Ron Duhamel

Ronald J. Duhamel
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Saint Boniface
In office 1988–2002
Preceded by	Léo Duguay
Succeeded by	Raymond Simard
Senator for Manitoba, Manitoba
In office January 15, 2002 – September 30, 2002
Appointed by	Jean Chrétien
Personal details
Born	(1938-03-02)March 2, 1938 Saint Boniface, Manitoba
Died	September 30, 2002(2002-09-30) (aged 64)
Political party	Liberal
Cabinet	Minister of Veterans Affairs (2000–2002) Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie) (1999–2002) Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) (Western Economic Diversification) (1997–1999)
Portfolio	Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board (1994–1996) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works (Public Works and Government Services) (1993–1994) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Supply and Services (Public Works and Government Services) (1993–1994)

Ronald J. Duhamel, PC (March 2, 1938 – September 30, 2002) was a Canadian Member of Parliament and Senator.

Biography

Ronald Duhamel was born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Lakehead University and a Master of Arts (MA) and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He was a teacher, school principal, professor at the University of Manitoba, assistant deputy minister of education, and deputy minister of education in Manitoba. He died of cancer on September 30, 2002, survived by his wife Carolyn and three daughters, Kathie, Natalie and Karine.

Political career

Duhamel was elected as a Liberal candidate in the riding of Saint Boniface in the 1988 federal election. He was re-elected in 1993, 1997 and 2000. Duhamel was wildly popular in the riding and never won an election with less than 50% of the vote, winning each of his elections by 52%, 63%, 51% and 52%.

In 2000, Duhamel was appointed to the federal Cabinet by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to the portfolio of Veterans Affairs, a post he held until 2002. Other posts he held include Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works (Public Works and Government Services), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development), Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification), and Secretary of State (Francophonie).

Duhamel was appointed to the Senate on January 15, 2002, representing the senatorial division of Manitoba.

Electoral history

2000 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ronald J. Duhamel	20,173	52.2	+1.0
	Alliance	Joyce M. Chilton	8,962	23.2	+5.2
	New Democratic	John Parry	5,026	13.0	-5.0
	Progressive Conservative	Mike Reilly	4,505	11.7	-0.7
Total valid votes			38,666	100.0

1997 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ronald J. Duhamel	18,948	51.2	-12.2
	New Democratic	Peter Carney	6,663	18.0	+10.9
	Reform	Denis Simard	6,658	18.0	+1.2
	Progressive Conservative	Jennifer Clark	4,555	12.3	+5.1
	Marxist–Leninist	Rubin Kantorovich	171	0.5	+0.3
Total valid votes			36,995	100.0

1993 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ronald J. Duhamel	30,041	63.4	+11.9
	Reform	Alison Anderson	7,959	16.8	+14.1
	Progressive Conservative	Barbara Thompson	3,404	7.2	-26.5
	New Democratic	Pauline Dupont	3,354	7.1	-3.6
	National	Marcelle Marion	2,008	4.2
	Canada Party	Don Dumesnil	329	0.7
	Natural Law	Ginette Robert	250	0.5
	Marxist–Leninist	Sharon Segal	59	0.1
Total valid votes			47,404	100.0

1988 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ronald J. Duhamel	24,117	51.5	+17.5
	Progressive Conservative	Léo Duguay	15,747	33.6	-6.1
	New Democratic	Alan Turner	5,012	10.7	-12.2
	Reform	Gordon G. Duncan	1,281	2.7
	Libertarian	Guy Beaudry	425	0.9
	Independent	Lyle H. Cruickshank	190	0.4
	Independent	Rubin Kantorovich	43	0.1
Total valid votes			46,815	100.0

References

• Ron Duhamel – Parliament of Canada biography
• Debates of the Senate (Hansard), 2nd Session, 37th Parliament, Volume 140, Issue 3