Joseph John Comartin (born December 26, 1947) is a retired Canadian lawyer, politician and diplomat. He represented the riding of Windsor—Tecumseh as its Member of Parliament (MP) from 2000 to 2015. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), he ran for its leadership in 2003. He called for a return to social democratic policies after the party's drift to the centre during the 1990s, and voiced concerns regarding American influence over Canada's economy and foreign policy. After serving in a variety of leadership roles, he retired from parliament in 2015. From 2018 to 2022 he served as the Consul General of Canada in Detroit, representing Canada in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.
Early life and legal career Joseph John "Joe" Comartin was born on December 26, 1947, in Stoney Point, Ontario, a small Franco-Ontarian community. He was the seventh and youngest child of Emery and Loretto (née Quirk) Comartin. His older siblings were Lucille, Agnes, Rosemary, Alice, Kathleen, and Edward. Emery was a French American born in North Dakota. Emery wandered the Midwestern United States during the Great Depression, eventually settling in Detroit after getting a job there as an autoworker. Loretto was an Irish Canadian from London, Ontario who moved to Detroit to care for her sick aunt. The two met through Detroit's Irish American community and married. Emery continued to work in Detroit, but the family also purchased a plot of land to farm in Stoney Point.
Emery died of stomach cancer when Joe was a year old and when Loretto was pregnant with an eighth child, who was named Emery after his father. Following the senior Emery's death, Loretto began teaching at an elementary school to supplement meager social assistance, financial support from family, and charity from the local community. She later remarried to Adelard Gagnon, a car salesman from Belle River, Ontario."Gagnon, Adelard," Windsor Star, February 23, 1990."Notice to creditors and others," Windsor Star, May 19, 1990.
Comartin developed an early love for reading as a child, and he often read while in the branches of an apple tree.Pearson, Craig. "Joe's got brains to spare," Windsor Star, November 23, 2007. During his education he often had to work two or three jobs at a time to help support his family, with his first job being at a grocery store in Belle River. Comartin attended F.J. Brennan Catholic High School in Windsor, Ontario. At his mother's urging Comartin originally intended to become a priest, but at 16 he decided that he did not want to be celibate. Instead, he decided he wanted to become a lawyer, believing it to be a similar form of public service.Weeks, Elaine. "Joe's on the Job," Walkerville Times, May 1, 2001. While at Brennan, Comartin was elected the eleventh grade male representative on the student council. He was appointed as the male representative on the school's awards committee after the twelfth grade male representative proved unable to fill the role. The twelfth grade female representative was Comartin's future wife, Maureen Granger. Granger was already in a relationship at the time, and she and Comartin did not begin dating until a few years later. Comartin was elected student president in his final year at Brennan.Wright, Rebecca. "New deputy Speaker says he misses advocacy role," Windsor Star, November 19, 2012.
Following his high school graduation Comartin attended the University of Windsor, where he completed an undergraduate in political science in 1968, and law school in 1971. Unlike most of his older siblings, Comartin was able to attend university because of the creation of the Canada Student Loan Program. While at university Comartin was an engaged student activist; he attended a student strike where he briefly met then-Member of Provincial Parliament Hugh Peacock,Caunce, Ken. "The Lowe walkout: How the student protest began," Windsor Star, October 15, 1968. and was a founding member of the Windsor chapter of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
Two years after completing law school, Comartin established a private legal practice in Windsor. During this time, he specialised in civil litigation and representing low-income women in family law cases. In the late 1970s, Comartin sued brake manufacturer Bendix on behalf of widow Lucie Dunn to have her husband's death by mesothelioma recognised as a compensable injury.
In 1984, Comartin left his private legal practice to become a lawyer for the Windsor branch of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and the managing director of its legal services.
Political activism The Comartin family had traditionally supported the Liberal Party, especially prominent local member Paul Martin Sr.Rennie, Gary. "Hot spot features strong candidates," Windsor Star, May 28, 1997. At the encouragement of his sister, Comartin joined the Liberal Party and campaigned for her friend Mark MacGuigan in the 1968 Canadian federal election, in which Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was elected for the first time. Despite his initial support, Comartin quickly grew to dislike Trudeau for his arrogance, and he switched parties to the NDP the next year after concluding they better aligned with his values.Jarvis, Anne. "Matter of fact, ever dignified, all class," Windsor Star, September 30, 2015. Comartin went on to become heavily involved with the regional riding associations of the NDP and Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP).
In 1981, Comartin was appointed co-chair of the Mayor's Committee on Services for the Unemployed by Bert Weeks."Comartin co-chair," Windsor Star, June 11, 1981.
