View source for David Iftody

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|name = David Iftody
|image = David_Iftody.jpg
|riding = [[Provencher]]
|parliament = Canadian
|termstart = October 25, 1993
|termend = October 22, 2000
|predecessor = [[Jake Epp]]
|successor = [[Vic Toews]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1956|6|15|mf=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], Canada
|death_date = {{death date and age|2001|2|5|1956|6|15|mf=yes}}
| party     = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|alma_mater = University of Manitoba
}}
'''David Iftody''' (June 15, 1956 – February 5, 2001) was a [[Romanian Canadian]] politician.  He served in the [[House of Commons of Canada]] from 1993 to 2000 as a member of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]], representing the [[Manitoba]] riding of [[Provencher]].

==Early life and career==

Iftody was born in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], with family roots in [[Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba|Lac du Bonnet]], Manitoba.<ref>David Roberts, "Reform's prospects brighten", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 12 January 1993, A4.</ref>  He worked at the Manitoba Youth Care Centre from 1977 to 1982, and subsequently received [[Bachelor of Social Work]] (1985) and [[Master of Public Administration]] (1987) degrees from the [[University of Manitoba]].  He later moved to [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], where he worked as a management consultant and was owner and president of the firm Animus Research. He also lectured at [[Carleton University]] in the Faculty of Law.

==Member of Parliament==

Iftody returned to Manitoba to stand as the Liberal candidate for Provencher in the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]], and was elected over [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform Party]] candidate [[Dean Whiteway]].  The Liberals won a majority government under [[Jean Chrétien]], and Iftody entered parliament as a government [[backbench]]er.  He was re-elected in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997 election]] against a strong challenge from the Reform Party,<ref>The Liberal Party lost all of its other rural Manitoba seats in this election.  The election coincided with a major flood in southern Manitoba, and Iftody argued that Chrétien should have waited until the waters receded before going to the polls.  See Dan Lett, "MPs want vote delayed", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 25 April 1997, A10.</ref> and served as [[parliamentary secretary]] to the [[Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)|Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]] from July 1998 until 2000.<ref>Linda Rosborough, "Local Grits get nod", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 17 July 1998, A8.  He had previously endorsed funding for a solvent abuse center on the [[Sagkeeng First Nation]] in 1998.  See Kevin Rollason, "Solvent treatment centre gets funds", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 21 February 1998, A5.</ref>  He was defeated in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 election]], losing to [[Canadian Alliance]] candidate [[Vic Toews]].<ref>Toews, ironically, was one of Iftody's instructors at the University of Manitoba.  See Vic Toews, remarks on David Iftody, [http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=37&Ses=1&DocId=2332078#LINK117 Edited Hansard, 6 February 2001], accessed 7 August 2008.</ref>

===Issues===

;Banking

Iftody was appointed to the House of Commons Finance Committee shortly after his election.  In this capacity, he called for the creation of a federal [[ombudsman]] with the authority to levy fines against major banks that cut off credit to small businesses without due cause.<ref>John Douglas, "Big banks facing shakeup Small business neglected", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 October 1994.  See also Tony Davis, "MPs have message for banks", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 4 March 1995.</ref>  In 1996, he proposed an amendment to Canada's Bank Act that would prevent major Canadian banks from acquiring each other via hostile takeovers.<ref>"MP's bill would limit banking mergers", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 9 April 1987, B4.</ref>  The following year, he argued that the government acted with undue haste in approving the [[Bank of Nova Scotia]]'s takeover of National Trust.<ref>Gord McIntosh, "National Trust takeover irritates Liberal MPs", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 August 1997, B11.</ref>  He served on a Liberal caucus task force on financial institutions in 1998, and supported its conclusion that two proposed major bank mergers would be against the interests of Canadians.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Bank mergers get thumbs down", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 31 October 1998, A18.</ref>

