Maria Van Bommel

Maria Van Bommel
MPP for Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
In office
October 2, 2003 – 2011
Preceded by Marcel Beaubien
Succeeded by Monte McNaughton
Personal details
Political party Liberal

Maria Van Bommel is a politician in Ontario, Canada. From 2003 to 2011, she was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the London area riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex for the Ontario Liberal Party.

Van Bommel attended the Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario. Before entering politics, Van Bommel worked in farming, accounting and small business. She owns a poultry farm near Strathroy, Ontario. Van Bommel has served as a provincial director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and was a founding member of the Ontario Farm Women's Network and the Canadian Farm Women's Network. She also served for nine years on the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Board.

Van Bommel entered her political career at the municipal level, serving for two terms in East William Township. In the 2003 provincial election, she defeated incumbent Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Marcel Beaubien by about 3500 votes in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, a predominantly rural riding in the southwest region of the province.

Van Bommel served as the parliamentary assistant to the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services,[1] and served as co-chair of an "Industrial Pollution Action Team" formed by the provincial government. She also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Van Bommel holds some socially conservative views. She opposed same-sex marriage during the 2003 campaign, and is also a vocal opponent of euthanasia.

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Progressive Conservative Monte McNaughton 19,379 45.7 +9.38
     Liberal Maria Van Bommel 12,423 29.3 -13.93
     New Democrat Joe Hill 8,882 21.0 +10.15
     Green James Armstrong 987 2.3 -5.6
     Family Coalition Marinus Vander Vloet 350 0.83 -  
     Reform Brad Harness 232 0.55 -  
     Freedom Tom Jackson 119 0.28 -  
Total valid votes 42,372 100.00
Ontario general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Maria Van Bommel 18,191 43.23 -1.88
     Progressive Conservative Monte McNaughton 15,281 36.32 -0.34
     New Democrat Joyce Jolliffe 4,522 10.75 -0.26
     Green James Armstrong 3,326 7.90 +5.14
     Family Coalition Bill McMaster 547 1.30 -  
     Reform Brad Harness 208 0.49 -  
Total valid votes 42,075 100.00
Ontario general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
     Liberal Maria Van Bommel 18,533 45.11 +2.17
     Progressive Conservative Marcel Beaubien 15,060 36.66 -8.34
     New Democrat Joyce Jolliffe 4,523 11.01 +1.42
     Green Tim Van Bodegom 1,133 2.76 -  
     Independent James Armstrong 1,053 2.56 -  
     Freedom Wayne Forbes 780 1.90 -0.58
Total valid votes 41,082 100.00

References

  1. ^ "Maria van Bommel - Biography". http://www.mariavanbommel.onmpp.ca/biography.htm. "Maria is currently the Parliamentary Assistant to the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services." 

External links