View source for Ray Martin (politician)

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1941)}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ray Martin
| image = Ray_Martin_NDP.jpg
|birth_name=Raymond James Martin
| birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1941|8|8}}
| birth_place =[[Delia, Alberta]], Canada
| office1 =[[List of Alberta official opposition leaders|Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta]]
| term_start1 = November 6, 1984
| term_end1 = June 14, 1993
| predecessor1 = [[Grant Notley]]
| successor1 = [[Laurence Decore]]
| office2             = [[Alberta New Democratic Party#Party Leaders|Leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party]]
| term_start2         = November 10, 1984
| term_end2           = February 5, 1994
| predecessor2        = [[Grant Notley]]
| successor2          = [[Ross Harvey]]
| office3 = [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|MLA]] for [[Edmonton-Norwood]]
| term_start3 = 1982
| term_end3 = 1993
| predecessor3 = [[Catherine Chichak]]
| successor3 = [[Andrew Beniuk]]
| office4 = [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|MLA]] for [[Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview]]
| term_start4 = 2004
| term_end4 = 2008
| predecessor4 = [[Julius Yankowsky]]
| successor4 = [[Tony Vandermeer]]
| office5 = Edmonton Public School Trustee for {{nowrap|Ward D}}
| term_start5 = 2013
| term_end5 = 2017
| predecessor5 = David Colburn
| successor5 = Trisha Estabrooks
| term_start6 = 2001
| term_end6 = 2004
| predecessor6 = Terry Sulyma
| successor6 = David Colburn
| party = [[Alberta New Democratic Party]]<br />[[New Democratic Party]]
| religion =
| spouse=
| children=
| occupation = Teacher
| alma_mater= {{ubl | [[University of Alberta]] | [[University of Calgary]]}}
}}
'''Raymond James Martin''' (born August 8, 1941) is a Canadian politician in [[Alberta]] who was a member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] from 1982 to 1993 and from 2004 to 2008.

Martin served four terms as an Alberta MLA and two terms as an Edmonton Public School Board Trustee. In 2018, Martin published his [[memoir]], ''Made in Alberta: The Ray Martin Story''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://raymartinbook.ca/|title=HOME - raymartinbook.ca|access-date=2018-10-12|archive-date=2018-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012054235/http://raymartinbook.ca/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Born in 1941 in [[Delia, Alberta]], Martin attended the [[University of Alberta]] in [[Edmonton]]. He was a member of [[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity. He later attended the [[University of Calgary]] in order to earn his master's degree.

He taught in Edmonton public schools.

== Provincial politics ==

Martin ran for a seat in the [[1975 Alberta general election]] in Calgary and in [[1979 Alberta general election|1979]] in [[Edmonton-Norwood]] but both times was unsuccessful.

Martin ran again in Edmonton-Norwood in [[1982 Alberta general election|1982 provincial election]]. This time he was elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] to join Grant Notley in a two-member [[Alberta New Democratic Party]] (NDP) caucus. At the time, the two NDP-ers and two Independent members were the only opposition MLAs in the Legislature, sitting in opposition to more than 70 Conservative MLAs. Martin was the first NDP MLA elected in Edmonton since the end of the use of [[single transferable voting]] in Edmonton back in 1956.<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Report on Alberta Elections, 1905-1982}}</ref>

He became leader of the Alberta NDP in 1984, succeeding [[Grant Notley]] after his death in a plane crash.

Martin led the party to a highwater mark (at the time) winning 16&nbsp;seats in the [[1986 Alberta general election|1986 provincial election]], making him [[Opposition (parliamentary)|leader of the opposition]] in the legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/elections/clips/9844/ |title=1986: Alberta's mixed legislature |access-date=2011-02-05 |archive-date=2011-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031540/http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/elections/clips/9844/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Still under Ray's leadership, the NDP took that same number of seats in the [[1989 Alberta general election|1989 election]].

In [[1993 Alberta general election|1993]], none of the party's sitting MLAs were re-elected. Martin was defeated in his constituency, [[Edmonton-Norwood]], by Liberal [[Andrew Beniuk]].

He quit the party's leadership in 1994, being replaced by former NDP MP [[Ross Harvey]].

