Rahim Jaffer | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Edmonton—Strathcona | |
| In office 2 June 1997 – 14 October 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Hanrahan |
| Succeeded by | Linda Duncan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rahim Nizar Jaffer (1971-12-15) 15 December 1971 |
| Party | Conservative (since 2003) |
Other party | Reform (1997–2000) Canadian Alliance (2000–2003) |
| Spouse | Helena Guergis |
| Children | 1 |
| University of Ottawa | |
| Profession | Politician, businessman |
Rahim Nizar Jaffer (Urdu: رحيم جعفر; born 15 December 1971) is a Canadian politician. He served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1997 to 2008, representing the Alberta riding of Edmonton—Strathcona as a member of the Conservative Party. He was the first Muslim elected to the Canadian Parliament. Jaffer became embroiled in a national controversy in 2010 after he appeared to receive "a break" from the justice system after being charged with drunk driving and possession of cocaine.[1]
Early life
Jaffer is an Ismaili Muslim of Indian Gujarati descent.[2] While young, Jaffer and his family emigrated to Canada to escape further persecution in Uganda after the government of Idi Amin confiscated their business and their home. They settled in Edmonton.
Jaffer completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Ottawa in political science and economics. He took his degree in the French language. He also served as a legislative assistant in the House of Commons. After completing his degree, he returned to Edmonton, where he operated a successful coffee shop in the heart of the Old Strathcona district. In 2009, Rahim received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Alberta.[3]
Political career
Jaffer was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton—Strathcona in the federal election on 2 June 1997, at the age of 25. He won the seat as a member of the Reform Party of Canada (later the Canadian Alliance, which later merged with the Progressive Conservatives to form the Conservative Party). Jaffer was re-elected in 2000.
In 2001, Matthew Johnston, an aide to Jaffer, impersonated him during a radio interview that Jaffer was himself unable to attend. Jaffer subsequently apologized for the stunt in the House of Commons and was suspended from his caucus position for several months.[4] The incident was parodied by This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Rick Mercer performed a rap based on Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady", with the lyrics "Will the real Rahim Jaffer please stand up?"[5]
In the 2006 election, Jaffer was re-elected to serve a fourth term as the Member of Parliament for Edmonton—Strathcona. On 8 February 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper named him chair of the Conservative caucus.[6]
Jaffer lost his seat in the 2008 election after he was defeated by New Democrat Linda Duncan. Jaffer was initially reluctant to concede defeat but finally did so on 16 October after the results were officially validated by the riding returning officer.[7][8]
In 2009, Jaffer expressed interest in re-seeking the Conservative nomination for Edmonton—Strathcona at the next election. However, he declined to do so after it was claimed that he was shut out of nomination process.[9]
Jaffer was once voted "laziest MP" in an annual survey by The Hill Times.[10]
In June 2025, Jaffer entered the mayoral race of the 2025 Edmonton municipal election,[11] however ultimately came in fifth place with 4.3% of the vote.[12]
Personal life
On 15 October 2008, Jaffer married his former caucus colleague Helena Guergis, by then a Cabinet minister. This was her second marriage and his first.
