Reed Elley
Encyclopedia
Reed Elley was born in Simcoe, Ontario
and was educated at McMaster University
in Hamilton where he obtained a BA in History and an MDiv in Theology. He pastored several churches in the Baptist denomination in three provinces, Ontario
, Alberta
and British Columbia
. In 1967, he married the former Louise Plester from Chemainus, British Columbia
and they raised 8 children, four children of their own as well as four children who became part of their family through their fostering experience. Together, Reed and Louise fostered over 150 children of all ethnic backgrounds and medical problems. Three of their children are first nations and one is physically disabled.
Elley was always interested in politics having grown up in a very political family which successfully managed to combine faith and politics. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
for many years. But in 1987 he was introduced to Preston Manning
and the fledgling Reform Party of Canada
. He joined that party in 1988.
In 1992 he took time off from parish ministry and became more involved politically. He was asked to run the "VOTE NO" campaign in Calgary Centre during the Constitutional Referendum. He then became an area manager for the Reform candidate Jim Silye
. During that time he and his family moved to Vancouver Island
where he became involved in the winning campaign of Bob Ringma
in 1993. After the election he was asked to become president of the Nanaimo-Cowichan Reform Constituency Association and guided it through a difficult time. He remained on the board and served in various capacities.
In 1997, while the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Nanaimo, he was nominated to carry the Reform banner in the next general election. He won that riding handily and began a seven year stint as the Member of Parliament
for Nanaimo Cowichan. He was reelected with an even bigger majority in the election of 2000 sitting as a Canadian Alliance
member. He ended his political career as a member of the new Conservative Party of Canada
, a coalition of the old Progressive Conservative party and the Canadian Alliance.
During his political career he held the positions of deputy chair of the Health Committee for several years as well as serving as Chief Opposition Critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development and also Labour. He served on the Fisheries and Oceans Committee and on the Persons With Disabilities Committee. He had a special interest in the tainted blood scandal and advocated in Parliament and in his riding for those who contracted Hepatitis C
through bad blood. He worked hard on the softwood lumber trade disagreement with the United States
and was an advocate of personal choice for alternative medicines and therapies.
At a critical time he was responsible for getting government funding to help a Vancouver Island committee negotiate with businesses to take over local control of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. This process would not have gone forward without his advocacy in Parliament with the then Minister of Transport
, David Collenette
. He came out of retirement to run again in the 2008 general election but was not successful in winning the seat back for the Conservative party.
In 2010,he was asked to join the Tactical Advisory Group of the new BC Conservative Party. In that capacity he worked with retired federal,provincial and municipal politicians to give guidance to the new party. He was active in starting the first BC Conservative Party riding association in Nanaimo-North Cowichan and became its president in 2011.
Simcoe, Ontario
Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County....
and was educated at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in Hamilton where he obtained a BA in History and an MDiv in Theology. He pastored several churches in the Baptist denomination in three provinces, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. In 1967, he married the former Louise Plester from Chemainus, British Columbia
Chemainus, British Columbia
Chemainus is a community on the east coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.Founded as a logging town in 1858, the town is now famous for its 39 outdoor murals. This outdoor gallery has given birth to 300 businesses, including a theatre, antiques dealers, and eateries. The tourist...
and they raised 8 children, four children of their own as well as four children who became part of their family through their fostering experience. Together, Reed and Louise fostered over 150 children of all ethnic backgrounds and medical problems. Three of their children are first nations and one is physically disabled.
Elley was always interested in politics having grown up in a very political family which successfully managed to combine faith and politics. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
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....
for many years. But in 1987 he was introduced to Preston Manning
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
and the fledgling Reform Party of Canada
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....
. He joined that party in 1988.
In 1992 he took time off from parish ministry and became more involved politically. He was asked to run the "VOTE NO" campaign in Calgary Centre during the Constitutional Referendum. He then became an area manager for the Reform candidate Jim Silye
Jim Silye
Jim Silye is a Canadian politician, businessman, and former professional football player for the Canadian Football League....
. During that time he and his family moved to Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
where he became involved in the winning campaign of Bob Ringma
Bob Ringma
MGen Robert "Bob" Ringma was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1997. By career, he was a soldier for the Canadian Forces....
in 1993. After the election he was asked to become president of the Nanaimo-Cowichan Reform Constituency Association and guided it through a difficult time. He remained on the board and served in various capacities.
In 1997, while the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Nanaimo, he was nominated to carry the Reform banner in the next general election. He won that riding handily and began a seven year stint as the Member of Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
for Nanaimo Cowichan. He was reelected with an even bigger majority in the election of 2000 sitting as a 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...
member. He ended his political career as a member of the new Conservative Party of Canada
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...
, a coalition of the old Progressive Conservative party and the Canadian Alliance.
During his political career he held the positions of deputy chair of the Health Committee for several years as well as serving as Chief Opposition Critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development and also Labour. He served on the Fisheries and Oceans Committee and on the Persons With Disabilities Committee. He had a special interest in the tainted blood scandal and advocated in Parliament and in his riding for those who contracted Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease primarily affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus . The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years...
through bad blood. He worked hard on the softwood lumber trade disagreement with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and was an advocate of personal choice for alternative medicines and therapies.
At a critical time he was responsible for getting government funding to help a Vancouver Island committee negotiate with businesses to take over local control of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. This process would not have gone forward without his advocacy in Parliament with the then Minister of Transport
Minister of Transport (Canada)
The Minister of Transport is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's transportation regulatory and development department, Transport Canada...
, David Collenette
David Collenette
David Michael Collenette, PC was a Canadian politician from 1974 to 2004, and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. A graduate from York University's Glendon College in 1969, he subsequently received his MA from in 2004...
. He came out of retirement to run again in the 2008 general election but was not successful in winning the seat back for the Conservative party.
In 2010,he was asked to join the Tactical Advisory Group of the new BC Conservative Party. In that capacity he worked with retired federal,provincial and municipal politicians to give guidance to the new party. He was active in starting the first BC Conservative Party riding association in Nanaimo-North Cowichan and became its president in 2011.