About Don

Brief Biography of Don:

  • First elected Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway in 2008
  • Re-elected Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway in 2011
  • Official Opposition Critic for International Trade (2012-present)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade (2012-present)
  • Official Opposition Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (2011-2012)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (2011-2012)
  • NDP Critic for Public Safety and National Security (2009-2011)
  • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee for Public Safety and National Security (SECU 2009-2011)
  • Lawyer, researcher, trade union representative and policy advisor
  • Holds a B.A. (Pol. Sci.) and an LL.B.
  • Director of Legal Resources, Teamsters Canada (Local 31), 1992-2008
  • Researcher, Official Opposition Caucus, and Executive Assistant, Policy and Communications, to the Hon. Ray Martin, Leader of the Official Opposition of Alberta, 1989-1991
  • Worked with many private sector businesses to improve their human resources practices
  • Served on many public bodies, ranging from occupational health and safety, employment standards and transportation policy
  • Secretary-Treasurer, Meridian Cultural Society, providing public space for childcare, church and cultural events
  • Past Chair, Mount Pleasant Parent Advisory Council
  • Active in many community groups, including Tools for Peace, Co-op Radio, Lawyers for Social Responsibility, La Quena Cooperative, Dickens Community Group and hockey coach
  • Long-time resident in Kensington area of Vancouver Kingsway
  • Married for 28 years to Sheryl Palm, a Speech Pathologist at BC Children’s Hospital; they have 3 children

Interesting Facts:

  • Among the 308 MPs in the House of Commons, Don ranks in the top 10 for debate in Parliament
  • Among the 308 MPs in the House of Commons, Don ranks in the top 5 for the number of Private Members Bills introduced
  • Don led the Parliamentary inquiry into civil rights violations at the G20 summit in Toronto
  • Don visited the Philippines in May 2010 to serve as an election observer for their national elections
  • Don has hosted ‘Create Your Canada’ four times (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013). The winning high school students are flown to Ottawa and watch in the House of Commons as their idea is introduced as an actual Bill in Parliament by Don Davies, MP.

Official Photo: