View source for Charlie Angus

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1962)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name             =Charlie Angus
| honorific-suffix = 
| image            = Charlie Angus at convention 2023 2 (cropped).jpg
| caption          = Angus in 2023
| riding           =[[Timmins—James Bay (federal electoral district)|Timmins—James Bay]]
| parliament       =Canadian
| term_start       =June 28, 2004
| term_end         = March 23, 2025 
| predecessor     =[[Réginald Bélair]]
| successor = [[Gaétan Malette]]
|birth_name=Charles Joseph Angus
| birth_date       ={{birth date and age|1962|11|14}}
| birth_place      =[[Timmins, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date       =
| death_place      =
| party            =[[New Democratic Party]]
| spouse           ={{marriage|[[Brit Griffin]]|1986}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/elections/fed2004/candidates/generated/35092_NDP.html |title=Angus, Charlie |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=28 June 2004 |access-date=26 October 2016 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215020710/http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/elections/fed2004/candidates/generated/35092_NDP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| residence        =[[Cobalt, Ontario]], Canada
| profession       ={{hlist | Writer | editor | broadcaster | musician}}
| website = {{official URL}}
|}}

'''Charles Joseph Angus''' (born November 14, 1962) is a Canadian author, journalist, broadcaster, musician and politician. A member of the [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP), Angus served as the federal Member of Parliament for the [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Timmins—James Bay (federal electoral district)|Timmins—James Bay]] from 2004 to 2025. Until his retirement from politics, he was the NDP critic for Ethics, FedNor, Indigenous Youth and Income Inequality and Affordability. He was also deputy critic for Labour.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Your Elected New Democrats|url=https://www.ndp.ca/team|access-date=2021-03-15|website=Canada's NDP|language=en}}</ref>

Angus was a candidate for leadership of the federal NDP in the [[2017 New Democratic Party leadership election]], where he received 19.4% of the vote.

He is the author of ''[[Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower]].''

==Early life, music, writing, and activism==
Angus was born in [[Timmins]], [[Ontario]],<ref name="Parlinfo">[http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=50a18bf1-9be3-4563-b657-6af367453ba0 Parliamentarian Information Page. August 22, 2007]</ref> and moved to [[Toronto]] in 1973, where in 1980 he co-founded the [[punk rock]] band [[L'Étranger (band)|L'Étranger]] with childhood friend [[Andrew Cash]]. Angus performed bass and co-wrote many of the group's songs, which were influenced by the [[The Clash|Clash]] and the group's Catholic [[social justice]] roots.<ref name="punktopol">[https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/987707--andrew-cash-from-punk-to-politics "Andrew Cash: From punk to politics"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 7, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-only-punk-band-ever-reunited-in-the-house-of-commons/ ‘The only punk band ever reunited in the House of Commons’]. ''Maclean's'', Philippe Gohier, May 9, 2011</ref> L'Étranger is best known for their anti-[[apartheid]] single "One People", played frequently on the then-new [[MuchMusic]].<ref name="canoe">{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115070345/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/E/Etranger.html L'Étranger]}} at [[canoe.ca]]'s Canadian Pop Encyclopedia.</ref> Angus later co-founded the [[alternative folk]] group [[Grievous Angels]].<ref name="bio">About Charlie Angus Member for Timmins James Bay. Biography page from personal website. {{cite web|url=http://www.charlieangus.net/about.php |title=About Charlie Angus – MP for Timmins James Bay |access-date=2007-08-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009041429/http://www.charlieangus.net/about.php |archive-date=2007-10-09 }}</ref> After his election to Parliament, Angus continued to perform with the group on occasion and released a new album in 2021.<ref>Kerry Doole, [https://exclaim.ca/music/article/grievous_angels_summer_before_the_storm_album_review "NDP MP Charlie Angus' Songwriting Remains Potent on Grievous Angels' 'Summer Before the Storm'"]. ''[[Exclaim!]]'', January 13, 2021.</ref>

Angus was a community activist in Toronto in the 1980s where, along with his wife [[Brit Griffin]], he established a [[Catholic Worker Movement|Catholic Worker]] house, a homeless shelter for men, especially those who were minority refugees and former prisoners. He moved to [[Cobalt, Ontario|Cobalt]], Ontario, with his young family in 1990. In 1995, Brit and Charlie launched ''[[HighGrader]]'', a magazine devoted to Northern Ontario life and culture.  In 1999, he received an award from the [[Northern Lights Festival Boréal]] in [[Greater Sudbury|Sudbury]] for his outstanding contributions to Northern Ontario culture.<ref name="bio" />

He is the author of eight published books, including an admiring biography of [[Les Costello]], the celebrated [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] player who left professional hockey to become a Catholic priest in Timmins.<ref name=":0">Charlie Angus. ''Les Costello: Canada's Flying Father''. 2005. Novalis.</ref> Angus's fifth book, ''Cage Call'', a photo documentary with photographer [[Louie Palu]], was released in 2007.

