Irene Mathyssen (born August 16, 1951 in London, Ontario) is a Canadian politician. She was a New Democratic Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from 1990 to 1995, and briefly served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae. Since then, she has campaigned for federal and provincial office on several occasions. August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Motto: Nickname: The forest city City of London, Ontario, Canada Location. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th)  - Land 917,741 km²  - Water 158,654 km² (14. ... A politician is an individual involved in politics. ... The Ontario New Democratic Party (formerly known as the Ontario Cooperative Commonwealth Federation) is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. ... For the U.S. cannabis reform organization, see Marijuana Policy Project. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation) A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Robert Keith (Bob) Rae PC, OC, OOnt, QC (born August 2, 1948 in Ottawa, Ontario) was the 21st premier of Ontario, and the first to represent the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP)in that role. ...

Mathyssen was educated at the University of Western Ontario from 1970 to 1975, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Drama, and a Bachelor of Education degree. She subsequently worked as an English teacher. She was a member of the London Board of Education from 1981 to 1990, and was president of the Middlesex NDP riding association from 1989 to 1990. She has long been involved in labour activism in the London region. The University of Western Ontario is located in London, Ontario, Canada. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... A Bachelor of Arts (B.A. or A.B.) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or program in the arts and/or sciences. ... A Bachelor of Education (BEd) is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Middlesex was a former federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons, and located in the province of Ontario. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the provincial election of 1990, defeating incumbent Liberal Doug Reycraft by 520 votes in Middlesex. She served as government Whip from 1990 to 1991, and was a parliamentary assistant from 1991 to 1994. She was named a Minister without Portfolio, responsible for Culture, Tourism and Recreation, on October 21, 1994, near the end of the Rae government's term in office. The Ontario Legislature Building at Queens Park The Legislative Assembly of Ontario, is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario. ... As a result of serious scandals, David Petersons Liberal government was defeated by a large protest vote. ... The Ontario Liberal Party is a centrist provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. ... Douglas Richard Reycraft (born March 9, 1943 in London, Ontario) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. ... In politics, a whip is a member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to appoint parliamentary secretaries (in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, parliamentary assistants) from their caucus to assist cabinet ministers with their work. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... A Minister without Portfolio is a government minister with no specific responsibilities. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ...

The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election and Mathyssen was personally defeated in Middlesex, finishing third behind Reycroft and Progressive Conservative Bruce Smith. Bob Raes Ontario New Democratic Party government was defeated by voters, who are angry at the mistakes made by the inexperienced NDP, and frustrated by rising taxes and unemployment. ... The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party of Ontario) is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. ... Bruce Smith is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. ...

She ran for the federal New Democratic Party in the 1997 election, and finished third in the riding of London--Fanshawe, well behind Liberal incumbent Pat O'Brien. She ran in the same riding in the 1999 provincial election and again finished third, behind PC candidate Frank Mazzilli and Liberal Peter Mancini. The New Democratic Party (French: Nouveau Parti démocratique) is a social democratic and democratic socialist political party in Canada. ... 36th Parliament In the 1997 Canadian election held on June 2, 1997, Jean Chrétiens Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government. ... The Liberal Party of Canada (French: Parti libéral du Canada) is Canadas largest political party. ... The name Pat OBrien could be a reference to: The actor Pat OBrien ( 1899- 1983), who played in Some Like It Hot and other movies. ... The Ontario general election of 1999 was held in the Canadian province of Ontario in the late spring of 1999. ... Frank Mazzilli (born December 7, 1962 in San Bartalomeo, Italy) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. ...

Mathyssen ran in London--Fanshawe for a third time in the 2003 provincial election and this time finished a strong second, losing to Liberal Khalil Ramal by fewer than 2,000 votes. Map of Ontarios ridings and their popular vote for their party elected The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the Legislative Assembly (Members of Provincial Parliament, or MPPs) of the Province of Ontario, Canada. ... Khalil Ramal (born 1960, in a small town in Lebanon) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. ...

Notwithstanding her previous defeats, Mathyssen was considered to have a strong chance of defeating Pat O'Brien in the 2004 federal election. A late surge in Liberal support, however, gave O'Brien a victory of more than 3,000 votes. A Canadian federal election (more formally, the 38th general election) was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ...

She was acclaimed as the NDP candidate for London-Fanshawe once again in the upcoming federal election. O'Brien has left the Liberal party, and sits as an Independent. Although law requires only that the 39th general election must be held by 2009, there is emerging certainty that a federal election to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons will be held in Canada no later than early 2006. ...

She continues to teach English at Banting Secondary School in London, and serves on the District 11 Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation Political Action Committee. She was a vocal opponent of the Invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has participated in many local peace rallies. Mathyssen is also a member of the Ontario Health Coalition. In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group organized to elect or defeat government officials in order to promote legislation, often supporting the groups special interests. ... This article deals with the post-invasion period in Iraq and its occupation. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External link

• Campaign page (http://www.irenemathyssen.ca)