;Social issues and firearms registry

Iftody was a committed [[Roman Catholic]], and was part of the [[social conservatism|socially conservative]] wing of the Liberal Party.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Difficult decision for a man of faith: Provencher MP Iftody wrestles with Grits' same-sex bill", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 5 March 2000l, A1.</ref>  In late 1994, he opposed his government's plans to add sexual orientation as a protected category under Canada's hate crimes legislation.<ref>Edward Greenspon & Tu Thanh Ha, "Dissident Liberals balk over hate bill", ''Globe and Mail'', 27 September 1994, A1.  Iftody abstained on the final vote.  See Dan Lett, "Iftody to rebel again This time he plans to skip vote on bill to protect gays", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 June 1995, A1.</ref>  He later opposed similar legislation protecting homosexuals under the [[Canadian Human Rights Act]], and was one of 17 Liberal MPs to vote against legislation expanding the benefits of same-sex couples in 2000.<ref>Anne McIlroy, "Free vote doesn't stop gay bill", ''Globe and Mail'', 2 May 1996, A1; Paul Samyn, "Same-sex bill passes; 17 Grits opposed", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 12 April 2000, A4.</ref>  Iftody said that he did not support discrimination and denied being part of a parliamentary "God squad", but nonetheless expressed a personal view that  [[homosexuality]] was "spiritually unhealthy".<ref>Dan Lett, "Iftody to rebel again: This time he plans to skip vote on bill to protect gays", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 June 1995, A1; Paul Samyn, "Difficult decision for a man of faith: Provencher MP Iftody wrestles with Grits' same-sex bill", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 5 March 2000l, A1.  In 1995, Iftody stated "It's not that I am a right-wing, callous person who wants to condone this kind of thing (hatred against homosexuals), because I really don't. On an emotional and personal level, I know it's wrong to discriminate against anyone for any reason. However, viewed in the larger context, I have to say respectfully, gently ... not now, not at this time."</ref>

He also opposed the Chrétien government's plan to create a [[Canadian gun registry|national firearms registry]], and voted against the bill enabling the registry on its final reading.<ref>Tu Thanh Ha, "Firearms registry Ottawa's next project", ''Globe and Mail'', 14 June 1995, A1.  Iftody had previously abstained on the bill's second reading.  See Dan Lett, "Outlaw Grits say no to party's gun bill", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 April 1995.</ref>  Some believed that he would be barred from sitting on a Commons standing committee for this decision, but he escaped punishment.<ref>Dan Lett, "Iftody escapes retaliation", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 20 September 1995, B1.</ref>  Iftody's opposition to the gun registry was popular in his mostly rural riding.<ref>Bill Redekop, "Rebel Iftody a hero in riding", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 June 1995, A2.</ref>

;International relations

Iftody was of [[Romania]]n background, and was chairman of the Canada-Romanian Parliamentary Group in the 1990s.  In 1997, he helped convince the Romanian government to support an international treaty banning [[land mine]]s.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Romania joins effort on landmines: Arm-twisting by Manitoba Liberal snags first eastern European nation", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 12 November 1997, A3.</ref>  He also criticized [[Shell Oil]] for its human rights record in [[Nigeria]], claiming that the company had violated "the elementary standards of the international code of conduct for business" by failing to intervene against government abuses.<ref>"MPs accuse Shell executives of ignoring Nigerian abuses", ''Globe and Mail'', 19 June 1996, N8.  At a meeting of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, Iftody said to Shell executives, "I'm insulted by your lame presentation.  You've violated even the elementary standards of the international code of conduct for business."</ref>  He supported increased trade between Canada and the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]).<ref>Dan Lett, "Trade with Taipei eyed", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 27 March 1996, B6.</ref>

;Nuclear energy

Iftody supported [[nuclear power|nuclear energy]], and actively campaigned to prevent the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. research station in [[Pinawa, Manitoba|Pinawa]] from closing.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Iftody dies of apparent stroke at 44", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 6 February 2001, A1.</ref>

===Other===

In late 1997, Iftody intervened to rescue a woman from a potential sexual assault in an Ottawa boarding house.  Hearing a struggle in a room near his own, he discovered an intruder holding the female owner of the establishment against a wall.  He stopped the attack, and detained the attacker until the police arrived.<ref>Paul Samyn, "MP Iftody a brave crime fighter, too", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 15 December 1997, A3.</ref>

==Death==

Iftody died unexpectedly on February 5, 2001, after suffering internal bleeding in his liver following a [[snowmobile]] accident.<ref>Paul Samyn, "Injuries from snowmobile accident killed Iftody", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 7 February 2001, A3.</ref>  The House of Commons paid tribute to him the following day.  In 2003, [[Providence College and Theological Seminary]] in [[Otterburne, Manitoba|Otterburne]] began an annual series called the David Iftody Memorial Lectures.<ref>"College holds lectures in memory of MP Iftody", ''Winnipeg Free Press'', 18 February 2003, B4.</ref>

==Electoral record==
{{2000 Canadian federal election/Provencher}}
{{1997 Canadian federal election/Provencher}}
{{1993 Canadian federal election/Provencher}}
All electoral information is taken from [[Elections Canada]].

==Footnotes==
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{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=16509}}
* [http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=37&Ses=1&DocId=2332078#LINK117 Edited Hansard, 6 February 2001] (includes tributes to Iftody)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iftody, David}}
[[Category:1956 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Romanian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba]]
[[Category:Politicians from Winnipeg]]
[[Category:University of Manitoba alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]