# Brian Masse

Brian S. Masse MP (born July 9, 1968) is a Canadian politician. He has served in the House of Commons of Canada since 2002, representing the riding of Windsor West as a member of the New Democratic Party.

## Early life and career

Masse was born in Windsor, Ontario. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1991 and has completed coursework for a Master of Arts degree at the University of Windsor. During the 1990s, he was a job developer for the Association for Persons with Physical Disabilities and a program coordinator for the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County.
Masse was elected for Ward 2 of the Windsor City Council in 1997 and was re-elected in 2000. In 1998, he played a prominent role in preventing a rock-crushing operation from opening in the Wellington Avenue area.
In May 2001, the Windsor City Council unanimously approved Masse's motion to prevent school boards from selling vacant property lots at the highest market value. His purpose was to dissuade boards from closing schools, though some criticized the motion as working against taxpayer interests. Masse later called for a referendum on a proposed new arena project, but this was not accepted by council.
Masse is married to Terry Chow, with whom he has two children.

## Member of Parliament

Masse joined the federal New Democratic Party in 1997 and was first elected to the Canadian Parliament in a by-election held on May 13, 2002. The election was called after the resignation of Herb Gray, a long-time Liberal cabinet minister who had been a member of Parliament (MP) since 1962. Masse won the NDP nomination without opposition and defeated Liberal candidate Richard Pollock by 2,477 votes to win the seat. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 2004 general election. Masse's success in 2002 was partly due to support from Joe Comartin, a fellow Windsor New Democrat who was elected to the House of Commons in the 2000 federal election. In 2002–03, Masse supported Comartin's bid for the NDP leadership.
Masse served as the NDP critic for Auto Policy, Canada Border Services, and Customs in the 38th Canadian Parliament. He also became a member of the newly formed all-party "Border Caucus", examining aspects of Canada-U.S. trade relations. In 2004, he introduced a motion to restrict pharmaceutical companies from renewing their patent protection.
During his first campaign for the House of Commons, the Windsor Star ran an editorial opposing him as "a bench-warmer, a yes-man, a political careerist". Two years later, however, a Star columnist wrote that Masse had "vastly exceeded expectations and quickly developed into an able, hard-working representative who has stayed on top of riding issues."
Masse was re-elected in the 2006 federal election with an increased majority over Liberal Werner Keller. He served as NDP Deputy Industry Critic. After the election, Masse and Comartin spoke out against the provincial NDP's decision to remove Canadian Auto Workers leader Buzz Hargrove from the party.
Masse has criticized Industry Minister Maxime Bernier's plans to deregulate Canada's telecommunications market and ease restrictions on foreign ownership, arguing that the reforms could result in a small number of companies controlling the Canadian industry.
Since 2015, Masse has sat on the NDP frontbench as the critic for Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Masse was re-elected in the 2019 Canadian federal election and the 2021 Canadian federal election, on both occasions finishing ahead of former Liberal MPP Sandra Pupatello.

