Wendy Elizabeth Byrne (born 1957)[1][2] is a Canadian lawyer and politician from Ottawa, Ontario. She is a former Ottawa-Carleton Regional Councillor.

Wendy Byrne
Ottawa-Carleton Regional Councillor
In office
January 1, 1998 – January 1, 2001
Preceded byAlex Cullen
Succeeded byAlex Cullen (Ottawa City Council)
ConstituencyBay Ward
Personal details
Born1957
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyNew Democratic Party
ChildrenAimee and Jimmy

Byrne ran for political office twice in 1997. In June of that year, she ran for the New Democratic Party in the riding of Ottawa West—Nepean, but only received 7.6% of the vote. In November however, she was elected in the Ottawa-Carleton regional elections in the seat of Bay Ward. She ran on a platform of preserving green space, opposing downloading taxes to property owners and opposed the expansion of the Champlain Bridge. She also supported the preservation of non-profit housing and a transit strategy of smaller buses and light rail.[1] She had defeated her closest rival by less than 200 votes in close 4-way race. While on council, she served as vice-chair of the region's Community Services Committee and as a member of the Regional Transit Commission.[3] She served just one term, as the Region was abolished upon the amalgamation of Ottawa in 2000.

Byrne was the Ontario New Democratic Party candidate in Ottawa West—Nepean for the 2011 provincial election. [4] Byrne received 14.8% of the vote, an increase of 6.3% over the previous by-election results in 2010.

Before being elected, Byrne was a community organizer[1] and was a director and vice president at a credit union.[5] She practised law in Ottawa, Ontario from 1995 to 1997[1] and from 2000 to 2008 and 2011 to 2016, and practised law in Calgary, Alberta from 2008 to 2011. Byrne now resides in Victoria, British Columbia where she works for the Government of British Columbia.

Electoral record

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2011 Ontario general election: Ottawa West—Nepean
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Bob Chiarelli 18,492 41.62 −1.83 $ 93,241.85
Progressive Conservative Randall Denley 17,483 39.35 +0.36 80,950.00
New Democratic Wendy Byrne 6,576 14.80 +6.35 13,936.09
Green Alex Hill 1,485 3.34 −4.96 3,113.29
Family Coalition John Pacheco 396 0.89   8,382.66
Total valid votes / expense limit 44,432 100.00 +56.27 $ 97,809.67
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 174 0.39 −0.18
Turnout 44,606 54.27 +21.33
Eligible voters 82,187   −5.32
Liberal hold Swing −1.10
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF).
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2011" (  XLS Spreadsheet (71KB)). Elections Ontario.
"2011 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Retrieved May 31, 2014.
1997 Ottawa-Carleton Regional Municipality Elections: Bay Ward
Candidate Votes %
Wendy Byrne 3,199 29.43
Peter Harris 3,017 27.75
Frank Dalton 2,041 18.77
David Morrow 1,871 17.21
Victoria Manson 595 5.47
Douglas Besharah 148 1.36
1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Marlene Catterall 29,511 54.02
Reform Barry Yeates 11,601 21.23
Progressive Conservative Margret Kopala 8,489 15.54
New Democratic Wendy Byrne 4,163 7.62
Green Stuart Langstaff 416 0.76
Independent John Turmel 211 0.39
Natural Law Stan Lamothe 153 0.28
Marxist–Leninist Marsha Fine 90 0.16
Total valid votes 54,634 100.00

References

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