of the Hamilton Chapter of the Council of Canadians in 1984.

Over many years of community service, Marston served on a number of Hamilton Community Committees and Boards. He was a Patron for the Settlement Integration Services Organization, Hamilton Wentworth, Board Member of the Social Planning and Research Council, and was a founding Board member of the Hamilton Tourism Board.

Marston has had an over 25 year association with the United Way of Burlington, Hamilton Wentworth. During this time he served on the United Way Board as Vice President and Secretary

During the late 1990's, Marston became the first Chair of the Mohawk College Labour Advisory Board as well as Chair of the McMaster Labour Studies Advisory Board. He also Chaired the Board of Directors of the Worker's Education Centre as well as the Hamilton and District Labour Council's Labour Education and Support Centre

Marston actively fought against racism throughout his career. First as a member of Hamilton's Mayor's Race Relations Committee and the Community Coalition Against Racism.

Following the September 15th, 2001 fire bombing of Hamilton's Hindu Samaj, Marston at the behest of then Hamilton Mayor Bob Wade, became a founding member of the Strengthening Hamilton Community Iniative. SCHI brought together Community Leaders to address racism in Hamilton. Marston served on SCHI for 3 1/2 years.

Since being elected Member of Parliament in 2006, Marston has been the Human Rights Critic for the New Democratic Party. In the fall of 2008 he had Seniors and Pensions added to his Critic areas. He serves as well as Vice Chair of the Steel Caucus in Ottawa.

In 1987 Marston received the Medal of Bravery from Governor General Sauve for his part in the 1985 rescue of a man trapped a burning truck. Marston also received the OPP Medal of Bravery for the same incident.

Marston's electoral persistence paid off in 2006 when he defeated Tony Valeri by just over 400 votes. Some thought Marston would be a one term M.P. but he proved the pundits wrong by defeating the popular former Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni by over 6,000 votes.

Wayne and his wife Barbara have four grown children and nine grandchildren.

[edit] External links

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Tony Valeri	Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek 2006-present	Succeeded by Incumbent

This article about an Ontario Member of Parliament is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.