Robert Morrissey
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Robert Morrissey had a long career in both business and provincial government in Prince Edward Island. He was reportedly involved in the private sector, particularly in the fishing and aquaculture industries. He has been linked to businesses such as North Shore Seafoods and Superior Sanitation. Morrissey also served for nearly two decades as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. During his time in provincial politics, he held several senior cabinet positions, including Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Environment. This extensive experience in provincial government and local industry formed his primary career before he was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2015.
Key Relationships & Connections
As a long-serving politician from Prince Edward Island, Robert Morrissey has established key relationships within the Liberal Party. He is a close colleague of Lawrence MacAulay, another veteran Liberal MP from PEI who has held numerous cabinet posts. Together, they represent two of the province's four federal ridings and are senior figures in the Atlantic Liberal Caucus. Given his extensive background in provincial politics, he also maintains strong connections with figures in the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
In 2017, the federal Ethics Commissioner, Mary Dawson, investigated Robert Morrissey's conduct. The investigation focused on a letter he wrote to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in support of a temporary foreign worker application for a company. This company was reportedly a client of a business that Morrissey had previously co-owned and where his brother was still the president. The Ethics Commissioner's report concluded that by writing the letter, Morrissey had used his position as an MP to improperly further the private interests of his brother and the company. The Commissioner found that this action violated the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
Public Controversies
Robert Morrissey faced public criticism in 2021 for comments he made about the labour shortage and the Employment Insurance (EI) program. During a parliamentary committee meeting, he suggested that federal income support programs, like EI, might be creating a situation where it was more appealing for some people to stay home than to work. These remarks were criticized by opposition parties and labour advocates, who argued they unfairly blamed workers for labour shortages and ignored other economic factors. Morrissey later stated that his comments were taken out of context.
Where Robert falls on key policy spectrums
Your Money
People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
Bobby Morrissey won with 12,466 votes (51.9%)
Total votes cast: 24,008
How does Robert Morrissey's voting record line up with your values?
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “Housing Starts in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have been raised in a small fishing community on P.E.I. The fishing harbour is the centre of the community. Last week, I was in another fishing community, Miminegash, to announce a major reconstruction of the fishing harbour, the largest project ever announced for this coastal community. For too many years, small craft harbours, the economic engines of coastal
Madam Speaker, the government has a responsibility to ensure that the economy of the country performs at a level that Canadians expect, to support the many social programs we have in place that Canadians cherish. That is the role of governing. I prefer the government to govern. Some simply complain.
Madam Speaker, it was interesting. The project was a megaproject advanced at the time by a Progressive Conservative government that at the time was building interest in building the country during a recessionary period. It was innovative. It was private-public partnering, one of the first major megaprojects in the country that was privately and publicly funded. The key points of the project