Barry Devolin
Encyclopedia
Barry Devolin, MP is a Canadian
politician. He is a current Member of Parliament serving the riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
.
Devolin was born in Peterborough
and grew up in Haliburton
. While in high school Devolin was selected as an international exchange student by the Haliburton Rotary Club to spend a year in the Netherlands
. After his year abroad, Devolin wanted to become a diplomat and decided to move to Ottawa
to study political science at Carleton University
, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1985. Two years later he received a master's degree in political science from the Stony Brook University. In 1993 Devolin married Ursula Beachli, they have two children, a son and daughter.
Devolin previously ran in the 1993 federal election as a member of the Reform Party
in the riding of Victoria—Haliburton. Devolin placed second in the election, losing to John O'Reilly of the Liberals. Following the 1993 election, Devolin served as the director of research for the parliamentary caucus of the Reform Party. He spent time working in British Columbia and Korea, and in 1994 returned to Canada to assist Chris Hodgson
to seek election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
for Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. After this, he served as Hodgson's chief of staff for a number of years, and then became a political consultant in Toronto.
Devolin did not seek the nomination in Haliburton—Victoria—Brock in the 1997 and 2000 elections. In 2004 he became the candidate for the new Conservative Party of Canada, and was elected in the 2004 election
to represent the newly-redistributed riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
, which largely overlaps his former riding. He received 44% of the popular vote, defeating O'Reilly. In the 2006 election
Devolin was re-elected with 49% of the vote.
After being elected to Parliament Devolin created a non-partisan Farm Council in his riding to advise and inform him on agricultural issues. He also launched "The Capital Experience", a program that takes one or two students from each of the area’s seven high schools to Ottawa
for three days to learn about career opportunities in public life.
Following his reelection in the 2008 election
, he was named assistant deputy chairman of the Committees of the Whole, which makes him one of three presiding officers who may take over for the Speaker in the event of his absence.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician. He is a current Member of Parliament serving the riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. Its population in 2001 was 111,343...
.
Devolin was born in Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
and grew up in Haliburton
Haliburton County, Ontario
Haliburton is a county of Ontario, Canada, known as a tourist and cottage area in Central Ontario for its scenery and for its resident artists. Minden Hills is the county seat. Haliburton County was established in 1983, but had existed as the Provisional County of Haliburton since 1874...
. While in high school Devolin was selected as an international exchange student by the Haliburton Rotary Club to spend a year in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. After his year abroad, Devolin wanted to become a diplomat and decided to move to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
to study political science at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1985. Two years later he received a master's degree in political science from the Stony Brook University. In 1993 Devolin married Ursula Beachli, they have two children, a son and daughter.
Devolin previously ran in the 1993 federal election as a member of the Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
in the riding of Victoria—Haliburton. Devolin placed second in the election, losing to John O'Reilly of the Liberals. Following the 1993 election, Devolin served as the director of research for the parliamentary caucus of the Reform Party. He spent time working in British Columbia and Korea, and in 1994 returned to Canada to assist Chris Hodgson
Chris Hodgson
Chris Hodgson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1994 to 2003, and a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves...
to seek election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
for Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. After this, he served as Hodgson's chief of staff for a number of years, and then became a political consultant in Toronto.
Devolin did not seek the nomination in Haliburton—Victoria—Brock in the 1997 and 2000 elections. In 2004 he became the candidate for the new Conservative Party of Canada, and was elected in the 2004 election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
to represent the newly-redistributed riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. Its population in 2001 was 111,343...
, which largely overlaps his former riding. He received 44% of the popular vote, defeating O'Reilly. In the 2006 election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
Devolin was re-elected with 49% of the vote.
After being elected to Parliament Devolin created a non-partisan Farm Council in his riding to advise and inform him on agricultural issues. He also launched "The Capital Experience", a program that takes one or two students from each of the area’s seven high schools to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
for three days to learn about career opportunities in public life.
Following his reelection in the 2008 election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, he was named assistant deputy chairman of the Committees of the Whole, which makes him one of three presiding officers who may take over for the Speaker in the event of his absence.