Bob Benzen (born March 3, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Calgary Heritage from 2017 to 2022. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on April 3, 2017.[2] He succeeded former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who had resigned as an MP in 2016.
Bob Benzen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Calgary Heritage | |
| In office April 3, 2017 – December 31, 2022[1] | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Harper |
| Succeeded by | Shuvaloy Majumdar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 3, 1959 Three Hills, Alberta, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Sue Benzen |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence(s) | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Profession | Businessman |
Prior to his election, Benzen was a businessman specializing in data storage and information management for energy companies.[3]
Benzen was responsible for initiating Erin O'Toole's removal as Conservative leader in 2022, after he submitted a letter from 36 Conservative MPs calling for a leadership review.[4]
Politics
editBenzen voted in support of Bill C-233, an act to amend the Criminal Code of Canada (sex-selective abortion), which would make it an indictable or summary offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[5][non-primary source needed]
Benzen voted against a bill that would prohibit forcing children or adults to undergo conversion therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation; however, the bill was ultimately passed and conversion therapy in Canada was banned.[6][7]
On October 21, 2022, Benzen announced that he would retire from his role as MP on December 31, 2022.[8] The by-election to replace him was held on July 24, 2023.[9] He was succeeded by Shuvaloy Majumdar.[10]
Electoral record
edit| 2021 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Bob Benzen | 30,870 | 57.66 | -13.07 | $68,220.18 | |||
| New Democratic | Kathleen Johnson | 9,320 | 17.41 | +8.26 | $1,119.48 | |||
| Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 8,960 | 16.73 | +2.77 | $8,531.08 | |||
| People's | Bailey Bedard | 2,682 | 5.01 | +3.06 | $2,115.28 | |||
| Green | Malka Labell | 766 | 1.43 | -2.08 | $21.70 | |||
| Maverick | Annelise Freeman | 714 | 1.33 | – | $4,651.15 | |||
| Rhinoceros | Mark Dejewski | 230 | 0.43 | – | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 53,542 | 99.42 | -0.13 | $111,217.22 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 313 | 0.58 | +0.13 | |||||
| Turnout | 53,855 | 65.89 | -4.76 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 81,735 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | -10.66 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[11] | ||||||||
| 2019 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Conservative | Bob Benzen | 40,817 | 70.72 | -0.76 | $75,391.36 | |||
| Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 8,057 | 13.96 | -7.76 | $6,153.00 | |||
| New Democratic | Holly Heffernan | 5,278 | 9.14 | +6.25 | $143.81 | |||
| Green | Allie Tulick | 2,027 | 3.51 | +1.73 | none listed | |||
| People's | Stephanie Hoeppner | 1,123 | 1.95 | - | none listed | |||
| Independent | Hunter Mills | 228 | 0.40 | - | none listed | |||
| Christian Heritage | Larry R. Heather | 185 | 0.32 | -1.10 | $4,539.49 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 57,715 | 99.55 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 260 | 0.45 | +0.16 | |||||
| Turnout | 57,975 | 70.65 | +37.19 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 82,059 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +3.50 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[12][13][14] | ||||||||
| Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Calgary Heritage Resignation of Stephen Harper | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Conservative | Bob Benzen | 19,383 | 71.47 | +7.71 | ||||
| Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 5,889 | 21.72 | −4.25 | ||||
| New Democratic | Khalis Ahmed | 785 | 2.89 | −4.39 | ||||
| Green | Taryn Knorren | 484 | 1.78 | −0.35 | ||||
| Christian Heritage | Jeff Willerton | 385 | 1.42 | |||||
| Libertarian | Darcy Gerow | 114 | 0.42 | −0.00 | ||||
| National Advancement | Stephen J. Garvey | 76 | 0.28 | |||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 27,116 | 99.71 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 78 | 0.29 | −0.10 | |||||
| Turnout | 27,194 | 33.46 | −39.16 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 81,270 | |||||||
| Conservative hold | Swing | +5.98 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[15] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ https://twitter.com/BobBenzen/status/1609259741322280962 [bare URL]
- ^ "Byelection results: Liberal Mona Fortier, Conservative Bob Benzen projected to win". CBC News, April 3, 2017.
- ^ Bob Benzen Official Website, April 3, 2017.
- ^ "Conservative caucus revolt triggers vote on Erin O'Toole's leadership". Cbc.ca. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ House of Commons (June 2, 2021). "2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ Siever, Kim (June 23, 2021). "Canadian MPs approve conversion therapy ban". Alberta Worker. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ House of Commons (December 8, 2021). "Bill C-4 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)". LEGISinfo.
- ^ "Calgary Heritage MP Bob Benzen to ring in new year with return to private life". 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Federal byelection called for Calgary Heritage - Calgary | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
- ^ https://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx?ed=1612&lang=e [bare URL]
- ^ "forty-fourth general election 2021 — Poll-by-poll results". Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ "forty-third general election 2019 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
External links
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