From 2000 to 2004, Angus served as a trustee on the [[Northeastern Catholic District School Board]].<ref name="Parlinfo"/>

==Federal politics==
[[File:MP Charlie Angus.jpg|thumb|left|Angus in 2012]]

Angus entered federal politics in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 election]] as the successful [[New Democratic Party]] candidate in the Ontario riding of [[Timmins—James Bay (federal electoral district)|Timmins—James Bay]], winning election to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] by fewer than 600 votes. He was re-elected in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 federal election]] with an outright majority, over six thousand votes ahead of [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] challenger Robert Riopelle. Angus was the NDP [[shadow minister|critic]] for [[Department of Canadian Heritage|Canadian heritage]] from 2004 to 2007, and was additionally critic for [[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada|agriculture]] from 2004 to 2006.

In 2005, Angus's parish priest, Father John Lemire, confronted him and threatened to deny him [[Communion (Christianity)|Holy Communion]] if he voted with the government and his party to legalize [[same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex marriage]]. Angus stood his ground and was denied communion. <!-- Not excommunicated in the sense that that word implies. By the way does he still attend the same church? -->Angus's treatment provoked widespread public reaction both from those who supported the church's stance and those who supported Angus.<ref>[http://www.hilltimes.com/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2005/march/7/same-sex/&c=1 Francoli, Paco. "NDP MP Angus warned by priest he'll be refused holy communion". ''The Hill Times''. March 7, 2005 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051004054335/http://www.hilltimes.com/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=%2F2005%2Fmarch%2F7%2Fsame-sex%2F&c=1 |date=October 4, 2005 }}</ref> Some Catholic MPs were in the latter group, arguing that the Church was selective in its exclusion of practising Catholic MPs from its activities. Angus and fellow NDP MP [[Joe Comartin]] were the only two Catholic MPs who supported same-sex marriage but were excluded.<ref>Wolfson, Monica. "Comartin 'hurt' by bishop's missive," ''[[Windsor Star]]'', July 9, 2005.</ref>

In 2007, he became the [[New Democratic Party Shadow Cabinet of the 39th Parliament of Canada|NDP critic]] for [[Public Services and Procurement Canada|Public Works]] and [[Treasury Board]], as well as the NDP spokesman for digital issues such as [[copyright]] and [[internet neutrality]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/ndp-calls-for-net-neutrality-1.740683|title=NDP calls for net neutrality|work=CBC News|date=April 21, 2008|access-date=2014-05-30}}</ref>

In 2006, after he had served just two years as a Member of Parliament, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' selected Angus as one of the ten most effective opposition MPs. He also won "Best Constituent Representative" at the 2007 ''[[Maclean's]]'' Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. Angus was re-elected in the federal elections of both [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]] and [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011]]. Angus also served as the party's spokesperson on privacy, ethics, and government accountability. Angus voted against a bill to abolish the [[Canadian Firearms Registry]] in September 2010.<ref name="Sticks">{{Cite news |last=DeSouza |first=Mike |title=NDP rejects responsibility for killing gun registry|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/give+long+registry+target/3518033/story.html |newspaper=[[National Post]] |date=2010-09-13 |access-date=2011-03-29}}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Although the registry is unpopular with many of his constituents, Angus voted against its abolition based on supportive studies provided by police. He subsequently introduced a [[private member's bill]] to reform the registry.<ref>{{cite web|first=Janice|last=Tibbetts|url=http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=76f2da1f-f268-4831-90ee-3d9fa426099b|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140530033524/http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=76f2da1f-f268-4831-90ee-3d9fa426099b|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 30, 2014|title=NDP offers gun law compromise|work=Edmonton Journal|date=October 8, 2010|access-date=2014-05-30}}</ref>

