· Member of Parliament for Palliser since 1997

· Serves as the NDP critic for Labour, Agriculture, Political Party Financing, Canadian Wheat Board, Western Diversification, Canada Post, Cooperatives and Sports

· Chair of the NDP Caucus in Ottawa

· Earned a degree in journalism from Carleton University

· Has worked for three Canadian newspapers and CBC TV

· A strong advocate for social change, has worked for two public sector trade unions and the Canadian Labour Congress.