Raymond Simard
Encyclopedia
Raymond Simard, PC
(born March 8, 1958) is a politician from Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 2002 to 2008, representing the riding of Saint Boniface
for the Liberal Party of Canada
.
Simard was born in Ste. Anne
, Manitoba. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the College universitaire de Saint-Boniface
, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce
degree from the University of Manitoba
. Simard worked as a businessman and consultant before entering political life, initially for a number of business concerns owned by his family. In 1999, he became the founding President and CEO of Riel Economic Development Corporation, and is also the President and co-owner of Simard Solutions.
In 2002, sitting Saint Boniface MP Ron Duhamel
was appointed to the Canadian Senate
by Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien
. Simard was selected as the Liberal candidate for the resulting by-election
, and on May 13, 2002, he defeated Canadian Alliance
candidate Denis Simard by about 4400 votes.
In parliament, Simard has expressed a special interest in matters relating to francophone
concerns in Canada. His riding is one of the few in western Canada with a significant francophone population (16% list French as their mother tongue, according to the 2001 Canadian census
), and the only such riding which regularly elects francophone candidates to parliament.
In his private business life, Simard was responsible for opening the first bilingual services centre in Canada.
Simard was re-elected in the 2004 federal election
, defeating Conservative
Ken Cooper by about 6,000 votes. On July 20, 2004, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister for Internal Trade
, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
, and Minister responsible for Official Languages with responsibility for Official Languages and Democratic Reform.
In the 2006 federal election, Simard's third election in the federal riding of Saint-Boniface, Simard defeated for a second time Conservative
Ken Cooper however by far fewer votes than previous years. In the same year, Simard was appointed Deputy Whip of Her Majesty's loyal opposition (Canada)
. Simard endorsed Michael Ignatieff
in the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada.
In 2007, Simard was appointed critic of Western Economic Development of her Majesty's loyal opposition.
Simard was defeated by Conservative
candidate Shelly Glover
in the 2008 federal 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 March 8, 1958) is a politician from Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
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...
. He was a member of 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...
from 2002 to 2008, representing the riding of Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface (electoral district)
Saint Boniface is a federal electoral district that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1925. It is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.In 1996, its English name was changed from "St. Boniface" to "Saint Boniface"....
for 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...
.
Simard was born in Ste. Anne
Ste-Anne, Manitoba
Ste. Anne is a town in Manitoba. Its full name is Sainte-Anne-des-Chênes. The population at the last census was 1534. The population was 1513 in 2001 and 1511 in 1996. It is known for being located on the Seine River and at the heart of the Dawson Trail.- History :Originally known as "La...
, Manitoba. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the College universitaire de Saint-Boniface
Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface
The Université de Saint-Boniface, or USB, is a university college affiliated with the University of Manitoba and located in the Saint Boniface district of Winnipeg, Manitoba , Canada....
, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. Simard worked as a businessman and consultant before entering political life, initially for a number of business concerns owned by his family. In 1999, he became the founding President and CEO of Riel Economic Development Corporation, and is also the President and co-owner of Simard Solutions.
In 2002, sitting Saint Boniface MP Ron Duhamel
Ron Duhamel
Ronald J. Duhamel, PC was a Canadian Member of Parliament and Senator.Born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto...
was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
by Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
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....
. Simard was selected as the Liberal candidate for the resulting by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, and on May 13, 2002, he defeated Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
candidate Denis Simard by about 4400 votes.
In parliament, Simard has expressed a special interest in matters relating to francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
concerns in Canada. His riding is one of the few in western Canada with a significant francophone population (16% list French as their mother tongue, according to the 2001 Canadian census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
), and the only such riding which regularly elects francophone candidates to parliament.
In his private business life, Simard was responsible for opening the first bilingual services centre in Canada.
Simard was re-elected in the 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...
, defeating 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...
Ken Cooper by about 6,000 votes. On July 20, 2004, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister for Internal Trade
Minister for Internal Trade (Canada)
The Minister for Internal Trade is a member of the Cabinet of Canada. The minister can be appointed under the Agreement on Internal Trade Implementation Act of 1996, however it was not used until 2005 and by default the Minister of Industry was responsible for the administration of the act.To date...
, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Canada)
The Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons assists the Government House Leader and coordinates with the Chief Government Whip....
, and Minister responsible for Official Languages with responsibility for Official Languages and Democratic Reform.
In the 2006 federal election, Simard's third election in the federal riding of Saint-Boniface, Simard defeated for a second time 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...
Ken Cooper however by far fewer votes than previous years. In the same year, Simard was appointed Deputy Whip of Her Majesty's loyal opposition (Canada)
Official Opposition (Canada)
In Canada, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition , commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition...
. Simard endorsed Michael Ignatieff
Michael Ignatieff
Michael Grant Ignatieff is a Canadian author, academic and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition from 2008 until 2011...
in the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada.
In 2007, Simard was appointed critic of Western Economic Development of her Majesty's loyal opposition.
Simard was defeated by 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 Shelly Glover
Shelly Glover
Shelly A. Glover is a Canadian politician, and is currently the Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Saint Boniface, Manitoba. She is a member of the Conservative Party and is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.Glover won the riding in the 2008 federal election,...
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...
.