 peter arend stoffer (born january 6, 1956) is a canadian politician. stoffer is currently a member of the new democratic party caucus in the canadian house of commons, representing the riding of sackvilleâeastern shore. he represented sackvilleâmusquodoboit valleyâeastern shore after the 2000 election, and after the 1997 election, he represented the riding of sackvilleâeastern shore. (riding changes are due to redistribution.) stoffer is a former airline employee and union activist who was also vocal on environmental issues. stoffer is the official opposition critic for veterans' affairs. he is a former critic for fisheries and oceans, shipbuilding, seniors, amateur sport, canada post corporation, atlantic canada opportunities agency, and national defence. stoffer is a populist and has been an advocate of third way policies championed by tony blair. he was affiliated with the internal party reform group ndprogress that successfully pushed the ndp to adopt a 'one member, one vote' system to choose its leader, and which has called for limits on union influence within the party. ==background and elections== stoffer was born in heerlen, netherlands, where his parents worked in the coal mines. after the mines closed down in 1956, they decided to move to canada. his father became a mail carrier, and later worked as the head of a center for the disabled. in 1997, stoffer won his seat by 39 votes.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/fedelect97/97archive/jun3/970603000.html|title=ndp rookie stoffer 
1956_births Dutch_emigrants_to_Canada Living_people Members_of_the_House_of_Commons_of_Canada_from_Nova_Scotia New_Democratic_Party_MPs People_from_Heerlen People_from_Sackville,_Nova_Scotia