Tom Wappel
| Tom Wappel | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest |
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In office 1997–2008 |
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| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Simson |
| Member of Parliament for Scarborough West |
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In office 1988–1997 |
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| Preceded by | Reg Stackhouse |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas William Wappel February 9, 1950 Toronto, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Scarborough, Ontario |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Thomas William "Tom" Wappel (born February 9, 1950) is a Canadian politician. He was a Liberal member of the House of Commons from 1988 to 2008, representing the Toronto riding of Scarborough West and its successor riding of Scarborough Southwest. He did not seek re-election in the 2008 general election.
Wappel is a staunch social conservative. He is a prominent opponent of abortion and gay rights, and has made controversial comments on immigration and the role of religion in government. He opposes the death penalty, and describes himself as holding liberal views on economic issues. In 1998, he was awarded the Joseph P. Borowski Award. He is separated, with five children.
Wappel was born in Toronto, to Hungarian parents. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto (1971), and a Bachelor of Laws from Queen's University (1974). He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1976, and worked in civil litigation and corporate law and taught classes in negotiation. Wappel is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Wappel won the Scarborough West Liberal nomination in 1988 in a surprising upset over Patrick Johnston, a star candidate who had been personally recruited by party leader John Turner. His campaign was supported by members of the anti-abortion group Campaign Life, and his election platform included a pledge of "respect for human life, from conception to the natural end of life". He also opposed the Canada-United States free trade agreement, and criticized the media for portraying him as a single-issue candidate. He won a narrow victory in the general election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Reg Stackhouse by 440 votes.
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