Robert Nicholson was first elected to Parliament in 1984 and re-elected in 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

In February 2015, Mr. Nicholson was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Previously, he was appointed Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform in February 2006, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada in January 2007, and Minister of National Defence in July 2013.

During his first term in Parliament, Mr. Nicholson served as Minister for Science and Minister responsible for Small Business. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Mr. Nicholson was also active in municipal politics and was elected to the Niagara Regional Council in 1997, 2000 and 2003.

A practising lawyer before entering politics, Mr. Nicholson has a law degree from the University of Windsor, and he is a member of the Upper Canada Law Society.

Mr. Nicholson is married to Arlene and is the father of three children.