Jaffer and Guergis became engaged in October 2007. Reportedly at the initiative of Guergis,[7] the couple decided on the morning after the election to scrap their planned wedding date and to get married immediately. Their wedding was presided over by Ian McClelland, a former Member of Parliament and a licensed marriage commissioner, later that same day at McClelland's home. The marriage was witnessed by the couple's parliamentary colleague James Rajotte and by one of Jaffer's cousins.[13] In December 2010, the couple had a boy.[14]
Arrest and conviction
On 11 September 2009, Jaffer was stopped late at night by the Ontario Provincial Police while he was traveling at a rate of 93 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in Palgrave, Ontario, close to his wife's riding.[1] The officer noticed a smell of alcohol on Jaffer's breath, and after administering a breathalyzer test, found him to be over the Ontario legal blood-alcohol limit of .08.[15][16] Jaffer's driver's licence was suspended for 90 days, and he was charged with drunk driving and possession of an undisclosed quantity of cocaine.[17] The location of the cocaine was a source of contention between police and Jaffer. The arresting officer stated that the drugs were found in Jaffer's pants pocket, whereas Jaffer's defence team claimed it was in his suit jacket. Earlier in the evening, he had met in Toronto with Nazim Gillani, a businessman. Gillani claimed he was a banker for the Hells Angels.[18]
During the 2008 election, Jaffer's campaign approved radio ads accusing NDP leader Jack Layton of being soft on marijuana use.[19] Jaffer had been scheduled to appear in court in Orangeville, Ontario on 19 October 2009.[17] On 9 March 2010, Jaffer pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving and was sentenced to a fine of $500. The cocaine possession and drunk driving charges were withdrawn.[20][21] Justice Doug Maund told Jaffer "I’m sure you can recognize a break when you see one."[22] The sentence and the dropping of the more serious charges triggered outrage across Canada,[23] as well as more extensive investigation of events leading up to the incident prompting the arrest, which led to allegations several escorts also attended his dinner with Gillani.[15]
Electoral record
Federal
| 1997 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Reform | Rahim Jaffer | 20,605 | 41.30 | +1.97 | $58,003 | |||
| Liberal | Ginette Rodger | 17,654 | 35.39 | –3.13 | $58,244 | |||
| New Democratic | Jean McBean | 7,251 | 14.53 | +9.48 | $42,936 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Edo Nyland | 3,614 | 7.24 | –4.06 | $10,183 | |||
| Green | Karina Gregory | 406 | 0.81 | +0.24 | $520 | |||
| Natural Law | Maury Shapka | 153 | 0.31 | –0.27 | none listed | |||
| Independent | Naomi Rankin | 115 | 0.23 | +0.05 | $1,732 | |||
| Canadian Action | J. Alex Ford | 92 | 0.18 | – | $845 | |||
| Total valid votes | 49,890 | 99.80 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 101 | 0.20 | –0.02 | |||||
| Turnout | 49,991 | 62.74 | –2.11 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 79,680 | |||||||
| Reform hold | Swing | +2.55 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[24][25] | ||||||||
| 2000 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Alliance | Rahim Jaffer | 23,463 | 42.00 | +0.70 | $57,365 | |||
| Liberal | Jonathan Dai | 17,816 | 31.90 | –3.49 | $48,430 | |||
| New Democratic | Hélène Lortie-Narayana | 8,256 | 14.78 | +0.25 | $25,883 | |||
| Progressive Conservative | Gregory Toogood | 5,047 | 9.04 | +1.79 | $4,252 | |||
| Marijuana | Ken Kirk | 814 | 1.46 | – | $149 | |||
| Canadian Action | Kesa Rose Semenchuk | 299 | 0.54 | +0.35 | $1,485 | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Kevan Hunter | 164 | 0.29 | – | $275 | |||
| Total valid votes | 55,859 | 99.68 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 182 | 0.32 | +0.12 | |||||
| Turnout | 56,041 | 62.79 | +0.05 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 89,248 | |||||||
| Alliance hold | Swing | +2.10 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[26][27] | ||||||||
| 2004 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Rahim Jaffer | 19,089 | 39.40 | –11.64 | $65,390.20 | |||
| Liberal | Debby Carlson | 14,057 | 29.01 | –2.88 | $67,437.17 | |||
| New Democratic | Minister Faust | 11,535 | 23.81 | +9.02 | $44,181.99 | |||
| Green | Cameron Wakefield | 3,146 | 6.49 | – | $2,855.80 | |||
| Marijuana | Dave Dowling | 519 | 1.07 | –0.39 | none listed | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Kevan Hunter | 103 | 0.21 | –0.08 | $26.75 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 48,449 | 99.69 | – | $74,517.10 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 150 | 0.31 | –0.01 | |||||
| Turnout | 48,599 | 65.66 | +2.87 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 74,014 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +7.26 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[28][29] | ||||||||
| 2006 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Rahim Jaffer | 22,009 | 41.71 | +2.31 | $73,018.07 | |||
| New Democratic | Linda Duncan | 17,153 | 32.51 | +8.70 | $54,446.98 | |||
| Liberal | Andy Hladyshevsky | 9,391 | 17.80 | –11.22 | $72,479.99 | |||
| Green | Cameron Wakefield | 3,139 | 5.95 | –0.55 | $1,326.47 | |||
| Progressive Canadian | Michael Fedeyko | 582 | 1.10 | – | none listed | |||
| Marijuana | Dave Dowling | 390 | 0.74 | –0.33 | none listed | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Kevan Hunter | 106 | 0.20 | –0.01 | $15.75 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 52,770 | 99.72 | – | $77,836.93 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 148 | 0.28 | –0.03 | |||||
| Turnout | 52,918 | 68.23 | +2.57 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 77,560 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.50 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[30][31] | ||||||||
| 2008 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Strathcona | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Linda Duncan | 20,103 | 42.58 | +10.08 | $70,896.93 | |||
| Conservative | Rahim Jaffer | 19,640 | 41.60 | –0.11 | $77,743.57 | |||
| Liberal | Claudette Roy | 4,279 | 9.06 | –8.73 | $71,903.46 | |||
| Green | Jane Thrall | 3,040 | 6.44 | +0.49 | $3,801.05 | |||
| Marxist–Leninist | Kevan Hunter | 147 | 0.31 | +0.11 | none listed | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 47,209 | 99.79 | – | $82,491.89 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 99 | 0.21 | –0.07 | |||||
| Turnout | 47,308 | 62.86 | –5.37 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 75,254 | |||||||
| New Democratic gain from Conservative | Swing | +5.09 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[32][33] | ||||||||
Municipal
In the 2025 Edmonton municipal election, Jaffer ran for mayor of the city. He lost the race to Mayor Andrew Knack, and he received 8980 votes, 4.34%[34]
References
- "Special treatment? Jaffer's drunk driving charges dropped". CBC News. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- "Indian-origin ex-MP's wife out of Canadian government". Hindustan Times. 10 April 2010.
