Mauril Bélanger

The Honourable
Mauril A. Bélanger
Member of Parliament
for Ottawa—Vanier
Incumbent
Assumed office
1995
Preceded by Jean-Robert Gauthier
Personal details
Born June 15, 1955
Mattawa, Ontario
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Catherine Bélanger
Residence Ottawa
Profession Administrator, political adviser
Religion Roman Catholic[1]

Mauril A. Bélanger, PC, MP (born June 15, 1955) is a Member of the Canadian Parliament from the Liberal Party, representing Ottawa-Vanier. Bélanger has been involved in advocacy for the rights of Franco-Ontarians.

Bélanger was first elected to Parliament on February 13, 1995 in a by-election. His predecessor, Jean-Robert Gauthier, was appointed to the Senate.

Bélanger represents the riding of Ottawa—Vanier in the eastern part of the city, an electoral district containing diverse economic and social classes. It is home to many ethnic communities and has a large Francophone population. Ottawa-Vanier is considered a solid Liberal riding, having returned a Liberal MP since its creation in 1935, usually in a landslide. Bélanger himself has won by large margins in the 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008 elections. He won re-election for a seventh term by a reduced margin with 38.2% of the vote in the May 2011 election.

As member of Parliament, Bélanger has served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, member of the Standing Committee on the Library of Parliament and member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Urban Issues. From July 1998 to August 2000, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. In December 2003, he was appointed Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Chief Government Whip.

Positions

Belanger has earned recognition for his promotion of francophone rights.

He has also stated his belief in the value of co-ops, and is currently the Liberal party advocate for co-operatives.

"Co-operatives create jobs and contribute to regional economies where private businesses would not see the desired returns on equity. This is particularly true in rural areas, where often the only convenient store or gas station is a Co-op and the only financial institution in town is a credit union. Co-operatives follow a model that greatly empowers each member, resulting in a wonderful combination of business success and social responsibility—which plays an important role in the economy and in our communities."[2]

In 2012, Belanger asked the House of Commons to create a committee to examine the role of co-ops in the Canadian economy. This motion was unanimously passed by the House of Commons.[3]

Early life

Bélanger was born in Mattawa, Ontario, a small logging town in Eastern Ontario.

He graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1977, where he had served as President of the Student Federation. In the early 1980s, he worked for Jean-Luc Pépin, then Minister of Transport. In the mid to late 1980s, he worked as a registered investment advisor. He was then the Chief of Staff to Peter Clark (Chair of the Regional Council of Ottawa-Carleton).

Honours

He was given the title of Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Pléiade in 2005. The Ordre de la Pléiade is a francophone order which focuses on contributions made to international friendship and cooperation. In 2007, László Sólyom, President of Hungary, made him an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary. In April 2009, the Royal Canadian Legion recognized Belanger's for his contribution to the promotion of goodwill.

