Don Davies

Don Davies
MP
Davies in 2022
Parliamentary leader of the New Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 10, 2026
LeaderAvi Lewis
Preceded byHimself (as interim leader)
Succeeded by"Avi Lewis"
Leader of the New Democratic Party
Interim
May 5, 2025 – March 29, 2026
DeputyAlexandre Boulerice
Preceded byJagmeet Singh
Succeeded byAvi Lewis
Member of Parliament
for Vancouver Kingsway
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 14, 2008
Preceded byDavid Emerson
Shadow minister of International Trade
In office
April 19, 2012 – October 19, 2015
LeaderNycole Turmel (interim; 2011–2012)
Tom Mulcair (2012–2017)
ShadowingEd Fast
Preceded byBrian Masse
Succeeded byGerry Ritz
Shadow minister of Citizenship and Immigration
In office
May 26, 2011 – April 18, 2012
LeaderTom Mulcair
ShadowingJason Kenney
Preceded byJustin Trudeau
Succeeded byJinny Sims
Personal details
BornDonald Vincent Davies[1]
(1963-01-16) January 16, 1963
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
PartyNew Democratic
SpouseSheryl Palm
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
ProfessionLawyer

Donald Vincent Davies (born January 16, 1963) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who has been the member of Parliament (MP) for Vancouver Kingsway since 2008. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Davies was selected to be interim party leader in 2025 and served until the election of Avi Lewis in the 2026 leadership election.

Early life and career

Davies was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Alberta.[2] He later worked as a researcher at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. From 1989 to 1991, he was executive assistant for policy and communications to Ray Martin, leader of the official opposition of Alberta.[2]

Davies and his family moved to Vancouver in 1991. In 1992, he became the director of legal services for Teamsters Canada (Local 31), a position he held until his election to the House of Commons in 2008.[2]

Political career

Davies was first elected during the 2008 federal election. He received 15,933 votes in Vancouver Kingsway, winning the riding by almost 3,000 votes over his nearest competitor. Davies was re-elected in the 2011 election, receiving over 50 percent of the votes cast and winning by 10,300 votes over his nearest competitor. In 2015, he was re-elected for his third term, receiving 46 percent of the vote and leading his nearest competitor by over 8,000 votes. Davies was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, obtaining 49 percent of the vote and leading his nearest competitor by over 11,000 votes. This made him the longest-serving member of Parliament (MP) in the history of Vancouver Kingsway and the first MP ever to win the riding four times.[3]

In the 40th Parliament, Davies served as NDP critic for Public Safety and National Security, vice-chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security and deputy critic for Western Diversification. In the 41st Parliament, Davies served as Official Opposition critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and vice-chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and then as Official Opposition critic for International Trade, deputy critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and vice-chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.[2] A member of a number of parliamentary groups, he serves on the executives of the Canada–China, Canada–Philippines, and Canada–Europe parliamentary associations, and is a Canadian parliamentary delegate to the Council of Europe.[2]

In the 42nd Parliament, Davies introduced more private member's legislation than any other MP in Canada.[4] This legislation included bills to establish universal pharmacare, a national school nutrition program, and free tuition for students with diverse needs. In the 43rd Parliament, Davies was re-appointed to the Health portfolio. He served on the Standing Committee on Health and was appointed to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. Davies maintained a stance against the extradition of Meng Wanzhou after her arrest in Vancouver in 2018, claiming political interference in the case by US president Donald Trump.[5][6]

Davies considered running for mayor of Vancouver in the 2018 Vancouver municipal election but ultimately decided not to.[7]

He was appointed the NDP critic for finance on April 5, 2024.[8]

Davies was one of seven NDP MPs elected in the 2025 federal election, narrowly holding his seat by 310 votes. After leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down, the party's federal council chose Davies as interim leader of the New Democratic Party until the 2026 leadership election.[9] MPs Leah Gazan, Lori Idlout, and Jenny Kwan wrote a letter to the party's executive and council saying they were not properly consulted in the selection of Davies as interim leader. They said that the party executive and other MPs did not hold caucus discussions or provide a timeline. In May 2025, NDP national director Lucy Watson said that the federal council had sole responsibility for choosing an interim leader under the constitution.[10] In November 2025, five of seven NDP MPs—Davies, Alexandre Boulerice, Gazan, Kwan, and Heather McPherson—voted against passing the 2025 federal budget, while Idlout and Gord Johns abstained from the vote.[11] In March 2026, NDP MP Lori Idlout crossed the floor to the Liberal Party, pushing the Carney government closer to a majority.

Personal life

Davies also served on numerous public bodies to improve occupational health and safety and deliver more efficient regulatory systems in the transportation sector. He was the chair of the Mount Pleasant Parent Advisory Council and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Meridian Cultural Society, providing public space for childcare, church and cultural events.[2]

Davies has been active in many community organizations, including Tools for Peace, Vancouver Co-op Radio, Lawyers for Social Responsibility, the La Quena Cooperative, and the Dickens Community Group.[2] He has also been a local hockey coach and enjoys playing the violin.[12]

A long-time resident of the Kensington neighbourhood in Vancouver Kingsway, Davies is married to Sheryl Palm, a speech language pathologist at Vancouver Children's Hospital. They have three children and a granddaughter.[2]

