Mark Strahl
MP
Mark Strahl in 2017
Strahl in 2017
Official Opposition Critic for Labour
In office
September 8, 2020 – November 9, 2021
LeaderErin O'Toole
ShadowingCarla Qualtrough
Succeeded byScott Aitchison
Chief Opposition Whip
In office
July 20, 2017 – September 2, 2020
LeaderAndrew Scheer
Erin O'Toole
Preceded byGord Brown
Succeeded byBlake Richards
Official Opposition Critic for Natural Resources
In office
September 15, 2016 – August 29, 2017
LeaderRona Ambrose
Andrew Scheer
ShadowingJim Carr
Preceded byCandice Bergen
Succeeded byShannon Stubbs
Official Opposition Critic for Fisheries & Oceans
In office
November 20, 2015 – September 14, 2016
LeaderRona Ambrose
ShadowingHunter Tootoo
Dominic LeBlanc
Preceded byRobert Chisholm
Succeeded byTodd Doherty
Member of Parliament
for Chilliwack—Hope
Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon (2011-2015)
Assumed office
May 2, 2011
Preceded byChuck Strahl
Personal details
Born (1978-03-26) March 26, 1978 (age 45)
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Political partyConservative
RelationsChuck Strahl (father)
Deb Strahl (mother)
Residence(s)Chilliwack, British Columbia
ProfessionPolitician

Mark R. Strahl MP (born March 26, 1978) is a Canadian politician. He is the current Conservative Member of Parliament for the riding of Chilliwack—Hope and was first elected in 2011.[1] Strahl is the son of former Conservative MP and federal Cabinet Minister Chuck Strahl, who was the predecessor of the riding.

Career

Starting as an intern in Ottawa with Opposition Leader Preston Manning, Strahl also worked in the offices of former MP Grant McNally (Dewdney—Alouette) and MP Randy Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission).

On March 18, 2011, Strahl succeeded his father as nominee for the Conservative Party in the riding of Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon. The nomination process, which is usually four weeks, lasted only a week. Mark Strahl was endorsed by Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform Party of Canada, who in a particularly poignant moment of nepotism said "Mark Strahl -- by virtue of his family background ... is well prepared for service in the House of Commons."[2]

Former Chilliwack city councillor Casey Langbroek said most Conservative Party members from the riding were upset and that the nomination process effectively barred 80% of party members from running. Party member Alex Moens said "High public office should not be like a family business, where it's passed on from father to son."[3][4]

On May 2, 2011, Strahl was elected to the 41st Canadian Parliament as the member of parliament for Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon. He served as a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence from 2011 to 2013.

On December 13, 2012, Strahl was named the chair of the B.C./Yukon Conservative Caucus.

On September 20, 2013, Prime Minister Stephen Harper named Strahl as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, a role he fulfilled until August 2015.[5]

In 2015, Strahl was re-elected to the 42nd Canadian Parliament. On February 28, 2019, he introduced private member bill C-436 which sought to make November 1 of every year Acromegaly Awareness Day.[6]

in 2021 Strahl was re-elected. However, Strahl was not given a shadow cabinet position.

On February 20, 2022, Mark issued a tweet that stated a constituent named "Brianne" had her bank account frozen for making a $50 donation to the "Freedom Convoy."[7] Vancouver Granville MP Taleeb Noormohamed said he was "quite skeptical" about the claim.[8]

Personal life

Strahl is the son of former Conservative MP and federal Cabinet Minister Chuck Strahl, who held the same riding (with adjustments) from 1993 to 2011.

Strahl and his wife have been married since 1999; they have one son. They currently reside in Chilliwack, British Columbia.

Election results

2019 Canadian federal election: Chilliwack—Hope
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Mark Strahl 26,672 49.6 +7.27 $86,173.66
Liberal Kelly Velonis 10,848 20.2 -13.58 $33,357.09
New Democratic Heather McQuillan 8,957 16.7 +1.50 $9,116.65
Green Arthur Green 5,243 9.8 +5.09 $10,352.47
People's Rob Bogunovic 1,760 3.3 – $5,190.90
Christian Heritage Daniel Lamache 202 0.4 – $2,024.46
Marxist–Leninist Dorothy-Jean O'Donnell 73 0.1 -0.06 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 53,755 100.0
Total rejected ballots 226 0.42
Turnout 53,981 65.68
Eligible voters 82,178
Conservative hold Swing +10.43
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2015 Canadian federal election: Chilliwack—Hope
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Mark Strahl 21,445 42.33 -17.23 $123,128.62
Liberal Louis De Jaeger 17,114 33.78 +22.60 $60,637.40
New Democratic Seonaigh MacPherson 9,218 18.20 -5.30 $33,220.27
Green Thomas Cheney 2,386 4.71 -0.32 $1,715.67
Libertarian Alexander Johnson 416 0.82 – –
Marxist–Leninist Dorothy-Jean O'Donnell 82 0.16 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 50,661 100.00   $204,841.51
Total rejected ballots 154 0.30 –
Turnout 50,815 69.73 –
Eligible voters 72,874
Conservative hold Swing -19.92
Source: Elections Canada[11][12][13]
2011 Canadian federal election: Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Mark Strahl 28,160 57.20 -5.12
New Democratic Gwen O'Mahony 12,691 25.78 +7.02
Liberal Diane Janzen 5,320 10.81 +2.29
Green Jamie Hoskins 2,706 5.50 -3.27
Western Block Clive Edwards 180 0.37 – –
Marxist–Leninist Dorothy-Jean O'Donnell 173 0.35 +0.11 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,230 100.00
Total rejected ballots 152 0.31 +0.04
Turnout 49,382 58.99 +1
Eligible voters 83,713 – –

References

  1. ^ Election 2011: Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon. The Globe and Mail.
  2. ^ "Selection debacle dogs local Tory party". www.chilliwacktimes.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Paul Henderson. "Selection debacle dogs local Tory party". Archived from the original on April 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Michael Smyth (April 1, 2011). "Tories grumbling over fast-track nominations". The Province. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ^ "Chilliwack's Strahl gets nod for role in dad's old ministry". Chilliwack Times. September 20, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Chilliwack-Hope MP, Mark Strahl, introduces his first private members bill in House of Commons". BC Local News. March 9, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  7. ^ Mason, Gary (January 10, 2023). "Opinion: We have questions about Pierre Poilievre's passport story". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  8. ^ B.C. MP claims constituent's bank account was frozen for donating to convoy protest, but won't provide details CBC News 22 February 2022
  9. ^ "October 21, 2019 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Chilliwack—Hope, 30 September 2015
  12. ^ Official Voting Results - Chilliwack—Hope
  13. ^ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.

External links

Members of the House of Commons of Canada
Categories