Shirley Coppen served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 who represented the riding of Niagara South.
12 Facts About Shirley Coppen
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Shirley Coppen served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.
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Shirley Coppen was a registered nursing assistant at Welland County General Hospital for eighteen years, and served as president of the Welland and District Labour Council from 1986 to 1990.
4.
Shirley Coppen served as an executive on the Ontario Federation of Labour.
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Shirley Coppen was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Liberal candidate John Lopinski by almost 4,000 votes in the riding of Niagara South.
6.
The NDP won a majority government and Shirley Coppen was named as a minister without portfolio and Chief Government Whip on October 1,1990.
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Shirley Coppen became known as the "Bell Woman" of the legislature.
8.
Liberal member Greg Sorbara complained that Shirley Coppen was doling out junkets as favours.
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In February 1993, it was reported that Shirley Coppen was receiving money from a disability pension for injuries she received before politics.
10.
In December 1994, Shirley Coppen stated that the government's labour laws might affect the major league baseball strike.
11.
Shirley Coppen said the Toronto Blue Jays would not be allowed to bring in 'scab' players.
12.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Shirley Coppen finished third in her bid for re-election, losing to Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak.