Maurice Vellacott (born September 29, 1955) is a former Canadian politician from Saskatchewan. He served in the House of Commons of Canada from 1997 to 2015 as the member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Saskatoon—Wanuskewin from 1997 to 2015 (prior to 2000, known simply as Wanuskewin), variously as a member of the Reform Party, the Canadian Alliance, and the Conservative Party. Vellacott was known as an outspoken social conservative, particularly in opposing same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
Early life and career Vellacott was born in Wadena, Saskatchewan, and was raised in Quill Lake.Peter Wilson, "Rookie MP learns to live in Ottawa", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 1 November 1997, C1. He joined the Reform Party of Canada in 1990.Alex Postnikoff, "Vellacott's changes confusing voters", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 2 April 2004, A10.
Vellacott campaigned in the 1995 Saskatchewan provincial election as a Liberal and lost to New Democratic Party candidate Eric Cline in Saskatoon Mount Royal. He later argued that running as a Liberal was consistent with his political ideology, in that the provincial Liberal platform of 1995 contained several policies advocated by the Reform Party, which did not have provincial affiliates.Maurice Vellacott, "Political views consistent throughout career", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 21 April 2004, A12.
Vellacott was elected for Ward Two on the Saskatoon District Health Board in 1995, and served on the board for two years before his election to the House of Commons. He wrote an editorial piece about Canada's health care system in 1996, defending the public model as far superior to the "fragmented" American system in combating administrative waste, but also arguing that the system was in need of renewal and an infusion of funds. Vellacott suggested that Saskatoon District Health could impose a surcharge on American health insurers for certain medical procedures given to American patients, "and in the process make money to inject back into the public system for the people of Saskatchewan."Maurice Vellacott, "Creative thinking key to keeping health services", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 8 August 1996, A5.
In early 1997, Vellacott opposed a request by Saskatoon's Gay and Lesbian Health Services (GLHS) for health board funding. Gens Hellquist of GLHS had argued that homophobic intolerance was responsible for higher levels of depression in the LGBT community in relation to society as a whole, and that community-specific funding would address these and other concerns. Vellacott responded by suggesting that many homosexuals were inappropriately blaming their personal difficulties on homophobia.Betty Ann Adam, "[Saskatoon health district needs ...], Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 7 February 1997, A7.
Vellacott called for the removal of video lottery terminals from the city, blaming them for an increase in health costs related to gambling addiction.Betty Ann Adam, "Increased attendance at Gambler's Anonymous linked to VLTs", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 7 March 1997, A1. His motion for a plebiscite was defeated in May 1997.Dan Zakreski, "Health board rejects Saskatoon VLT vote", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 3 May 1997, A5.
Vellacott is a social and economic conservative. His community involvement has included the Canadian Club, Canadian Palliative Care, the Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association, the Saskatchewan Landlords Association, the Saskatchewan Taxpayers Federation, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, the Chamber of Commerce, the North Saskatoon Business Association and Toastmasters International. He is a founding board member of Real Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre in Saskatoon. In Parliament, he was a member of the Reform Party's Family Caucus and a co-chair of the non-partisan Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus.
Political career Reform MP In early 1997, Vellacott defeated Sam Dyck and Fred Wesolowski to win the Reform Party's nomination for the new Saskatoon-area electoral district of Wanuskewin. Dyck later ran as an independent candidate against Vellacott in the 1997 federal election, arguing that Vellacott would try to "legislate morality" if victorious.Lyons, "Disgruntled Reformer". Vellacott was nonetheless elected, amid a general gain for Reform in Saskatchewan. The Liberal Party of Canada won a second consecutive majority government, and Vellacott served as a member of the Official Opposition.
Shortly after his election, Vellacott announced that he would introduce a private member's bill to eliminate the national Court Challenges Program, which provides funding for groups that bring human rights cases before the Canadian courts. He argued that "some zealots" were "using our important tax dollars" for dubious ends via the program, and singled out an effort by Saskatoon resident Ailsa Watkinson to prohibit corporal punishment against children.Jason Warick, "Vellacott wants to end federal program that will pay for woman's battle against corporal punishment", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 24 December 1997, A1. Vellacott wrote an editorial piece in early 1998 describing Watkinson as a "social engineer" promoting an "extremist agenda", and accusing Canada's "unelected judges" of "judicial imperialism" in their interpretations of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Maurice Vellacott, "Courts wrong venue to settle spanking issue", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 22 January 1998, A5. A supporter of Watkinson responded that Vellacott's piece was a "mixture of invective and innuendo", and argued that his defence of corporal punishment was based on flawed logic.Carol Schick, "Vellacott gets facts skewed", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 5 February 1998, A5. A Conservative Party government withdrew funding for the Court Challenges Program in 2006.
