Todd Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Todd Norman Russell
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| Member of Parliament for Labrador |
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| In office May 24, 2005 – May 30, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Lawrence D. O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Peter Penashue |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1966 St. Anthony, Newfoundland |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Profession | Metis affairs leader |
Todd Norman Dwayne Russell was born on December 22, 1966. He is a Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labrador area in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was part of the Liberal Party of Canada. He served as an MP from 2005 to 2011.
About Todd Russell
Todd Russell was born in St. Anthony, Newfoundland. He grew up in a place called William's Harbour. He is of Métis descent. The Métis are one of the Indigenous groups in Canada.
Before he became an MP, he was the president of a group called NunatuKavut. This group represents Métis people in Labrador. He went to Memorial University in St. John's.
His Time in Politics
On May 24, 2005, Todd Russell won a special election. This kind of election is called a by-election. It happens when an MP's seat becomes empty before a general election. He became the MP for Labrador after the previous Liberal MP passed away.
His win helped the Liberal Party in the minority parliament. This meant the Liberals had enough support to pass important laws, like the budget. He was re-elected in the elections of 2006 and 2008. During this time, he worked as the Critic for Aboriginal Affairs. This role meant he spoke for his party on issues related to Indigenous peoples.
In the 2011 election, Todd Russell lost his seat. He was defeated by Peter Penashue from the Conservative Party.
After Being an MP
After leaving federal politics, Todd Russell went back to being the president of NunatuKavut. He has spoken out against the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. This is a large project that builds power plants using water.
In 2016, Todd Russell asked the Canadian government to apologize. He wanted them to say sorry for how residential school survivors from Newfoundland and Labrador were treated. Residential schools were places where Indigenous children were sent, often far from their families.
