Emilie Taman

Emilie Rose Taman (born March 2, 1977) is a candidate in the 42nd Canadian general election for the New Democratic Party of Canada in the riding of Ottawa-Vanier. Taman, a federal prosecutor formerly with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, was selected as the NDP candidate on August 26th, 2015 following a contested nomination vote.
Early Life & Education
Emilie Taman was born in Toronto, Ontario and is the eldest child of former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and Ontario's former Deputy Attorney-General Larry Taman. Emilie, alongside siblings Patrick and Catherine, grew up in a household that fostered and encouraged personal engagement and social commitment.
In 2002 Emilie's family moved to Rockcliffe Park in Ottawa.
Emilie attended McGill University from 1996-2000 where she majored in political science and minored in biochemistry. Taman continued her studies at Dalhousie University's Schulich School of Law in Halifax (LLB 2004) earning top marks and various awards including: the Robert E. Bamford Memorial Award, the Smith Shield Moot '03 and the Law Foundation of Nova Scotia scholarship. In her final year at Dalhousie Taman was elected president of the historic Domus Legis Society.
Taman is fluently bilingual.
Personal Life
Taman and her partner, Ottawa criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt, started their family while living in Ottawa's historic ByWard Market. Their three young children Charlotte (Charlie), Henry and Max were all born at Ottawa’s . She and her family now live in Old Ottawa South. Taman chairs the program committee and is vice-president of the local community association.
Taman's personal commitment to affordable childcare saw her featured in The Motherload, an in-depth CBC documentary on the experiences and challenges faced by working mothers.
Career
Upon graduation, Taman clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal for Chief Justice Roy McMurtry and judges Rosenberg, Juriansz, and Simmons. She was then selected for a prestigious clerkship at the Supreme Court of Canada where she worked for Justice Ian Binnie.
After her call to the Bar Taman worked as counsel to the Supreme Court, counsel at for the Department of Justice in Youth Justice Policy, and most recently served as a federal prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
As a federal prosecutor, Taman's practice focused on the prosecution of tax evasion, environmental offences, and human smuggling.
When denied leave of employment, Taman challenged the Public Prosecution Service’s decision in the Federal Court, seeking ”clarification and well-reasoned direction for future PSC decision-makers on how to deal with other prosecutors who could find themselves in my shoes.” Taman's case was heard on September 1, 2015. The court has not yet ruled on the case.

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