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahim-jaffer-88847b100/
- "Jaffer to apologize to House of Commons". CBC News. 19 March 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- "Will the Real Rahim Jaffer Please Stand Up?". YouTube. 23 April 2010.
- "Roles – Rahim Jaffer – Current and Past – Members of Parliament – House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- "Jaffer concedes race, ties the knot". CBC News. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- "Obhrai wants free trade pact". Hindustan Times. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- "Jaffer shut out of nomination process in Edmonton riding". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2011.
- "Strathcona race just what's needed to inspire maverick-style debate". Edmonton Journal. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- Ellingson, Craig (25 June 2025). "Former Edmonton MP Jaffer running for mayor in fall's election". CTV News. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- "2025 Edmonton Election Results". City of Edmonton. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- Henton, Darcy (17 October 2008). "MP lost seat, gained bride in 24 hours". National Post. Edmonton, Alberta. Canwest News Service. p. A4. Retrieved 30 December 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- "Guergis, Jaffer welcome baby boy". CBC News. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- Donovan, Kevin (8 April 2010). "The story behind Ex-MP Rahim Jaffer's drunk-driving arrest". Toronto Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on 11 April 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
- Talbot, Matthew (16 September 2009). "Jaffer facing drunk driving, cocaine charges". Alliston Herald. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- Hammer, Kate (16 September 2009). "Ex-MP Jaffer facing drug, DUI charges". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- Donovan, Kevin (10 April 2010). "Financier boasted of his ties to bikers". Toronto Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- Hammer, Kate (17 September 2009). "Former MP Jaffer faces charges of cocaine possession, drunk driving". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- Ha, Tu Thanh (9 March 2010). "Rahim Jaffer pleads guilty to careless driving charge". The Globe and Mail. Orangeville. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- McLean, Jesse (9 March 2010). "Drug, drunk driving charges dropped against former Tory MP". Toronto Star. Toronto. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- Taber, Jane (9 March 2010). "Tories bristle when asked to explain Rahim Jaffer's 'slap on the wrist'". Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- "Jaffer court case sparks outrage across Canada – CTV News". CTV Edmonton. 9 March 2010. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
- Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Edmonton--Strathcona, Alberta (1997)". lop.parl.ca.
- Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (1997). Thirty-Sixth General Election, 1997: Official Voting Results (Report). Ottawa: Elections Canada.
- Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Edmonton--Strathcona, Alberta (2000)". lop.parl.ca.
- Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2000). Thirty-Seventh General Election, 2000: Official Voting Results (Report). Ottawa: Elections Canada. ISBN 0-662-65518-4.
- "Thirty-Eighth General Election 2004 — Poll-by-poll Results: Edmonton—Strathcona". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2004.
- Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2004). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2004 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada.
Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
- "Thirty-Ninth General Election 2006 — Poll-by-poll Results: Edmonton—Strathcona". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2006.
- Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2006). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2006 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada.
Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
- "Fortieth General Election 2008 — Poll-by-poll Results: Edmonton—Strathcona". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2008.
- Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2008). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2008 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada.
Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
- https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/municipal_elections/2025-election-results/