Randall Garrison

Randall C. Garrison, born on August 27, 1951, is a prominent Canadian politician and criminologist, known for his impactful contributions to social justice and human rights. Elected to the House of Commons in the 2011 federal election, he represented the electoral district of Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke as a member of the New Democratic Party until 2025. Garrison has held significant roles within the party, including critic for justice and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, as well as deputy critic for National Defence.

Throughout his tenure, Garrison has been a staunch advocate for progressive reforms. He played a crucial role in the successful ban on conversion therapy in Canada and was instrumental in the inclusion of transgender rights in the Canadian Human Rights Code and the criminal code's hate crimes section. His efforts also led to the elimination of criminal records for simple possession of drugs and the lifting of the ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men.

In addition to his political career, Garrison has a rich background in academia, having served as a criminology and political science instructor at Camosun College. He is openly gay and shares his life with his husband, Teddy Pardede. Garrison's commitment to social causes extends beyond Canada; he has been involved with various non-profit organizations and has served on the Esquimalt Police Board.

As an international human rights activist, Garrison's work has taken him to various parts of the world. He has conducted policing research in Afghanistan with Amnesty International, participated in a Christian-Muslim peace-building project in Indonesia for the International Catholic Migration Commission, and co-coordinated an international human rights observer mission during the East Timor independence referendum in 1999. In May 2010, he served as an international observer for the People's International Observers Mission during the national elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines.