Early Political Career
Hanger was seen as one of the more radical members of the Reform Party, with these views culminating in March 1996 when he announced that he supported corporal punishment and had booked a trip to Singapore to investigate their use of caning in deterring crime. After public outcry, and criticism from within the party, the trip was cancelled.
Hanger was the Official Opposition critic for Citizenship and Immigration (2001–2004), with special responsibility for Foreign Credentials (2004). He was a former Chief Official Opposition critic for National Defence (1997–2001) and Opposition critic for the Solicitor General (1995–1997).
He was Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in the 38th Parliament, and Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs in the 36th Parliament. He served as a member of various other Parliamentary committees during his career as an MP.
In the summer of 2001, Hanger was the first Alliance MP to be suspended from caucus for criticizing the leadership of Stockwell Day. However, he did not become a member of the Democratic Representative Caucus, as he accepted the September 10, 2001 reinstatement offer that was made to all of the dissident MPs.
On March 31, 2004, he was the only Conservative MP in the House of Commons to join with 18 Bloc Québécois MPs to vote against the referral of the Older Adult Justice Act to the Standing Committee on Justice. The move was in contrast to the support the Bill garnered from virtually all Members of his own party, as well as the Liberals and NDP. Mr. Hanger provided no comment about why he voted against this piece of legislation.
Read more about this topic: Art Hanger
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