Education
Marissen graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and also attended Simon Fraser University.
National Chiefs Trade Minister
Marissen graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science, and also attended Simon Fraser University.
He has also recently joined Pacific Future Energy Corporation, along with former International Trade Minister Stockwell Day and former National Chiefs of the Assembly of First Nations Shawn Atleo and Ovide Mercredi. Marissen"s older brother is professor of music Michael Marissen, who teaches at Swarthmore College. Upon graduating from Carleton University, Marissen served as the party"s national youth director in the early 1990s, and as an organizer for the Liberal national campaign during the 1993 federal election under then-leader Jean Chrétien.
Marissen was the British Columbia campaign chair for Paul Martin"s successful bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada and then served as the federal Liberals" British Columbia campaign co-chair in the 2004 and 2006 general elections.
In 2003, at the time of the British Columbia Legislature Raids associated with the sale of British Columbia Rail, Marissen was visited at home by the RCMP to be questioned about the individuals under investigation. He was told in writing by the RCMP that he was not under investigation, and that he was the "innocent recipient" of documents then in his possession.
More recently, Premier Clark was cleared of conflict-of-interest allegations made by independent Modern Language Association John van Dongen about Marissen"s consulting work for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce World Markets, unrelated to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce"s handling of the sale of British Columbia Rail. In 2006 Marissen served as campaign manager for Stéphane Dion"s successful campaign to become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
The vote took place at the 2006 leadership convention in Montreal on December 2, 2006.
Dion appointed Marissen, Nancy Girard and Senator David Smith as national campaign co-chairs for the Liberal campaign in the federal election which took place October 14, 2008. While no one predicted victory for the Liberal Party, and Prime Minister Harper was held to a second minority, Mr. Dion was widely criticized for his performance.
Following Dion"s resignation, Marissen supported Michael Ignatieff for Liberal Party leader.
Ignatieff was confirmed as Leader at a national convention in Vancouver in late April 2009. In the most recent federal Liberal leadership contest, Marissen was campaign manager for George Takach for Liberal Party leader.
After Takach withdrew from the contest, Marissen joined him in supporting Justin Trudeau. Most recently, Marissen was very involved in British Columbia Premier Christy Clark"s successful campaign in the 2013 British Columbia provincial election.
Marissen has a long record of involvement in the Liberal Party, joining the party in early high school. Subsequently, Marissen became a political advisor to then cabinet minister David Anderson during his tenures as Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. lieutenant was a come-from-behind victory which many observers viewed as an historic upset.