Don Meredith (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Meredith
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Meredith during his unsuccessful 2008 campaign
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| Senator for Ontario | |
| In office 18 December 2010 – 10 May 2017 |
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| Nominated by | Stephen Harper |
| Appointed by | David Johnston |
| Preceded by | Peter Stollery |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1964 Saint Ann, Jamaica |
| Political party | Non-affiliated |
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative (2010-2015) Non-affiliated (2015-2017) |
| Residence | Richmond Hill, Ontario |
Donald Meredith (born 13 July 1964) is a Canadian Pentecostal minister and former politician. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada on December 18, 2010. At first, he was part of the Conservative political group.
However, in June 2015, he was removed from the Conservative group. This happened after serious concerns were raised about his behavior. In March 2017, the Senate's ethics office found that he had broken important rules. The Senate Ethics Committee then suggested that he should be removed from the Senate. Don Meredith chose to resign on May 9, 2017, just before the Senate could vote on his removal. His resignation became official the next day.
Before becoming a Senator, Meredith was a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in a special election in Toronto Centre in 2008. He finished fourth in that election.
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About Don Meredith
Don Meredith was born and grew up in Jamaica. He moved to Canada in the early 1980s and became a Canadian citizen. He went to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute but did not finish his studies there. While he was a student, he started a landscaping business called Donscape Landscaping Services around 1994. He still owns this business today.
Meredith became a minister in 2006. He is a volunteer senior pastor at the Pentecostal Praise Centre in Maple, Ontario. This church is close to Richmond Hill, Ontario, where he lives. He has also been involved with several police advisory groups. For example, he was a member of the Chief's Advisory Council for the Toronto Police Services. He also advised the York Regional Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Early Political Steps
In December 2007, the Conservative Party of Canada chose Don Meredith as their candidate. He ran in a special federal election in the downtown Toronto area called Toronto Centre. This election took place on March 17, 2008.
Meredith won the Conservative nomination without anyone running against him. This happened after the party had removed another candidate. In the election, Meredith received 12.5% of the votes, placing him fourth. This was less than the Conservative candidate had received in the 2006 election.
Becoming a Senator
Don Meredith became a Senator for Canada on December 18, 2010. He was chosen by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As a Senator, he joined the Conservative group.
In September 2012, Meredith faced criticism for attending a cultural event. This event was organized by the Iranian embassy at Carleton University. At that time, the Canadian government was asking people to avoid contact with Iran. Despite this, Meredith traveled to Iran in 2012. He tried to make business deals with the Iranian government.
In 2014, he attended the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States. This event is for important religious and political leaders. However, he was not authorized by the Senate to attend. He charged the cost of his first-class trip and his hotel stay to the Senate. He later had to pay back these expenses.
His Credentials
Don Meredith has claimed to have an honorary degree from a group called the Canadian Christian Clinical Counsellors' Association. However, this group is not a real degree-granting school. For a time, he signed his name as "The Honourable Dr. Don Meredith." He stopped using "Dr." after people questioned his education.
Meredith also claimed to have earned bachelor's and master's degrees in religious studies. He said these were from California State Christian University. This school is not officially recognized and is not allowed to give out advanced degrees in California.
Awards and Recognition
Don Meredith has received several awards for his community work.
- In 2006, he received an Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute. This award recognized him as a strong supporter against crime and for a fair society.
- In 2008, he received the Toronto Police Service 13 Division Community Service Award.
- In 2012, he was given the Nelson Mandela Humanitarian Award. He also received the BBPA Youth Advocacy Award that same year.