Vellacott supported other socially conservative initiatives. In late 1998, he brought forward a "conscience rights" bill to prevent nurses and doctors from being forced to perform abortions."Anti-abortionists march in Ottawa", Calgary Herald, 15 May 1999, A14. He wrote an editorial against same-sex marriage the following year, arguing that marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples because of its traditional role in the procreation and nurturing of children. He wrote that "homosexuals already have the right to marry, providing that -- like everybody else -- they marry someone of the opposite sex."Maurice Vellacott, "Same-sex marriages add to drain on treasury", Calgary Herald, 20 May 1999, A37. He opposed granting spousal benefits for same-sex couples, describing supporters of the initiative as "activist liberal judges and a small but aggressive homosexual lobby."Maurice Vellacott, "Still enough time to let MPs know Bill C-23 unpopular", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 22 March 2000, A10.
In 1999, he criticized the Saskatchewan government's decision to force thirteen-year-old Tyrell Dueck into cancer treatment. Dueck's parents objected to continued cancer treatment at the Saskatoon cancer centre on the grounds that it did not appear to be working and instead sought to access a more experimental treatment in Mexico. Vellacott supported parental discretion in such matters.Betty Ann Adam, "Protesters lend support to Duecks", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 23 March 1999, A1. Dueck subsequently died, and many blamed his parents' decision not to accept treatment in Saskatchewan.
Vellacott also called for full compensation to Hepatitis C victims during his first term in Parliament, arguing that the government could overcome complicated legal issues around liability by issuing ex gratia payments.Rosemary Spiers, "National Affairs", Victoria Times-Colonist, 28 April 1998, p. 1.
Vellacott confirmed his support for Preston Manning's leadership of the Reform Party in 1998, after two other Saskatchewan Reform MPs called for a leadership review.Mark Wyatt and Murray Mandryk, "Reform MPs at odds over leadership vote", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 18 August 1998, A6. He originally voted against the 1999 United Alternative initiative which led to the creation of the Canadian Alliance, but later changed his mind and supported it.Joan Bryden, "Two more Reform MPs join chorus of UA dissenters", Ottawa Citizen, 6 April 1999, A9. In March 2000, he became the first Reform MP to endorse Stockwell Day's ultimately successful bid for the Canadian Alliance leadership.James Parker, "Day's the man, say Sask. MPs", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 10 May 2000, A5. Vellacott's endorsement came minutes after Day declared his candidacy. Vellacott said that he supported Day's "respect for life and his recognition of the family as the basic building block of society."Justine Hunter, "Day dares to mix volatile cocktail of social values, politics", National Post, 16 May 2000, A6. He also defended the socially conservative Campaign Life Coalition during the campaign, after that organization was criticized for drawing attention to homosexual supporters of rival candidate Tom Long.Robert Fife, "Canadian Alliance MP says it's OK for gays to work on campaigns - just don't give them special status", National Post, 26 May 2000, A7.
Canadian Alliance MP Vellacott was re-elected by an increased majority in the 2000 election, as a candidate of the Canadian Alliance.
In January 2001, he argued that Governor General Adrienne Clarkson had abused her office by sending a "best wishes" message to a newly married same-sex couple in Toronto, Ontario. Clarkson's office responded that the letter was a personal courtesy, and was not a political statement."Clarkson's message was polite, not politics: Office", Toronto Star, 16 January 2001, 02.
Stockwell Day's leadership of the Canadian Alliance came under increased scrutiny in the summer of 2001, and several MPs called for his resignation. Vellacott remained a Day supporter, and described the critics as "backstabbers, hijackers (and) guerrillas."Darren Bernhardt, "Vellacott attacks 'guerrillas' for sabotage attempt on Day", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 10 July 2001, A1. Day resigned late in the year, and declared that he would campaign to succeed himself in the following leadership contest. Vellacott again supported his candidacy.Tim Harper, "Day appeals to grassroots as he launches comeback bid", Toronto Star, 8 January 2002, A06. Supporters of rival candidate Stephen Harper, who would go on to win the contest, criticized Vellacott for mailing out endorsements of Day through his constituency office at public expense.James Parker, "Sask. MPs join attack on Vellacott mailouts", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 5 March 2002, A4.
Vellacott continued to support socially conservative causes as a Canadian Alliance MP, and was a vocal opponent of embryonic stem-cell research in 2002, although he supported adult stem cell research.Norma Greenway, "Anti-abortion forces rally to fight bill allowing stem cell research", Times-Colonist, 11 May 2002, A6. In the same year, he mailed out a controversial pamphlet opposing the addition of sexual orientation as a protected category under Canada's hate crimes legislation. Vellacott claimed the policy change "substantially interferes with the right of religious and education leaders to communicate essential matters of faith."Thomas Knutson, "MP proves need for law he opposes", Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 6 December 2002, A19.
Also in 2002, Vellacott was the only MP to speak against a parliamentary motion recognizing an Armenian genocide as having occurred in 1915. He was quoted as saying: