Editing Rahim Jaffer

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Update|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name       = Rahim Nizar Jaffer
| honorific-prefix = 
| name             = Rahim Jaffer
| honorific-suffix = 
| image            =
| riding           = [[Edmonton Strathcona (federal electoral district)|Edmonton—Strathcona]]
| parliament       = Canadian
| term_start       = 2 June 1997
| term_end         = 14 October 2008
| predecessor      = [[Hugh Hanrahan]]
| successor        = [[Linda Duncan]]
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age |df=yes|1971|12|15}}
| birth_place      = [[Kampala]], [[Uganda]]
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| party            = [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] (2003–present)
| otherparty       = [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform]] (1997–2000)<br />[[Canadian Alliance]] (2000–2003)
| spouse           = [[Helena Guergis]]
| children         = 1
| residence        = [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], Canada
| profession       = Politician, businessman
| portfolio        =
}}

'''Rahim Nizar Jaffer''' ({{langx|ur|رحيم جعفر}}; born 15 December 1971) is a former [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[politician]]. He served in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] from 1997 to 2008, representing the [[Alberta]] riding of [[Edmonton Strathcona (federal electoral district)|Edmonton—Strathcona]] as a member of the [[Conservative Party of Canada|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.<ref name="cbc_charges-dropped">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news2/pointofview/2010/03/special-treatment-jaffers-drunk-driving-charges-dropped.html|title=Special treatment? Jaffer's drunk driving charges dropped|work=CBC News|date=10 March 2010|accessdate=2015-05-30}}</ref>

==Early life==
Jaffer is an [[Isma'ilism|Ismaili]] [[Muslims|Muslim]] of [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] descent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/indian-origin-ex-mp-s-wife-out-of-canadian-government/story-cDYO8qZ545jImjknBiMXDI.html|title=Indian-origin ex-MP's wife out of Canadian government|date=10 April 2010|publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> 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]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

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.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

==Political career==
Jaffer was elected to the House of Commons as the [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for Edmonton—Strathcona in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|federal election on June 2, 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 Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservatives]] to form the [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative Party]]). Jaffer was re-elected in 2000.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/jaffer-to-apologize-to-house-of-commons-1.254640|title=Jaffer to apologize to House of Commons|work=CBC News|date=19 March 2001|accessdate=2015-05-30}}</ref> 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?"{{fact|date=October 2024}}

In the [[2006 Canadian federal election|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 of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Stephen Harper]] named him [[caucus chair|chair of the Conservative caucus]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Roles – Rahim Jaffer – Current and Past – Members of Parliament – House of Commons of Canada|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/rahim-jaffer(1347)/roles|website=www.ourcommons.ca|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

Jaffer lost his seat in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 election]] after he was defeated by [[New Democratic Party|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.<ref name = CBC0810>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/jaffer-concedes-race-ties-the-knot-1.768034|title=Jaffer concedes race, ties the knot|work=CBC News|date=16 October 2008|accessdate=2015-05-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Obhrai wants free trade pact|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/obhrai-wants-free-trade-pact/story-A5OmRFz0fPNC4QD6CWjZ1L.html|date=2006-02-08|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jaffer shut out of nomination process in Edmonton riding|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/jaffer-shut-out-of-nomination-process-in-edmonton-riding-1.818555|accessdate=14 November 2011|newspaper=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=16 May 2018}}</ref>

Jaffer was once voted "laziest MP" in an annual survey by ''[[The Hill Times]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=b3246771-571f-418c-b856-2f38850c080f|title=Strathcona race just what's needed to inspire maverick-style debate|work=Edmonton Journal|date=4 October 2008|accessdate=2015-05-30|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820035709/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=b3246771-571f-418c-b856-2f38850c080f|archivedate=20 August 2015}}</ref>

==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,<ref name = CBC0810/> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henton |first=Darcy |date=17 October 2008 |title=MP lost seat, gained bride in 24 hours |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-mp-lost-seat-gained-bride/137684969/ |work=[[National Post]] |agency=[[Postmedia Network|Canwest News Service]] |location=Edmonton, Alberta |page=A4 |access-date=30 December 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> In December 2010, the couple had a boy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/guergis-jaffer-welcome-baby-boy-1.904391|title=Guergis, Jaffer welcome baby boy|accessdate=28 April 2014|newspaper=CBC News}}</ref>

