Bill Blaikie: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

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 first elected to the House of Commons in 1979 (defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative MP Dean Whiteway) and has been re-elected in his Winnipeg riding in every election since. He is also a minister in the United Church of Canada, preaching the social gospel in the tradition of other prominent ministers in the CCF (the NDP's predecessor) and NDP such as Tommy Douglas, J.S. Woodsworth, M.J. Coldwell and Stanley Knowles.

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 is also a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, and is currently a leading opponent of the proposed Canada-US Missile Defence Shield.

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.