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalMauril Bélanger 20,009 38.17 -8.03
New DemocraticTrevor Haché 15,391 29.36 +12.30
ConservativeRem Westland 14,184 27.06 -0.22
GreenCaroline Rioux 2,716 5.18 -3.40
Marxist–LeninistChristian Legeais 122 0.23 -0.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,422100.00
Total rejected ballots 3160.60 +0.07
Turnout 52,73868.24+4.20
Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalMauril Bélanger 23,948 46.20 +3.89 $79,668
ConservativePatrick Glémaud 14,138 27.28 -1.39 $53,405
New DemocraticTrevor Haché 8,845 17.06 -4.75 $30,040
GreenAkbar Manoussi 4,447 8.58 +1.98 $3,842
IndependentRobert Larter 227 0.44 –
Marxist–LeninistChristian Legeais 130 0.25 +0.04
Canadian ActionMichel St-Onge 100 0.19 – $149
Total valid votes/Expense limit 51,835100.00$85,605
Total rejected ballots 2770.53
Turnout 52,11264.04
     Liberal hold Swing +2.64
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMauril Bélanger 23,567 42.31 -6.86
ConservativePaul Benoit 15,970 28.67 +4.48
New DemocraticRic Dagenais 12,145 21.81 +3.27
GreenRaphaël Thierrin 3,675 6.60 -0.27
Progressive CanadianJames C. Parsons 221 0.40
Marxist–LeninistAlexandre Legeais 117 0.21 -0.28
Total valid votes 55,695100.00
     Liberal hold Swing -5.67
Canadian federal election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMauril Bélanger 25,952 49.17 -6.40
ConservativeKevin Friday 12,769 24.19 -6.95
New DemocraticRic Dagenais 9,787 18.54 +9.83
GreenRaphaël Thierrin 3,628 6.87 +4.62
MarijuanaCarol Taylor 558 1.06 -0.45
Marxist–LeninistFrançoise Roy 85 0.49 +0.34
Total valid votes 52,779100.00
Canadian federal election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMauril Bélanger 26,749 55.57 -6.30
AllianceNestor Gayowsky 7,590 15.77 +5.97
Progressive ConservativeStephen Woollcombe 7,400 15.37 +1.77
New DemocraticJoseph Zebrowski 4,194 8.71 -3.28
GreenAdam Sommerfeld 1,083 2.25 +0.94
MarijuanaRaymond Turmel 728 1.51
Natural LawPierrette Blondin 187 0.39 -0.27
Canadian ActionRaymond Samuéls 131 0.27
Marxist–LeninistKim Roberge 74 0.15 -0.13
Total valid votes 48,136100.00
Canadian federal election, 1997
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalMauril Bélanger 30,728 61.87 +1.14
Progressive ConservativeLuc Edmund Barrick 6,754 13.60 +3.92
New DemocraticDavid Gagnon 5,952 11.99 +5.57
ReformRoy Grant 4,868 9.80 -10.76
GreenRichard Guy Briggs 651 1.31
Natural LawRoger Bouchard 330 0.66 +0.10
IndependentCésar Antonio Bello 241 0.49
Marxist–LeninistRobert Rival 138 0.28 -0.03
Total valid votes 49,662 100.00
Canadian federal by-election, February 13, 1995: Ottawa—Vanier
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalMauril Bélanger 11,918 60.06 -10.41 $52,001
  Reform Kevin Gaudet 4,034 20.33 +12.44 $36,995
  Progressive Conservative Françoise Guenette 1,899 9.57 -0.96 $30,933
  New Democratic Party Bob Lawson 1,259 6.34 -0.16 $5,764
  Christian Heritage Gilles Gauthier 299 1.51 $1,751
GreenFrank de Jong 218 1.10 -0.24 $0
  Natural Law Ian A.G. Campbell 109 0.55 -0.35 $131
  Marxist-Leninist Serge Lafortune 61 0.31 +0.02 $136
  Abolitionist John Turmel 46 0.23 +0.17 $0
Total valid votes 19,843 100.00
Total rejected ballots 201
Turnout 20,004 30.39 -32.04
Electors on the lists 65,824

References

  1. ↑ "Catholic MPs stand ground on abortion despite threat". Ottawa Citizen. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  2. ↑ http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/blog/happy-coop-week/
  3. ↑ http://axiomnews.ca/node/3781

External links

27th Ministry – Cabinet of Paul Martin
Cabinet Posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
vacant Minister for Internal Trade
2005–2006		 vacant
Albina Guarnieri Associate Minister of National Defence
2004–2006		 vacant
' Minister of State
2003–2004
styled as
Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons		 '
Special Cabinet Responsibilities
Predecessor
 Title Successor
Pierre Pettigrew Minister responsible for Official Languages
2004–2006		 Josée Verner
Jacques Saada Minister responsible for Democratic Reform
2004–2005		 Position retitled - see Belinda Stronach
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
Paul DeVillers Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
(2003–2006)		 vacant