- published: 07 Aug 2011
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Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur sport.
Trudeau is the eldest son of the late former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair Trudeau Kemper. His maternal grandfather, James Sinclair, was also a federal cabinet minister.
Trudeau was born on December 25, 1971, in Ottawa, Ontario. He was only the second child in Canadian history to be born when one of his parents was prime minister; the first was John A. Macdonald's youngest daughter Margaret Mary Macdonald, and Trudeau's younger brothers Alexandre (Sacha) (born December 25, 1973) and Michel (1975–98) were the third and fourth, respectively. Pierre and Margaret Trudeau separated in 1977, when Justin was six years old, and Pierre retired as prime minister in 1984. Of his mother and father's marriage, Trudeau said in 2009, "They loved each other incredibly, passionately, completely. But there was 30 years between them and my mom never was an equal partner in what encompassed my father's life, his duty, his country."
Stephen Joseph Harper, PC MP (born April 30, 1959) is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election. He is the first prime minister from the newly reconstituted Conservative Party, following a merger of the Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parties.
Harper has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Calgary Southwest in Alberta since 2002. Earlier, from 1993 to 1997, he was the MP for Calgary West. He was one of the founding members of the Reform Party, but did not seek re-election, and instead joined, and shortly thereafter led, the National Citizens Coalition. In 2002, he succeeded Stockwell Day as leader of the Canadian Alliance (the successor to the Reform Party) and returned to parliament as Leader of the Opposition. In 2003, he reached an agreement with Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay for the merger of their two parties to form the Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected as the party's first non-interim leader in March 2004.
Jack Sinclair (born 28 September 1992 in New Town, Tasmania) is the youngest person ever (at 15 yo) to cycle across Australia. He completed the 4,500 kilometre ride from Cottesloe Beach, Perth in Western Australia to the beach of Surfers Paradise, Queensland in just 30 days (11 September 2008 to 10 October 2008).
Sinclair rode to raise funds ($25,000) for youth mentoring charity Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia. He was accompanied on the ride by his father, Brendon Sinclair. Professional cyclist Robbie McEwen was the Ride Ambassador and provided training and ride advice.
His interest in endurance cycling commenced when he donated a web site to charity bike ride "Sydney to Surfers" - a site he continues to manage - that raises in excess of $200,000 per year for the Youth Off The Streets charity.
In July 2009, Sinclair completed the 42.2 kilometre Gold Coast Airport Marathon. Two weeks later he completed the 96 kilometre Kokoda Challenge bushwalk. Sinclair is also a regular competitor in the Noosa Triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon and a pilot (currently training for his private pilot's license).