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The Hon. Rev. William Alexander (Bill) Blaikie (born June 19, 1951 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian politician and prominent member of the social democratic New Democratic Party.

Blaikie was employed as a labourer with the Canadian National Railway from 1969 to 1974. He subsequently received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Religious Studies from the University of Winnipeg, and a Master's Degree in Divinity from Emmanuel College in Toronto. He is a minister in the United Church of Canada, preaching the social gospel in the tradition of other prominent ministers in the CCFTommy Douglas (centre) stands in front of a CCF billboard during an election campaign in Saskatchewan. The Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-oper (the NDP's predecessor) and NDP such as Tommy DouglasThomas Clement Douglas ( October 20, 1904 February 24, 1986) was a Scottish-born Canadian Baptist minister, politician, and premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961. He was a leading figure in the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), a left-wing po, J.S. Woodsworth, M.J. Coldwell and Stanley KnowlesStanley Howard Knowles ( June 18, 1908 June 9, 1997) was a Canadian parliamentarian. Knowles represented the riding of Winnipeg North Centre from 1942 to 1958 on behalf of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and again from 1962 to 1984 representing th.

Blaikie was first elected to the House of CommonsThe House of Commons (in French, la Chambre des communes is the directly elected lower house of the Parliament of Canada which sits in the nation's capital of Ottawa, Ontario. Leadership Prime Minister and Cabinet Under the Westminster system, the prime m in 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings. (defeating incumbent Progressive ConservativeProgressive Conservative Party of Canada Founded July 1, 1867 (nation's founding) Dissolved December 7, 2003Merged with CA into the Conservative Party Colours Blue (usu. w/ Red detailing) The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC) was a Canadian po MP Dean Whiteway ) and has been re-elected in his Winnipeg riding in every election since then. His closest election was in 1993, when he defeated Liberal candidate Art Miki by only 219 votes during a period of reduced popularity for his party. Between 1993 and 1997, he was the only New Democratic member of parliament to represent a riding east of Saskatchewan.

As a candidate in the 2003 NDP leadership election, Blaikie placed second to Jack Layton. As Layton was without a seat in parliament, Blaikie acted as the New Democratic Party's parliamentary leader until the 2004 Canadian election.

In the NDP's shadow cabinet, Blaikie is currently Deputy Leader and Critic for Health and National Defence.

Blaikie is one of the most prominent supporters of the Clarity Act in the New Democratic Party caucus, a position which places him at odds with party leader Jack Layton. He was also a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, and is currently a leading opponent of the proposed Canada-US Missile Defence Shield.

Blaikie has also opposed the predominant role given to "identity politics" in the modern Canadian left, and has argued that the NDP has placed an undue emphasis on "social issues" such as abortion and same-sex marriage in recent years. Although he is a social liberal on most issues (and, indeed, supports same-sex marriage), Blaikie's view is that the economic needs of working-class and low-income Canadians should be the party's primary concern. Here, as well, his views are generally regarded as being at odds with those of Jack Layton.

Blaikie's daughter Rebecca Blaikie stood for the NDP against Prime Minister Paul Martin in his constituency of LaSalle-Emard in Montreal in the 2004 election.