Wayne Long MP (born April 13, 1963) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Saint John—Rothesay in the House of Commons of Canada for the Liberal party in the 2015 federal election.[2]

Wayne Long
Long in 2024
Member of Parliament
for Saint John—Rothesay
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byRodney Weston
Personal details
Born (1963-04-13) April 13, 1963 (age 61)[1]
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceSaint John, New Brunswick
ProfessionHockey Executive
Businessman

Political career

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As the Liberal Party's nominee in Saint John—Rothesay, Long drew media attention for his outspoken support of the Energy East oil pipeline project. Long's position was far more forthright than that of the Liberal Party as a whole, which had promised to take a neutral stance. Long promised to aggressively lobby within the Liberal caucus to support the project.[3][4]

In September 2017, Long made headlines for announcing his opposition to tax changes for private corporations proposed by Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau.[5] On October 4, 2017, he was the only Liberal MP to vote for a Conservative Party opposition motion to extend the consultation period.[6]

In February 2021, alongside Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Long was one of only two Liberal MPs to vote in favour of an NDP-proposed motion to take a first step towards developing a national pharmacare system. The bill, proposed by Peter Julian, would have established the conditions for federal financial contributions to provincial drug insurance plans.[7] The following year, the Liberal Party would commit to work towards a "universal national pharmacare program" as part of their confidence and supply agreement with the NDP following the 2021 federal election.[8]

On December 13, 2023, a video emerged showing Long arguing with protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war during a scheduled holiday celebration for the Liberal Party. Staff member Jeannette Arsenault, who accompanied him, accused the protesters of "believing in terrorism." The following month, Long apologized for his remarks in a statement released on Facebook.[9]

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 17,371 46.38 +8.94 $86,136.71
Conservative Mel Norton 12,315 32.88 -1.07 $89,711.32
New Democratic Don Paulin 4,821 12.87 +0.64 $4,012.75
People's Nicholas Pereira 2,001 5.34 +2.29 $3,899.08
Green Ann McAllister 948 2.53 -7.57 $365.47
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,456 $103,960.22
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 58.99 -6.19
Registered voters 63,495
Liberal hold Swing +5.01
Source: Elections Canada[10]
2019 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 15,443 37.43 -11.37 $65,376.07
Conservative Rodney Weston 14,006 33.95 +3.41 $98,624.09
New Democratic Armand Cormier 5,046 12.23 -5.30 $2,746.93
Green Ann McAllister 4,165 10.10 +6.97 none listed
People's Adam J. C. Salesse 1,260 3.05 none listed
Independent Stuart Jamieson 1,183 2.87 $6,611.27
Independent Neville Barnett 150 0.36 $170.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,253 99.40
Total rejected ballots 250 0.60 +0.12
Turnout 41,503 65.18 -3.65
Eligible voters 63,677
Liberal hold Swing -7.39
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]
2015 Canadian federal election: Saint John—Rothesay
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Wayne Long 20,634 48.80 +32.81
Conservative Rodney Weston 12,915 30.54 -19.18
New Democratic AJ Griffin 7,411 17.53 -13.2
Green Sharon Murphy 1,321 3.12 +0.35
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,281 100.0     $196,334.01
Total rejected ballots 205
Turnout 42,486 69.38
Eligible voters 61,236
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ "Wayne Long on Twitter: "Today is my birthday. I have to say I've never felt better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Feeling so ready for the future!"". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "Saint John-Rothesay elects Liberal candidate Wayne Long - CBC News". CBC. 2015-10-20. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  3. ^ Jane Taber, Energy East pipeline could be a deciding election issue in Saint John, The Globe and Mail, October 2, 2015.
  4. ^ Saint John-Rothesay elects Liberal candidate Wayne Long, CBC News, October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Saint John MP breaks ranks with Liberals in response to new tax policy". Atlantic. September 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "Vote Details". www.ourcommons.ca. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ^ Nerenberg, Karl (2021-02-25). "Liberals rhetorically support NDP pharmacare bill, then vote against it". rabble.ca. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
  8. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (March 22, 2022). "How the Liberal-NDP agreement will work and what it might mean for Canadians". CBC. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Koch, David Gordon (23 January 2024). "Liberal MP regrets 'hurtful, inappropriate' comments aimed at Gaza solidarity activists [video]". NB Media Co-op. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  10. ^ "September 20, 2021 General Election Election Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  11. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Saint John—Rothesay, 30 September 2015
  14. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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