Following Weeks' retirement, Comartin worked as the campaign manager for Elizabeth Kishkon's successful bid to succeed him in the 1982 Windsor municipal election.Fox, Brian. "Making of the mayoralty," Windsor Star, November 10, 1982. Comartin also campaigned for city alderman Howard McCurdy's successful bid to be elected MP for Windsor—Walkerville in the 1984 Canadian federal election. After McCurdy's election, there was a controversy over whether his replacement as city alderman would be appointed or if a by-election would be held. Comartin was considered a contender to replace McCurdy,Halberstadt, Alan. "City Council should delay calling needed byelection," Windsor Star, September 15, 1984. but ultimately former mayor Michael J. Patrick was appointed instead. Comartin was the ONDP campaign manager for Windsor—Walkerville in 1985 and 1987, working on behalf of unsuccessful candidates Gary Parent and Donna Champagne.Williamson, Doug. "Political upset possible after 26 Liberal years," Windsor Star, April 30, 1985.Cairns, Alan. "Champagne chosen to challenge Grits," Windsor Star, January 19, 1987.
While otherwise a supporter, Comartin was highly critical of Leader of the NDP Ed Broadbent's conduct in the 1988 Canadian federal election. Comartin believed that Broadbent had unwisely focused on nationwide campaigning rather than targeting winnable ridings. Comartin also believed that Broadbent had failed to capitalise on the NDP's traditionally protectionist trade policy amidst widespread opposition to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, which the Liberals had made a major campaign issue. Local NDP MPs Howard McCurdy and Steven Langdon both agreed with Comartin's assessment.Lajoie, Don. "NDPers put heat on Broadbent's key strategists," Windsor Star, November 23, 1988. Broadbent chose to resign as Leader shortly after the election, and both McCurdy and Langdon ran to replace him in the 1989 New Democratic Party leadership election. McCurdy and Langdon's rivalry as leadership candidates was exacerbated by the fact that they came from neighbouring ridings and had to compete for support in their home county. Comartin supported McCurdy, who made a surprisingly poor showing of fifth place on the first ballot of the leadership convention. On the second ballot, McCurdy withdrew and endorsed Langdon. Following McCurdy's withdrawal Comartin supported Langdon, even after McCurdy changed his endorsement to Audrey McLaughlin, the eventual winner, on the third ballot.McKeague, Paul. "Langdon, McCurdy bury the hatchet after ballot count," Windsor Star, December 4, 1989.
In the lead-up to the 1990 Ontario general election, Donna Champagne surprisingly chose not to run again. Champagne endorsed the relatively unknown Wayne Lessard, who became the ONDP nominee in Windsor—Walkerville in her stead. Comartin campaigned for Lessard, but was out of the country for part of the election season. Before leaving the country, Comartin predicted that the ONDP would do about as well as it had in the previous election, and expected the party to win about 17 seats in the Legislative Assembly. After returning to Canada, Comartin found that support for the party had surged, and the ONDP went on to form government for the first time in Ontarian history. Leader of the ONDP Bob Rae became Premier of Ontario. In Windsor—Walkerville, Lessard defeated Liberal incumbent Mike Ray.
Comartin declined to run for mayor in the 1991 Windsor municipal election.Henderson, Gord. "It's high noon for labor leaders," Windsor Star, December 4, 1989.
In 1992, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney made his second attempt at constitutional reform, known as the Charlottetown Accord. Approval of the Accord was subject to a nationwide referendum, with Canada's three major parties, the Progressive Conservatives, the Liberals, and the New Democrats all supporting its ratification. Comartin was made campaign manager for the 'Yes' campaign in Windsor, and directed all three parties' riding associations in the area. Despite massive institutional support, Windsor voted against ratifying the Accord by a nearly two-to-one margin.Anderson, Bill. "County, Windsor say no," Windsor Star, October 27, 1992.
Comartin did a great deal of lobbying on behalf of Windsor's unions to convince the Rae Government to build Ontario's first casino in Windsor.Vander Doelen, Chris. "Open casino doors now, labor tells legislators," Windsor Star, August 18, 1993. Comartin's efforts were supported by Dave Cooke, a fellow Windsorite and a senior member of Rae's cabinet. The lobbying was a success, resulting in the eventual construction of Caesars Windsor. Comartin was appointed to the Ontario Casino Corporation (OCC) board of directors in 1993.Vander Doelen, Chris. "Casino plan tops agenda," Windsor Star, April 21, 1995.
Rae's ONDP government was defeated in a landslide in the 1995 Ontario general election by the Progressive Conservatives, led by Mike Harris. Shortly after being elected, the Harris Government removed Comartin from his position on the board of the OCC before his term had expired, which was widely seen as politically motivated. The removal caused an uproar in Windsor, as it deprived the city of any representation on the board of the OCC despite having (at the time) the only casino in the province.Henderson, Gord. "Cronyism alive and well," Windsor Star, September 7, 1995.
Political career