Eve Adams

Background

The daughter of Hungarian and Croatian immigrants, Adams was born in Sudbury, raised in Hamilton for 14 years and lived in Mississauga for 14 years.

Early career

Adams won a scholarship to serve as a parliamentary page as part of a national program to improve Canadians' understanding of parliament. She then worked as an aide to Michael Wilson when he was a minister in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's cabinet.

Before graduating from the University of Western Ontario, Adams went to work at Queen's Park for eight years, in the Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Citizenship, and Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology as a senior policy and political advisor.

Political career

Adams won her first election campaign in the 2003 Mississauga City Council municipal election. This victory made her the youngest representative elected to that body. After winning three successful municipal elections and serving seven years as a city and regional councillor in Mississauga, Adams entered federal politics. Adams eventually won the federal riding of Mississauga-Brampton South in the 2011 election, defeating incumbent Liberal Navdeep Bains by over 5,000 votes on 52,000 votes cast. The Toronto Star noted that both the Adams and Bain campaigns were particularly respectful and issue-focused, suggested that they were role models for a better kind of politics.

In the 2011 federal election campaign, Adams claimed $2,777 in personal expenses, including $1750 for childcare for her 5-year-old son. Adams worked full-time while campaigning. Her salon visits and dry-cleaning costs were capped at $200. Adams' official agent at the time stated he would repay $6,003.34 in expenses, he personally withdrew, before completing the Elections Canada filing. Elections Canada eventually accepted and approved the filing.

Following the election, in May 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Adams as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Adams led the Hire-a-Veteran initiative to encourage employers across Canada to offer priority hiring to veterans. Adams launched the initiative with Intuit Canada, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, Queen's University, 3M and Cenovus Energy. In August 2013, Adams was appointed parliamentary secretary for Health. There was speculation that Adams would seek the mayoralty in Mississauga in November 2014. Eve Adams was the first MP to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their first Royal Tour.

On February 9, 2015, as a Parliamentary Secretary, Adams crossed the floor to join the 3rd Party, Liberal Party. Adams sought the Liberal nomination in Eglinton—Lawrence but was defeated at the July 26, 2015 nomination meeting by Marco Mendicino, who received approximately 1,100 votes to 800 votes for Adams. Mendicino had been campaigning in the riding for over two years.

Controversies

After Adams crossed to the Liberals, the CPC claims they notified Adams that she would not be allowed to run in the upcoming federal election. However, Adams was still answering questions in the House of Commons for the Prime Minister until she crossed the floor. Parliamentary Secretaries are personally appointed by the Prime Minister with a $16,500 pay raise. The PM shuffled Parliamentary Secretaries twice after Adams withdrew and did not demote her. Almost 100 Members of Parliament (MP) were not elevated from the backbench as was Adams.

She also became the subject of controversy when she blocked the fuel pumps at a gas station over a dispute about the cost of a carwash for which she demanded a refund.

Adams became involved in a nomination battle, in 2014, in the new Oakville North—Burlington riding, after her existing riding was split. Adams was accused by rivals of sending mail to voters outside her riding. House of Commons rules prohibit any of their parliamentary resources from being used for electoral campaigning. Both Adams and her rival, withdrew their candidacies.

Boards

Adams has been appointed to a number of varied Boards: Enersource Corporation (Mississauga's municipal electricity distributor), Living Arts Centre, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Credit Valley Conservation, Peel Living Corporation (regional public housing authority, and she was a founding Director of Partners in Project Green (a corporate, environmental agency).

Charitable work and honours

Adams has served on Red Cross Boards in Toronto and Mississauga for over 14 years. She organized or participated in over 17 Terry Fox Runs and was honoured to assist Terry Fox's brother, Darrell Fox with the Tour of Hope.

Adams was named Honorary Chair of the Malton Festival; Mississauga Multiple Sclerosis Walkathon; and the Malton Environmental Stewardship Program. She was also appointed an ex-officio Director of Malton Neighbourhood Services.

Eve Adams received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

Personal life

Eve Adams is divorced and has one son who was born in 2005.