## Electoral record
### Federal

vte2021 Canadian federal election: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 21,702 | 44.1 | +4.0 | $88,457.01 |
| | Liberal | Sandra Pupatello | 13,670 | 27.9 | -8.4 | $86,067.85 |
| | Conservative | Anthony Orlando | 9,436 | 19.1 | — | none listed |
| | People's | Matthew Giancola | 4,080 | 8.0 | +6.2 | $5,606.67 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 156 | 0.1 | +0.08 | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 48,693 | 99.0 | – | $120,365.34 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 504 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 49,197 | 53.4 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 92,207 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | +6.2 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 20,800 | 40.03 | -11.32 | $105,980.25 |
| | Liberal | Sandra Pupatello | 18,878 | 36.33 | +11.08 | $107,376.65 |
| | Conservative | Henry Lau | 9,925 | 19.10 | -1.65 | – |
| | Green | Quinn Hunt | 1,325 | 2.55 | +0.24 | – |
| | People's | Darryl Burrel | 958 | 1.84 | – | – |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 76 | 0.15 | -0.20 | – |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 51,962 | 98.93 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 560 | 1.07 | +0.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,522 | 55.32 | +0.55 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 94,944 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | -11.20 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 24,085 | 51.35 | -2.98 | $80,089.86 |
| | Liberal | Dave Sundin | 11,842 | 25.25 | +14.36 | $29,218.35 |
| | Conservative | Henry Lau | 9,734 | 20.75 | -10.89 | $16,790.47 |
| | Green | Cora LaRussa | 1,083 | 2.31 | -0.45 | – |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 161 | 0.34 | -0.04 | – |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 46,905 | 100.0 | | $222,985.73 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 284 | – | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 47,189 | – | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 86,166 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
| | New Democratic Party hold | New Democratic Party hold |
2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 21,592 | 54.33 | +1.79 | – |
| | Conservative | Lisa Lumley | 12,577 | 31.64 | +9.06 | – |
| | Liberal | Melanie Deveau | 4,327 | 10.89 | -7.70 | – |
| | Green | Alishia Fox | 1,096 | 2.76 | -2.92 | – |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 153 | 0.38 | +0.09 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 39,745 | 100.00 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 257 | 0.64 | -0.06 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 40,002 | 49.13 | +1.80 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 81,428 | – | – |
| | New Democratic Party hold | New Democratic Party hold |
vte2008 Canadian federal election: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 20,791 | 52.5% | +3.01% | $55,997 |
| | Conservative | Lisa Lumley | 8,954 | 22.6% | +2.49% | $61,153 |
| | Liberal | Larry Horwitz | 7,357 | 18.6% | −6.79% | $52,616 |
| | Green | John Esposito | 2,253 | 5.7% | +2.67% | $132 |
| | Communist | Elizabeth Rowley | 125 | 0.3% | | $373 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Margaret Villamizar | 116 | 0.3% | +0.07% | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 39,596 | 99.3% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 281 | 0.7% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39 877 | 47.3% |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 84 245 |
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
vte2006 Canadian federal election: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 23,608 | 49.49 | +3.52 | $76,342 |
| | Liberal | Werner Keller | 12,110 | 25.39 | −5.93 | $55,858 |
| | Conservative | Al Teshuba | 9,592 | 20.11 | +1.20 | $77,898 |
| | Green | Jillana Bishop | 1,444 | 3.03 | −0.47 | $2,450 |
| | Progressive Canadian | Chris Schnurr | 614 | 1.29 | – | $731 |
| | Independent | Habib Zaidi | 224 | 0.47 | – | $3,631 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Enver Villamizar | 108 | 0.23 | −0.07 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 47,700 | 99.31 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 329 | 0.69 | +0.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,029 | 57.29 | +3.20 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 83,839 |
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
vte2004 Canadian federal election: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 20,297 | 45.97 | +30.01 | $77,487 |
| | Liberal | Richard Pollock | 13,831 | 31.32 | −22.80 | $74,197 |
| | Conservative | Jordan Katz | 8,348 | 18.91 | −9.63 | $69,771 |
| | Green | Rob Spring | 1,545 | 3.50 | | $4,721 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Enver Villamizar | 134 | 0.30 | | $300 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 44,155 | 99.39 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 273 | 0.61 | 0.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 44,428 | 54.09 | +11.08 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 82,143 |
| Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000. |||||||
| Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada. |||||||
vteCanadian federal by-election, May 13, 2002: Windsor West :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Brian Masse | 14,021 | 42.69 | +26.79 | $65,195 |
| | Liberal | Richard Pollock | 11,544 | 35.15 | −19.06 | $64,964 |
| | Alliance | Rick Fuschi | 5,420 | 16.50 | −6.45 | $60,657 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Ian West | 957 | 2.91 | −2.62 | $11,212 |
| | Green | Chris Holt | 655 | 1.99 | – | $9,246 |
| | Christian Heritage | Allan James | 249 | 0.76 | – | $2,072 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 32,846 | 99.39 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 200 | 0.61 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 33,046 | 43.01 |
| Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | Electors on the lists | 76,825 |
| | New Democratic Party gain from Liberal | New Democratic Party gain from Liberal |

### Municipal

vte2000 Windsor municipal election: Council, Ward Two (two members elected) :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| (x)Brian Masse | 4,908 | 32.36 |
| (x)Peter Carlesimo | 3,430 | 22.61 |
| Jim Bennett | 2,861 | 18.86 |
| Graham Wilson | 1,274 | 8.40 |
| Lawrence Holland | 1,144 | 7.54 |
| Frank DiPierdomenico | 714 | 4.71 |
| Kevin Flood | 373 | 2.46 |
| Bob Harper | 336 | 2.22 |
| Bowen Alkemade | 128 | 0.84 |
| Total votes | 15,168 | 100.00 |
Results provided by the City of Windsor.
vte1997 Windsor municipal election: Council, Ward Two (two members elected) :
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Brian Masse | 3,425 | 26.20 |
| (x) Peter Carlesimo | 2,865 | 21.91 |
| Jim Bennett | 2,491 | 19.05 |
| Rolly Marentette | 1,613 | 12.34 |
| George Dadamo | 1,587 | 12.14 |
| Gail Zdyb | 597 | 4.57 |
| Robert Potomski | 496 | 3.79 |
| Total votes | 13,074 | 100.00 |
Results are provided by the City of Windsor.
Electors could vote for two candidates in the municipal elections. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
All federal election information is taken from Elections Canada. Italicized expenditures refer to submitted totals, and are presented when the final reviewed totals are not available.