Maria Van Bommel

Maria Van Bommel
Ontario MPP
In office
2003–2011
Preceded by Marcel Beaubien
Succeeded by Monte McNaughton
Constituency Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
Personal details
Born London, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Rene van Bommel
Occupation Farmer

Maria Van Bommel is a former 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.

Background

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.

Politics

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 Marcel Beaubien by about 3,500 votes in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, a predominantly rural riding in the southwest region of the province.[1]

Van Bommel served as the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, 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.

She was defeated by Monte McNaughton in the 2011 provincial election by nearly 7,000 votes.[2]

Electoral record

Ontario general election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeMonte McNaughton 19,379 45.7 +9.38
LiberalMaria Van Bommel 12,423 29.3 -13.93
New DemocraticJoe Hill 8,882 21.0 +10.15
GreenJames Armstrong 987 2.3 -5.6
Family CoalitionMarinus Vander Vloet 350 0.83
ReformBrad Harness 232 0.55
FreedomTom Jackson 119 0.28
Total valid votes 42,372 100.00
Ontario general election, 2007
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMaria Van Bommel 18,191 43.23 -1.88
Progressive ConservativeMonte McNaughton 15,281 36.32 -0.34
New DemocraticJoyce Jolliffe 4,522 10.75 -0.26
GreenJames Armstrong 3,326 7.90 +5.14
Family CoalitionBill McMaster 547 1.30
ReformBrad Harness 208 0.49
Total valid votes 42,075 100.00
Ontario general election, 2003
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMaria Van Bommel 18,533 45.11 +2.17
Progressive ConservativeMarcel Beaubien 15,060 36.66 -8.34
New DemocraticJoyce Jolliffe 4,523 11.01 +1.42
GreenTim Van Bodegom 1,133 2.76
IndependentJames Armstrong 1,053 2.56
FreedomWayne Forbes 780 1.90 -0.58
Total valid votes 41,082 100.00

References

  1. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  2. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 8. Retrieved 2014-03-02.

External links