Bob Speller
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Speller, PC
(born February 29, 1956) is a Canadian
politician.
A member of the Liberal Party of Canada
, Speller was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
four times from 1988 to 2000. He was defeated in 2004
by a 20,938 to 19,277 margin.
Speller was born in Hagersville, Ontario
and, in 1983, married Joan Mouland, with whom he has a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Victoria.
Speller was first elected in the 1988 Canadian federal election
as a member of the Liberal Party, defeating incumbent Bud Bradley
by only 209 votes. Brian Mulroney
's Progressive Conservatives
won the election, however, relegating Speller to opposition Member of Parliament
(MP). As an opposition MP, Speller was Associate Trade Critic, Youth Critic and Chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus.
Speller was re-elected in 1993
, 1997
and 2000
, as a member of the winning party. Jean Chrétien
's Liberals won three successive elections. Speller served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (1994-1995), served on the Canadian Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee, served on the Parliamentary Steel Caucus (1993, 1994, 1998), served on the Joint Inter-Parliamentary Council, and was Chair of the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
(Canadian Branch).
On December 12, 2003, incoming Prime Minister
Paul Martin
named Speller the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Speller represented the constituency of Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
until riding lines were redrawn prior to the June 2004 federal election
. In his new riding of Haldimand—Norfolk
, Speller lost the election to Conservative
candidate Diane Finley
, and formally left cabinet the following July.
In June 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin asked Speller to consider running in the next federal election. Speller ran in the following general election, but was defeated again. Speller did not run in the 2008 federal election
but will run in the upcoming election.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born February 29, 1956) is a Canadian
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.
A member of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, Speller was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
four times from 1988 to 2000. He was defeated in 2004
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...
by a 20,938 to 19,277 margin.
Speller was born in Hagersville, Ontario
Hagersville, Ontario
Hagersville is a community in Haldimand County, Ontario which gained international notoriety in 1990 for a gigantic uncontrolled tire fire which spewed toxic smoke for seventeen days...
and, in 1983, married Joan Mouland, with whom he has a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Victoria.
Speller was first elected in the 1988 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
as a member of the Liberal Party, defeating incumbent Bud Bradley
Bud Bradley
T.A. Bud Bradley was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was a dentist by career....
by only 209 votes. Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
's Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
won the election, however, relegating Speller to opposition Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP). As an opposition MP, Speller was Associate Trade Critic, Youth Critic and Chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus.
Speller was re-elected in 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
, 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
, as a member of the winning party. Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
's Liberals won three successive elections. Speller served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (1994-1995), served on the Canadian Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee, served on the Parliamentary Steel Caucus (1993, 1994, 1998), served on the Joint Inter-Parliamentary Council, and was Chair of the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights...
(Canadian Branch).
On December 12, 2003, incoming Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
named Speller the federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Speller represented the constituency of Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004...
until riding lines were redrawn prior to the June 2004 federal 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...
. In his new riding of Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1997, and since 2004. Its Member of Parliament is Conservative Diane Finley...
, Speller lost the election to Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
candidate Diane Finley
Diane Finley
Diane Finley, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee of cabinet , known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman...
, and formally left cabinet the following July.
In June 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin asked Speller to consider running in the next federal election. Speller ran in the following general election, but was defeated again. Speller did not run in the 2008 federal 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...
but will run in the upcoming election.