He was named to ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine's Power List in 2012 as one of the 25 most influential Canadians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/25-most-important-people-in-ottawa/#charlie|title=The 25 most important people in Ottawa: Charlie Angus|work=Maclean's|date=November 27, 2012|access-date=2014-05-30}}</ref> The same year, ''Zoomer Magazine'' chose him as the third most influential Canadian over the age of 45; he was one of only two MPs on the list, alongside NDP leader [[Tom Mulcair]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timminstimes.com/2012/09/20/zoomer-magazine-has-kudos-for-charlie-angus/|title=Zoomer Magazine has kudos for Charlie Angus|work=Timmins Times|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=2014-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024080407/http://www.timminstimes.com/2012/09/20/zoomer-magazine-has-kudos-for-charlie-angus/|archive-date=October 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, [[CTV News Channel (Canada)|CTV News Channel]]'s ''[[Power Play (Canadian political affairs series)|Power Play]]'' placed him among the top three MPs of the year, along with the then [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]], [[Stephen Harper]], and NDP leader [[Jack Layton]], who had died that August. In 2012, Angus backed [[Paul Dewar]] to become [[2012 New Democratic Party leadership election|leader of the NDP]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pauldewar.ca/content/charlie-angus-backs-paul-dewar-leader |title=Charlie Angus Backs Paul Dewar for Leader |publisher=Pauldewar.ca |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123063236/http://www.pauldewar.ca/content/charlie-angus-backs-paul-dewar-leader |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Angus has been an advocate for the rights of First Nations children and was the co-founder of the [[Shannen's Dream]] campaign, named in honour of the late Cree youth leader Shannen Koostachin, who Angus fought alongside to build a new elementary school for her community. In early 2012, Angus's parliamentary motion "Shannen's Dream," calling for an end to the systemic underfunding of First Nations education, passed unanimously through the House of Commons.

After the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], he was appointed NDP critic for [[Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs|Indigenous and Northern Affairs]] in the [[42nd Canadian Parliament]] and elected Caucus Chair in January 2016.<ref name="NDP 42nd Critics">{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-critics-list-mulcair-thursday-1.3315431 | title=Tom Mulcair taps Nathan Cullen, Charlie Angus, Guy Caron for top critic roles | publisher=[[The Canadian Press]] | work=[[CBC News]] | date=12 November 2015 | access-date=12 November 2015 | author=Kirkup, Kristy}}</ref> He was also a member of the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development committee.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McGregor|first1=Janyce|title=Meet the Commons committees of the 42nd Parliament|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/house-commons-standing-committees-list-1.3425906|work=CBC News |date=30 January 2016 |access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref> He resigned from both roles on November 23, 2016, in to prepare for the 2017 [[2017 New Democratic Party leadership election|New Democratic Party leadership race]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/angus-leadership-run-1.3863515 |title=Angus steps down as NDP caucus chair, considers leadership run |work=CBC News |first=Kristy |last=Kirkup |agency=The Canadian Press |date=23 November 2016 |access-date=24 November 2016}}</ref> On February 20, 2017, Angus officially registered to run in the NDP leadership race to succeed [[Tom Mulcair]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=pol&document=ndp16&dir=lea/dat&lang=e|title=Information on Leadership Contests|website=Elections Canada|language=en|access-date=2017-02-23}}</ref> He placed second with 19.4% of the vote, losing to then Ontario provincial politician [[Jagmeet Singh]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ballingall|first1=Alex|title=Jagmeet Singh wins the NDP leadership race|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/01/jagmeet-singh-wins-the-ndp-leadership-race.html|access-date=1 October 2017|publisher=The Toronto Star|date=1 October 2017}}</ref> MPs [[Niki Ashton]] and [[Guy Caron]] respectively came in third and fourth.

Angus was re-elected in the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]] and [[2021 Canadian federal election|2021 federal elections]].

On April 4, 2024, Angus announced that he would not be running for re-election in the [[2025 Canadian federal election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Charlie Angus, longtime NDP MP, to quit politics |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/charlie-angus-leaving-politics-1.7163340 |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=CBC}}</ref>

In September 2025, Angus started a YouTube channel in partnership with the [[MeidasTouch]] Network under his name Meidas Canada.

==Books==
* ''We Lived a Life and Then Some'' with [[Brit Griffin]], Sally Lawrence, and [[Rob Moir (musician)|Rob Moir]]. [[Between the Lines Books]], 1996. {{ISBN|1-896357-06-7}}.<ref>Search List from Amazon Books. www.Amazon.ca. 2007.</ref>
* ''Industrial Cathedrals of the North'', with [[Louie Palu]] and [[Marguerite Andersen]]. Between the Lines, 1999. {{ISBN|1-896357-18-0}}.
* ''Mirrors of Stone: Fragments from the Porcupine Frontier'', with Louie Palu. Between the Lines, 2001. {{ISBN|1-896357-49-0}}.
* ''Les Costello: Canada's Flying Father''. Novalis, 2005. {{ISBN|2-89507-631-6}}.
* ''Cage Call'', with Louie Palu. Photolucida, 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-934334-02-7}}.
* ''Unlikely Radicals''. Between the Lines, 2013. {{ISBN|9781771130400}}.
* ''Children of the Broken Treaty: Canada's Lost Promise and One Girl's Dream''. [[University of Regina Press]], 2015. {{ISBN|978-0889774018}}.
* ''[[Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower]]''. [[House of Anansi Press]], 2022, {{ISBN|978-1487009496}}
* ''Dangerous Memory: Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed''. House of Anansi, 2024. {{ISBN|9781487012885}}.

