PERSONAL
Martha Hall Findlay is 50, with three grown children, Katie, Everett, and Patrick.
She has been a corporate lawyer and a successful businesswoman. She has extensive international education, experience and work background. She is a community volunteer. And in her youth, she was a competitive skier, overall silver medalist in the Canadian Championships in 1976.
Martha accelerated three years at school, finishing grade 13 in Ontario at 15. She was at the same time actively involved in ski racing, and was named to the Canadian National Ski Training Squad before retiring and pursuing her formal education. She supported herself throughout university working as a waitress, in construction (primarily as a carpenter), and coaching young ski racers. At Osgoode Hall Law School, she had two more children, Everett and Patrick, receiving her LL.B. in 1987 (Katie, the eldest, was born during Martha’s undergraduate years). Martha also co-owned and operated two retail stores.
Martha is bilingual, speaking English and French, with training in several other languages, including Russian, Italian and Spanish. Martha also has extensive non-profit and volunteer experience. She has served as a Director and Executive Member with various community organizations and ratepayer associations, including CKUA Radio in Alberta, the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs and the Georgian Bay Association. She served as President of the Pointe au Baril Islanders Association and of the Georgian Peaks Club, and as Vice President, Policy of the Ontario Women’s Liberal Commission. She is also an active member of Equal Voice, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to electing more women into politics.
Martha has lived in both urban and rural Canada. While living primarily in Ontario, she also lived in Alberta from 2001-2003 and in the Czech Republic for most of 2000. These experiences, extensive travels throughout Canada, and living and working internationally, have made Martha appreciate our wonderful country and, indeed, led to her decision to participate in Canadian public life.
POLITICAL
Martha is currently the Official Opposition Critic for Public Works and Government Services. She is a member of the Standing House Committee on Government Operations, an Associate Member of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Leader’s Advisory Committee on Economic Strategy. She has previously held the posts of Associate Finance Critic and Critic for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Martha Hall Findlay was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in Willowdale on March 17, 2008. She was re-elected in the general election of October 14, 2008.
Martha ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada in 2006. Her 10 month campaign was highly praised for her travels across the country in the “Big Red Bus”, which became a symbol of energy, renewal, and grassroots engagement in the party. Her efforts, and the strong relationships she built nationwide, resulted in her appointment as Platform Outreach Chair for the Liberal Party of Canada in 2006.
PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS
A graduate of the University of Toronto’s International Relations Programme and of Osgoode Hall Law School, Ms. Hall Findlay is a well-respected lawyer, businesswoman and entrepreneur. Prior to her election as MP for Willowdale, she was Counsel at the national law firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP.
In 1997, she founded The General Counsel Group, a successful management and legal consulting firm. In that capacity her work was primarily in the high tech and telecommunications fields, in both Canada and Europe.
Before starting her own business, Martha was Corporate Counsel with Bell Mobility, General Counsel to Mobility Canada, and Vice President, Corporate Development with The Rider Group. She initially practised domestic and international business law with the multinational law firm of Baker & McKenzie.
What others say about Martha
CPAC's "Beyond Politics" from July 21, 2008
"Host Catherine Clark goes beyond politics to provide a window into the lives of our elected officials through informal, one-on-one, out-of-studio interviews with MPs from across the country."
See the full show online.
"Martha Hall Findlay: Not Left. Not Right. Moving Forward." in The Politic, November 5, 2009
Richard Albert interviews MHF as part of his series, "meet the players".
Read full interview.