Marwan Tabbara

Marwan Tabbara
Born	(1984-08-23) August 23, 1984 Beirut, Lebanon
Occupation	Politician
Years active	2015–2021
Known for	Member of Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler (2015–2021)

Marwan Rached Tabbara (born August 23, 1984) is a former Canadian legislator who served as the representative for the riding of Kitchener South—Hespeler in the House of Commons of Canada from 2015 until 2021. Initially elected during the 2015 federal election as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, he secured re-election in 2019. In 2020, Tabbara left the Liberal caucus after facing criminal charges involving two counts of assault and one count of unlawful entry. Following a guilty plea and conviction, he continued to serve as an independent MP throughout the 43rd Canadian Parliament. He chose not to run in the 2021 federal election.

Early life

Tabbara was born in Beirut, Lebanon on August 23, 1984. His family relocated to Canada when he was four years old to escape the turmoil of the Lebanese Civil War.

He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from the University of Guelph. Prior to his political career, Tabbara held various positions including roles in construction, as a line technician at the Frito Lay facility in Cambridge, and as a field supervisor responsible for quality control within the automotive sector.

Member of Parliament

Throughout his tenure, Tabbara prioritized economic growth in his constituency by facilitating federal investments for major initiatives such as:

• $96 million allocated for widening Highway 401
• $110 million investment directed to Toyota, resulting in 450 new employment opportunities
• $7 million designated for expanding Conestoga College

Citizenship and immigration

Serving on the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and chairing the International Human Rights group, Tabbara played a role in shaping policies that enhanced the Global Skills Strategy, promoted Family Reunification, and aimed to shorten immigration processing times. He advocated for attracting skilled economic immigrants, especially those with expertise in construction and trades, to meet Canada's labor market demands.

International Human Rights Committee

Within the International Human Rights Committee, Tabbara concentrated on human rights violations occurring in South Sudan, Somalia, Syria, and parts of Latin America. His 2017 research on Somalia and South Sudan underscored critical food insecurity affecting over four million individuals, urging Canadian authorities to provide emergency humanitarian assistance. He also highlighted the devastating 2017 Mogadishu truck bombing that claimed 587 lives, drawing attention to persistent political instability and ongoing human rights concerns in the area.

Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups

Tabbara participated actively in numerous parliamentary organizations, including:

• Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association
• Canada-China Legislative Association
• Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association
• Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Association
• Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Association
• Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly
• Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
• Canada Germany Interparliamentary Group

Remarks on the Middle East in 2015

During the 2015 federal election debate in Kitchener South—Hespeler, Tabbara asserted that former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien had declined to deploy Canadian forces to Iraq and Afghanistan, despite Canada's military engagement commencing in 2001. This claim was disputed, resulting in contentious comments for which Tabbara subsequently issued an apology.

Allegations of Sexual Harassment

Tabbara was accused of sexually harassing a female staff member during the period surrounding the 2015 election. An internal review conducted by the Liberal Party found some of the allegations to be credible; nevertheless, he was permitted to stand for re-election in 2019.

2020 Arrest, Charges, and Legal Proceedings

After separating from his former partner, Tabbara was taken into custody on April 9, 2020, in Guelph, Ontario. He faced multiple charges, including two counts of assault, break and enter, and criminal harassment. Due to a publication ban, details available to the public were limited. Although charged, Tabbara withdrew from the Liberal caucus but maintained his position as a Member of Parliament.

The Liberal leadership was initially unaware of these charges because no official police media statement was released. The legal process encountered several postponements, partly due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the case into late 2021. On September 24, 2021, Tabbara entered guilty pleas for two assault charges and unlawfully occupying a residence.

He was granted a conditional discharge accompanied by three years of probation, prohibited from possessing weapons for five years, mandated to complete 120 hours of community service, and subjected to a restraining order. Tabbara expressed that his behavior was uncharacteristic and sought anger management therapy soon after the events. His defense counsel attributed the circumstances to stress related to family matters, professional responsibilities, and the pandemic environment.