==Honours and awards==
Angus was selected as "Best Mentor" in ''[[Maclean's]]'' magazine's 12th annual Parliamentarians of the Year award and was also the 2007 winner for "Best represents constituents".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The winners of the Maclean's Parliamentarians of the Year Awards – Macleans.ca|url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-winners-of-the-macleans-parliamentarians-of-the-year-awards/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.macleans.ca|date=January 13, 2021 }}</ref> He was also a finalist for "Most knowledgeable".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The finalists for the Maclean's Parliamentarians of the Year Awards – Macleans.ca|url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/the-finalists-for-the-macleans-parliamentarians-of-the-year-awards/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=www.macleans.ca|date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{2021 Canadian federal election/Timmins—James Bay}}
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Timmins—James Bay}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlie Angus|15,974|42.85|-7.1|$73,519.39}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Todd Lever|12,940|34.72|+18.74|$35,151.97}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|John P. Curley|7,605|20.40|-11.48|$37,300.73}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Max Kennedy|752|2.02|-0.18|$520.54}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|37,271|100.0 &nbsp;|&nbsp;|$245,251.56}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|266|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|37,537|61.84|+10.84}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters|60,692}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|-12.89}}
{{CANelec/source|Source: [[Elections Canada]]<ref>[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=35107&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=ON&PROVID=35&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Timmins—James Bay, 30 September 2015]</ref><ref>[http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815061116/http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand%2Fcanlim&document=index&lang=e |date=2015-08-15 }}</ref>}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlie Angus|16,738|50.4|-6.1|–}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Bill Greenberg|10,526|31.7|+13.5|–}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Marilyn Wood|5,230|15.7|-6.5|–}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Lisa Bennett|724|2.2|-0.9|–}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|33,218 |100.0|}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 184| 0.6| +0.1| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 33,402	| 56.5| +5.5| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 	59,136	|–|–| }}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlie Angus |17,188 |56.5 |+6.0|$63,948 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Paul Taillefer |6,740 |22.2 |-12.1|$ 31,909}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Bill Greenberg |5,536 |18.2 |+4.6|$29,651 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Larry Verner|938 |3.1|+1.5|$133 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|30,402 |100.0|-|$97,746 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|133 |0.4 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 30,535| 51.0}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2006|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlie Angus|19,150|50.5|+9.1}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Robert Riopelle |13,028|34.3|-5.3}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Ken Graham|5,164|13.6|-3.1}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Sahaja Freed|610|1.6|-0.7}}
{{Canadian election result/total|valid votes|37,952|100.0}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|+7.2}}
{{End}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2004|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Charlie Angus|14,138|41.4|+19.7}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Ray Chénier]] |13,525|39.6|-14.9}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Andrew Van Oosten|5,682|16.7|-6.2}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Marsha Gail Kriss|767|2.3| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes||34,112|100.0}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist|35em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008065326/http://parl.howdtheyvote.ca/39-1/members/11 How'd They Vote?: Charlie Angus's voting history and quotes]
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=7131}}
* {{Bluesky|charlieangus104.bsky.social}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angus, Charlie}}
[[Category:Charlie Angus| ]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian historians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian historians]]
[[Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian country rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Canadian feminists]]
[[Category:Canadian folk rock musicians]]
[[Category:Canadian folk singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Canadian male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Canadian magazine editors]]
[[Category:Canadian Roman Catholic writers]]
[[Category:Catholic Workers]]
[[Category:Copyright activists]]
[[Category:Ecofeminists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario]]
[[Category:Musicians from Timmins]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party MPs]]
[[Category:Ontario school board trustees]]
[[Category:People from Cobalt, Ontario]]
[[Category:Canadian federal politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Singers from Toronto]]
[[Category:Writers from Timmins]]
[[Category:Writers from Toronto]]
[[Category:L'Étranger (band) members]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Timmins]]