Tom Wappel - Opposition MP

Opposition MP

Wappel was re-elected to the House of Commons in the 2006 federal election, as the Conservative Party won a national minority government. Wappel was one of twenty-four Liberal MPs to vote for an extension of Canada's military mission in Afghanistan in May 2006. He also renewed his call for abortion legislation, describing Canada as "the only western democracy that has absolutely no law whatsoever when it comes to protecting the unborn child". In February 2007, he was the only Liberal MP to vote for the extension of two controversial anti-terrorism measures that had first been passed by the Chrétien government in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The measures, which critics described as a threat to civil liberties, were defeated when the Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party and most Liberals voted not to support their extension. Wappel expressed surprise that more Liberal MPs did not support the extension.

Wappel did not endorse any candidate in the 2006 Liberal leadership election, as none of the candidates were declared social conservatives. He indicated that he would personally vote for Joe Volpe at the convention.