After an absence of eleven years, Martin returned to the Legislature as the NDP [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for [[Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview]] in the [[2004 Alberta general election|2004 general election]].

He was defeated in [[2008 Alberta general election|2008]] by [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] [[Tony Vandermeer]].

Martin ran again for the NDP in the [[2012 Alberta general election|2012 provincial election]], in the riding of [[Edmonton-Glenora]]. He was defeated by Progressive Conservative [[Heather Klimchuk]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/alberta-election-2012-edmonton-glenora |title=Alberta Election 2012: Klimchuk breathing easier as Edmonton-Glenora stays Conservative &#124; Edmonton Journal |access-date=2023-09-17 |archive-date=2015-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919231825/http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/alberta-election-2012-edmonton-glenora |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Municipal politics ==

In the [[Edmonton municipal election, 2001#Public school trustees|2001 Edmonton municipal election]], Martin won election as the Edmonton Public School Board Trustee for Ward D.  He did not seek re-election to this role in the [[2004 Edmonton municipal election|2004 election]].

In the [[Edmonton municipal election, 2013#Public school trustees|2013 Edmonton municipal election]], Martin once again won election as the Edmonton Public School Board Trustee for Ward D.  He did not seek re-election in the [[2017 Edmonton municipal election|2017 election]].

== Federal politics ==

In 2003, Martin supported [[Bill Blaikie]]'s unsuccessful campaign to become leader of the federal [[New Democratic Party]].

Ray Martin has run and lost in four federal elections, each time as an NDP candidate.  He ran in the [[1997 Canadian federal election|1997]], [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000]], [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008]], and [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011]] federal elections, in [[Edmonton North]], [[Edmonton East#Edmonton Centre-East, 2000|Edmonton Centre-East]], and [[Edmonton East]] (twice), respectively.

== Electoral record ==
===Provincial===
{{Alberta provincial election, 1979/Edmonton-Norwood}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 1982/Edmonton-Norwood}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 1986/Edmonton-Norwood}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 1989/Edmonton-Norwood}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 1993/Edmonton-Norwood}}
{{CANelec/top|AB|2004|Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Ray Martin|5,259|50.83%|31.68%}}
{{CANelec|AB|PC|[[Julius Yankowsky|Julius E. Yankowsky]]|3,041|29.39%|-16.26%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Sam Parmar|1,164|11.25%|-20.49%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Alliance|Philip Gamache|458|4.43%|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Ken Shipka|283|2.74%|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec|AB|Green|Benoit Couture|141|1.36%|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total|10,346|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|35|53|1}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible electors / Turnout|23,569|44.05%|-4.68%}}
{{CANelec/gain|AB|NDP|PC|3.76%}}
{{CANelec/source|hide=Source: {{cite web|url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsED.cfm?EventId=&ED=00| title=00 - Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, 2004 Alberta general election | publisher=[[Elections Alberta]] | accessdate=May 21, 2020 | website=officialresults.elections.ab.ca}}<br/>{{cite report |author1=Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer |title=Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the General Enumeration and General Election of the Twenty-sixth Legislative Assembly |date=2005 |publisher=Alberta Legislative Assembly, Office of the Chief Electoral Officer |location=Edmonton |url=https://archive.org/details/reportofchiefele2220albe |pages=}}}}
{{end}}
{{CANelec/top|AB|2008|Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|AB|PC|[[Tony Vandermeer]]|4,182|39.63%|10.24%}}
{{CANelec|AB|NDP|Ray Martin|3,845|36.44%|-14.39%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Liberal|Dawit Isaac|1,996|18.92%|7.67%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Wildrose Alliance|Brian Dell|289|2.74%|-1.69%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Green|Frédérique Pivot|183|1.73%|0.37%}}
{{CANelec|AB|Social Credit|Robin Porteous|57|0.54%|-2.20%}}
{{CANelec/total|Total|10,552|&ndash;|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec/total|Rejected, spoiled and declined|20|21|3}}
{{CANelec/total|Eligible electors / Turnout|28,057|37.69%|-6.36%}}
{{CANelec/gain|AB|PC|NDP|-9.12%}}
{{CANelec/source|hide=Source: {{cite web|url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsED.cfm?EventId=12&ED=25| title=25 - Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, 2008 Alberta general election | publisher=[[Elections Alberta]] | accessdate=May 21, 2020 | website=officialresults.elections.ab.ca}}<br/>{{cite report |author1=Chief Electoral Officer |title=The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-Seventh Legislative Assembly |date=2008 |publisher=[[Elections Alberta]] |location=Edmonton, Alta. |url=https://archive.org/details/reportofchiefele00albe_10 |access-date=April 7, 2021 |pages=}}}}
{{end}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 2012/Edmonton-Glenora}}

