Karl Bélanger
Bélanger at the 2009 federal NDP convention
Former President of the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation
In office
November 24, 2016  September 13, 2022
Preceded byDavid McDonald
Succeeded byIrene Mathyssen
National Director of the New Democratic Party (interim)
In office
January 23, 2016  September 12, 2016
LeaderTom Mulcair
Preceded byAnne McGrath
Succeeded byRobert Fox
Personal details
Bornc.1975
Quebec City, Quebec
Political partyNew Democratic
Alma materUniversité Laval
Cégep de Jonquière

Karl Bélanger (born 1975) is a former political operative.

He was the interim National Director of the New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada from January 23, 2016[1] to September 12, 2016.[2]

He was principal secretary to NDP Leader Tom Mulcair during his tenure as Leader of the Official Opposition. Bélanger was a member of NDP Leader Jack Layton's team, serving as senior press secretary. He also was his principal secretary for Quebec in spring 2009,[3] ahead of the Quebec Orange Crush. He remained senior press secretary under the interim leadership of Nycole Turmel.

He was the spokesman for Alexa McDonough when she was NDP Leader and has worked for the party since the 1997 federal election. Bélanger is a native of Quebec City.

He was a candidate in the 1993 federal election in the riding of Jonquière, and in the 1996 federal by-election in Lac-Saint-Jean. He was president of the New Democratic Youth of Québec[4] from 1994 to 1998 and vice-president of the New Democratic Youth of Canada from 1995 to 1997.

As a party spokesperson, he appears regularly on CPAC's political panels and on CTV's Power Play, and is a regular columnist in The Hill Times. He is also a regular guest on radio stations including CJAD, CFRA and CINW.

He was President of the Douglas-Coldwell Foundation from 2016 to 2022.[5]

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Université Laval in Quebec City in 1997. He previously had received a college degree in arts and media technology at the Jonquière CEGEP in 1995.

Alan Kellogg of the Edmonton Journal called Bélanger "a Great Canadian" for his longtime work as assistant to the NDP leader.[6]

Bélanger placed numerous times on the Terrific Twenty-Five Staffers List, as put together by the Hill Times, based on a survey of parliamentary staff. He was listed as #3 in 2014.

He is portrayed by Joel S. Keller in the 2013 CBC Television film Jack.

Bélanger lives in Chelsea, Quebec.

Electoral record

Canadian federal by-election, March 25, 1996
On the resignation of Lucien Bouchard
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Bloc QuébécoisStéphan Tremblay20,77776.56+1.04
LiberalClément Lajoie5,84621.54+6.93
Progressive ConservativePhilippe Harris2050.76-7.89
ReformDenis Simard1750.64New
New DemocraticKarl Bélanger1360.50-0.73
Total valid votes 27,13999.47
Total rejected ballots 1440.53
Turnout 27,28354.87
Eligible voters 49,726
Bloc Québécois hold Swing -2.95
Source: Elections Canada[7]
1993 Canadian federal election: Jonquière
Party Candidate Votes
Bloc QuébécoisAndré Caron25,061
Progressive ConservativeJean-Pierre Blackburn6,637
LiberalGilles Savard4,519
Natural LawNormand Dufour435
New DemocraticKarl Bélanger410

Awards and recognition

Bélanger received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was nominated by NDP MP Nycole Turmel.[8]

RibbonDescriptionNotes
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 2012
  • Canadian version

References

  1. NDP designates Karl Bélanger as National Director. New Democratic Party of Canada, January 23, 2016
  2. NDP names Robert Fox new national director. 'iPolitics', September 12, 2016
  3. Jack Layton: gagner des votes au Québec
  4. Nirvana au NPD Au fil des évenements, October 3, 1996
  5. The Douglas-Coldwell Foundation elects Karl Bélanger as President Douglas-Coldwell Foundation, November 24, 2016.
  6. NDP remains national debate pacesetter. Edmonton Journal, January 21, 2007
  7. "By-Elections 1996 – Official Voting Results and Candidates' Contributions and Expenses". Elections Canada. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  8. "The Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada.
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