Home > Carolyn Parrish

Parrish, previously a high school teacher, was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal in the 1993 election and was re-elected in the three subsequent general elections of 1997, 2000 and 2004. She currently represents the Mississauga, Ontario riding of Mississauga—Erindale .

She was largely unknown nationally until the eve of the U.S.-led Invasion of Iraq2003 Invasion of Iraq Date 02:30 UTC March 20, 2003 April 15, 2003 Place Iraq, Southwest Asia Asia Prelude Iraq disarmament crisis Stated Mission neutralizing alleged weapons of mass destruction, overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Targets alleged weapons of mas in 20032003 is a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar), and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Summary Perhaps the defining global event of the year 2003 was the Invasion of Iraq launched by the U. On her way out of a meeting, Parrish was overheard on a boom micA microphone sometimes called a "mic" (pronounced "mike"), is a device that converts sound into an electrical signal. Microphones are used in many applications such as telephones, tape recorders, hearing aids and in radio and television broadcasting. saying "Damn Americans, I hate the bastards." She later told the media that her comments were directed towards George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States. His first four-year term as President began on January 20, 2001 following the controversial U. presidential election, 2000, where for the first time in American and his adminstration and not the American people as a whole. Members of the then- Canadian AllianceCanadian Reform Conservative Alliance Founded March 27, 2000 Reform Party founded in 1987 Dissolved December 7, 2003Merged with the PC Party into the Conservative Party Colours Green and Blue The Canadian Alliance (in full, the Canadian Reform Conservativ party called for her to be punished by then Liberal leader and Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister of Canada the head of the Canadian government, is usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons. The Prime Minister has the right to the style of Right Honourable''. The current prime min Jean Chrétien, however she went unpunished.

Despite the wide spread media attention on this incident, she remained popular in her home riding. Under redistricting she faced fellow Liberal MP Steve Mahoney in a nomination battle and won in a close race. In the general election, she was re-elected with 54% of the vote compared to 32% for her nearest opponent.

In August, 2004, Parrish again created controversy by referring to those supporting the North American missile defence proposal as "a coalition of the idiots", mocking the phrase " coalition of the willing" used by Bush in describing his alliance in the invasion of Iraq. Paul Martin, who had succeeded Chrétien as Prime Minister, asked her to use more tact and discretion when sharing her opinions about such subjects but stopped short of asking her to apologize.

Following the November U.S. election, she expressed shock at the re-election of George W. Bush. She said that Americans were "out of touch with the rest of the free world" and blamed this on collective "extreme psychological damage" due to the Terror Attacks of September 11, 2001. When Conservative Party of Canada members called on her to apologize for these remarks she said that such comments "are in the best traditions of free speech and independence of thought." These comments came just hours after Paul Martin warned his MPs in a private caucus meeting not to make incendiary comments in the wake of the U.S. election. Parrish explained that she wasn't at the meeting, but that even if she had been, it wouldn't have stopped her from speaking her mind.

On November 17, 2004 clips of a skit for the CBC television comedy This Hour Has 22 Minutes, in which she stomped on a Bush doll and performed voodoo on its head, where, she said, "it would do the least damage," were released (the full version was to air on Friday, November 19). This again caused intense outrage from Conservative members and prompted Martin to ask for a meeting with her.

On November 18, a Canadian Press story quoted her as saying Martin, and those around him, could "go to hell" if they wanted her to stop making similar comments. She went on to say that she had no loyalty towards the Liberal Party and that if it were defeated in the next election she "would not shed a tear," as she had felt betrayed by Martin's lack of help for her during her nomination and election campaigns. In response to these comments, Martin, with the support of National Liberal Caucus Chair Andy Savoy, expelled her from caucus.

On November 19, Parrish spoke to the press about her expulsion from caucus. She said that had she been in Martin's place, she would have expelled herself. She went on to say, however, that the party under Martin had fallen into disarray and that Martin and his inner circle ran the party using guerrilla warfare tactics. She said she would still vote with the Liberals on the vast majority of legislation, but would now be free to express her views without fear of reprisal.

She is still nominally a Liberal in the House of Commons, however she is not entitled to the privileges of a member of caucus, such as being allotted time for statements and questions in the House, and cannot attend caucus meetings.

Parrish studied at the University of Toronto, St. Michael's College , graduating in 1969.