===Federal===
{{Election FPTP begin | title=[[1997 Canadian federal election]]: [[Edmonton North]]}}
|-
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|[[Deborah Grey]]|16,124|44.30%||$56,921}}
{{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal|row}} 
|[[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
|Jonathan Murphy
|align="right"|11,820
|align="right"|32.47%
|
|align="right"|$46,517
{{Canadian party colour|CA|NDP|row}} 
|[[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]]
|Ray Martin
|align="right"|5,413
|align="right"|14.87%
|
|align="right"|$60,286
{{Canadian party colour|CA|PC|row}}
|[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]
|Mitch Panciuk
|align="right"|2,811
|align="right"|7.72%
|
|align="right"|$51,169
{{Canadian party colour|CA|Natural Law|row}}
|[[Natural Law Party of Canada|Natural Law]]
|Ric Johnsen
|align="right"|226
|align="right"|0.62%
|align="right"|
|align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Total valid votes
!align="right"|36,394
!align="right"|100.00%
!
!
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Total rejected ballots
!align="right"|99
!align="right"|0.27%
!
!
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Turnout
!align="right"|36,493
!align="right"|55.63%
!
!
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2000|Edmonton Centre-East|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Alliance|[[Peter Goldring]]|17,768|42.43| -2.14|$58,345}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Sue Olsen]]|14,323|34.20|-0.38|$57,858}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Ray Martin|7,304|17.44| +5.65|$56,287}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Kevin Mahfouz|2,252|5.37|-1.93|$1,688}}
{{CANelec|CA|Communist|[[Naomi Rankin]]|222|0.53|&ndash;|$238}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|41,869|100.00|&nbsp;|&ndash;}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|156|0.37|+0.15 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|42,025|53.42| +1.73}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|Edmonton East|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Peter Goldring]]|21,487|51.31| +1.18|$72,687 }}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Ray Martin|13,318|31.80| +13.33|$27,417 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Stephanie Laskoski|4,578|10.93| -15.23|$9,666 }}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Trey Capnerhurst|2,488|5.94| +0.70|$752 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|41,871|100.00|&nbsp;|$92,946 }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|151|0.36| -0.01}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|42,022| 45.43| -9.9}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|Edmonton East|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[Peter Goldring]]|24,111|52.75|+1.44|$74,313}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Ray Martin|17,078|37.36|+5.56|$55,462}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Shafik Ruda|3,176|6.95|-3.98|$17,634}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Trey Capnerhurst|1,345|2.94|-3.00|$2,546}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|45,710|100.00|&nbsp;|$95,270}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots| 194| 0.42|+0.06| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout| 45,904|50.27|+4.84| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Eligible voters| 	91,321|&ndash;|&ndash;| }}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Ray Martin}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ca-ab}}
{{succession box|
 before=[[Catherine Chichak]]|
 title=[[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|MLA]] [[Edmonton-Norwood]]|
 years=1982-1993|
 after=[[Andrew Beniuk]]
}}
 {{succession box|
 before=[[Grant Notley]]|
 title=[[List of Alberta official opposition leaders|Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta]]||
 years=1985-1993|
 after=[[Laurence Decore]]|
}}
{{succession box|
 before=[[Julius Yankowsky]]|
 title=[[Legislative Assembly of Alberta|MLA]] [[Edmonton Beverly-Clareview]]|
 years=2004-2008|
 after=[[Tony Vandermeer]]|
}}
{{s-end}}

{{ABLOpp}}
{{Alberta NDP leaders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Ray}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alberta New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Alberta CCF/NDP]]
[[Category:Alberta school board trustees]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:University of Calgary alumni]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta]]