Electoral record

2025 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies18,78837.24–13.16$116,136.09
LiberalAmy K. Gill18,48536.64+7.62$96,281.50
ConservativeRavinder Bhatia12,35224.49+10.35$44,122.30
GreenImtiaz Popat4990.99–2.64none listed
People'sFiona Wang3220.64–1.56none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 50,44699.35–$127,774.38
Total rejected ballots 3320.65–0.15
Turnout 50,77862.99+9.06
Eligible voters 80,608
New Democratic notional hold Swing –10.38
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]
2021 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies20,99452.28+3.19$99,674.26
LiberalVirginia Bremner11,02227.45+4.36$47,586.74
ConservativeCarson Binda5,45613.59–6.35$7,752.14
GreenFarrukh A. Chishtie1,5753.92–2.14$2,013.80
People'sJeremy MacKenzie8682.16+1.19$247.30
CommunistKimball Cariou1750.44–0.23none listed
Marxist–LeninistDonna Petersen680.17–0.04none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,15899.20–$108,601.94
Total rejected ballots 3240.80–0.20
Turnout 40,48253.93–4.73
Eligible voters 75,060
New Democratic hold Swing –0.59
Source: Elections Canada[15][16]
2019 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies21,68049.09+3.35$100,998.49
LiberalTamara Taggart10,19423.08–4.73$99,083.54
ConservativeHelen Quan8,80419.94–1.08$39,178.78
GreenLawrence Taylor2,6756.06+2.81$2,197.44
People'sIan Torn4270.97–$3,869.88
CommunistKimball Cariou2920.66–0.32$640.69
Marxist–LeninistDonna Petersen910.21+0.03none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,16399.00–$105,475.06
Total rejected ballots 4461.00–0.03
Turnout 44,60958.67–4.65
Eligible voters 76,039
New Democratic hold Swing +4.04
Source: Elections Canada[17][18]
2015 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies20,76345.74–5.53$113,476.84
LiberalSteven Kou12,62527.81+11.64$82,210.90
ConservativeJojo Quimpo9,53821.01–7.09$51,416.77
GreenCatherine Moore1,4763.25–0.28$1,663.13
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu4681.03+0.44none listed
CommunistKimball Cariou4450.98+0.53none listed
Marxist–LeninistDonna Petersen810.18+0.01none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,39698.97–$204,392.06
Total rejected ballots 4711.03+0.36
Turnout 45,86763.32+6.26
Eligible voters 72,438
New Democratic hold Swing –8.58
Source: Elections Canada[19][20]
2011 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies23,45750.08+14.88%–
ConservativeTrang Nguyen13,15728.09+0.66%–
LiberalWendy Yuan7,79616.64−12.38%–
GreenLouise Boutin1,8603.97−2.73%–
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu2750.59−11.0%–
CommunistKimball Cariou2200.47−24.3%–
Marxist–LeninistDonna Peterson780.17−47.6%–
Total valid votes/Expense limit –100.00%
2008 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticDon Davies15,93335.20%+1.7%$81,501
LiberalWendy Yuan13,16429.02%−14.4%$79,758
ConservativeSalomon Rayek12,41927.43%+8.64%$70,829
GreenDoug Warkentin3,0316.7%+3.87%$3,478
LibertarianMatt Kadioglu3090.68%+0.09%--
CommunistKimball Cariou2910.64%+0.29%$391
Marxist–LeninistDonna Peterson1490.33%+0.19%
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,296100.00%$84,758
Total rejected ballots 328
Turnout 45,624

References

  1. ↑ Davies, Don [@DonDavies] (April 28, 2025). "Just cast my vote! 🗳️ Make your voice heard today! Polls are open until 7pm. Together, we'll keep building a brighter future for Kingsway and Canada. 🇨🇦 Find your voting location at: http://howyouvote.ca ‼️" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "About Don". Don Davies Vancouver Kingsway. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  3. ↑ Kurucz, John (October 21, 2019). "NDP's Don Davies makes history as longest-serving MP for Vancouver-Kingsway". Vancouver Courier. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  4. ↑ Aiello, Rachel. "Meet NDP MP Don Davies, the MP with the most private members' bills introduced in the House and zero chance of passing one". www.hilltimes.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. ↑ Zimonjic, Peter; Kapelos, Vassy (December 21, 2018). "Jagmeet Singh rejects his own MP's call to halt extradition of Huawei executive to U.S." CBC News. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. ↑ Nuttall, Jeremy (January 20, 2020). "Meng Wanzhou extradition case tainted by U.S. political interests, says NDP MP at Chinese consulate event". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. ↑ Boynton, Sean (March 13, 2018). "NDP MP Don Davies passes on Vancouver mayoral race to focus on federal politics". Global News. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  8. ↑ "NDP announces new critic portfolios ahead of next election". Canada's NDP. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ Little, Simon (May 5, 2025). "NDP choose Vancouver MP Don Davies as interim leader". Global News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ Bailey, Ian (May 16, 2025). "NDP caucus members dispute appointment of interim leader Don Davies". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Carney government survives confidence vote on federal budget". The Globe and Mail. November 17, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  12. ↑ Legree, Davis (December 22, 2025). "'Lightweights fighting in the heavyweight division': Don Davies remains proud of his beleaguered NDP caucus". iPolitics. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Forty-Fifth General Election 2025 — Poll-by-poll Results: Vancouver Kingsway". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2025.
  14. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2025 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  15. ↑ "Forty-Fourth General Election 2021 — Poll-by-poll Results: Vancouver Kingsway". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2021.
  16. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2021). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2021 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  17. ↑ "Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll Results: Vancouver Kingsway". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2019.
  18. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2019). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2019 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  19. ↑ "Forty-Second General Election 2015 — Poll-by-poll Results: Vancouver Kingsway". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2015.
  20. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2015). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2015 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".
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