Randy Boissonnault

Randy Boissonnault
MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Assumed office
December 2, 2015
Minister Mélanie Joly
Preceded by Richard Dykstra
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Edmonton Centre
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Laurie Hawn
Personal details
Born (1970-07-14) July 14, 1970
Morinville, Alberta
Political party Liberal
Profession Management Consultant
Website rboissonnault.liberal.ca

Randy Boissonnault, MP (born July 14, 1970) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Edmonton Centre as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election.[1]

He is one of six openly LGBT MPs serving in the 42nd Canadian Parliament, alongside Scott Brison, Rob Oliphant, Seamus O'Regan, Randall Garrison and Sheri Benson.[2] He is also the first openly gay MP elected in Alberta. [3]

Early life

Boissonnault was born in the Franco-Albertan town of Morinville, Alberta on July 14, 1970.

After graduating from the University of Alberta, Boissonault studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He subsequently worked as a lecturer at the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean and as a journalist and political commentator for Radio-Canada and Les Affaires.[4]

Political career

Boissonnault was elected in the 2015 election in the riding of Edmonton Centre, the first Liberal MP to win in the riding for over a decade.

Upon being sworn in as a Member of Parliament, Boissonnault was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

When Degas Sikorski, one of Boissonnault's constituents, received a valentine with a homophobic slur on it, Boissonnault delivered a valentine to him signed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Members of Parliament.[5]

On November 15, 2016 Boissonnault was named special advisor on LGBTQ2 issues to the Prime Minister.[6] The role will involve advising Trudeau "on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s LGBTQ2 agenda" including protecting LGBT rights in Canada and addressing both present and historical discrimination.[6]

Election results

Canadian federal election, 2015: Edmonton Centre
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalRandy Boissonnault 19,902 37.19 +13.46 –
ConservativeJames Cumming 18,703 34.95 -11.25 –
New DemocraticGil McGowan 13,084 24.45 -1.37 –
GreenDavid Parker 1,403 2.62 -0.94 –
RhinocerosSteven Stauffer 257 0.48 – –
IndependentKat Yaki 163 0.30 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,512100.00 $210,254.07
Total rejected ballots 2340.44–
Turnout 53,74668.79–
Eligible voters 78,131
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +12.35
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/riding-profile-edmonton-centre
  2. ↑ "Hedy Fry wins decisively as Liberals sweep Canada for majority". Daily Xtra, October 20, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Edmonton's newest Liberal, Randy Boissonnault, got taste for politics at U of A and wanted to bring generational change to national politics". Edmonton Journal", October 21, 2015
  4. ↑ http://randyboissonnault.liberal.ca/biography/ Randy Boissonault - Biography - Liberal.ca
  5. ↑ "Man who got homophobic Valentine at work gets new card signed by Justin Trudeau". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Feds name gay MP as ‘LGBTQ2 issues’ advisor". Daily Xtra, November 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Edmonton Centre (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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