===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&nbsp;km/h in a 50&nbsp;km/h zone in [[Palgrave, Ontario|Palgrave]], [[Ontario]], located close to his wife's riding.<ref name="cbc_charges-dropped" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/791882--former-mp-rahim-jaffer-connected-to-conman?bn=1 |title=The story behind Ex-MP Rahim Jaffer's drunk-driving arrest - thestar.com |work=www.thestar.com |accessdate=2010-04-08 | location=Toronto | first=Kevin | last=Donovan | date=8 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="torstar_696744">[https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/696744 "Jaffer facing drunk driving, cocaine charges"], [[The Toronto Star]], 16 September 2009.</ref> 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.<ref name="globeandmail charges"/> 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 defense 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]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/793269--financier-boasted-of-his-ties-to-bikers |title=Financier boasted of his ties to bikers - thestar.com |work=www.thestar.com |accessdate=2010-04-10 | location=Toronto | first=Kevin | last=Donovan | date=10 April 2010}}</ref>

Jaffer was initially scheduled to appear in court in [[Orangeville, Ontario]] on 19 October 2009.<ref name="globeandmail charges">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ex-mp-jaffer-facing-drug-dui-charges/article1208930/ |title=Ex-MP Jaffer facing drug, DUI charges|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|accessdate=2015-05-30 |location=Toronto |first=Kate |last=Hammer |date=16 September 2009}}</ref> During the 2008 election, Jaffer's campaign approved radio ads accusing NDP leader [[Jack Layton]] of being soft on marijuana use.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-mp-jaffer-faces-charges-of-cocaine-possession-drunk-driving/article1202533/|title=Former MP Jaffer faces charges of cocaine possession, drunk driving|work=Globe and Mail|date=17 September 2009|access-date=2021-04-11}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rahim-jaffer-pleads-guilty-to-careless-driving/article4309408/ |title=Rahim Jaffer pleads guilty to careless driving charge|work=The Globe and Mail |accessdate=2015-05-30 |location=Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/777147--drug-drunk-driving-charges-dropped-against-former-tory-mp?bn=1 |title=Drug, drunk driving charges dropped against former Tory MP - thestar.com |work=www.thestar.com |accessdate=2010-03-09 | location=Toronto | first=Jesse | last=McLean | date=9 March 2010}}</ref> Justice Doug Maund told Jaffer "I’m sure you can recognize a break when you see one."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/tories-bristle-when-asked-to-explain-rahim-jaffers-slap-on-the-wrist/article4352175/ |title=Tories bristle when asked to explain Rahim Jaffer's 'slap on the wrist' |publisher=theglobeandmail.com |accessdate=2021-04-11 |location=Toronto |first=Jane |last=Taber |date=9 March 2010}}</ref> The sentence and the dropping of the more serious charges triggered outrage across Canada,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/jaffer-court-case-sparks-outrage-across-canada-1.490435 |title=CTV Edmonton – Jaffer court case sparks outrage across Canada – CTV News |date=9 March 2010 |publisher=edmonton.ctv.ca |accessdate=2010-03-31 }}</ref> as well as more extensive investigation of events leading up to the incident prompting the arrest, which led to allegations several [[Prostitute|escorts]] also attended his dinner with Mr Gillani.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/791882--former-mp-rahim-jaffer-connected-to-conman |title=Toronto Star – The story behind Ex-MP Rahim Jaffer's drunk-driving arrest |work=www.thestar.com |accessdate=2010-04-08 | first=Kevin | last=Donovan | date=8 April 2010}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{1997 Canadian federal election/Edmonton—Strathcona}}
{{2000 Canadian federal election/Edmonton—Strathcona}}
{{2004 Canadian federal election/Edmonton—Strathcona}}
{{2006 Canadian federal election/Edmonton—Strathcona}}
{{2008 Canadian federal election/Edmonton—Strathcona}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080612154437/http://www.rahimjaffer.com/ Rahim Jaffer (archived version of http://www.rahimjaffer.com retrieved on 12 Jun 2008)]
*{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=4136}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef| before = [[Andy Savoy]] }}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Caucus chair|Chair]], Government [[Caucus]] in the [[Parliament of Canada]]
       | years  = 2006–2008 }}
{{s-aft| rows   = 2 | after  = [[Guy Lauzon]] }}
{{s-bef| before = [[Norman Doyle]] }}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Caucus chair|Chair]], [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] [[Caucus]] in the [[Parliament of Canada]]
       | years  = 2006–2008 }}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaffer, Rahim}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Alberta]]
[[Category:Reform Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Canadian Alliance MPs]]
[[Category:Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:People from Kampala]]
[[Category:Ugandan emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:University of Ottawa alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Ismailis]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Gujarati descent]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]