Bob Benzen

Bob Benzen
Member of Parliament
for Calgary Heritage
In office
April 3, 2017 – December 31, 2022[1]
Preceded byStephen Harper
Succeeded byShuvaloy Majumdar
Personal details
Born (1959-03-03) March 3, 1959 (age 65)
Three Hills, Alberta, Canada
Political partyConservative
SpouseSue Benzen
Children3
Residence(s)Calgary, Alberta, Canada
ProfessionBusinessman

Bob Benzen (born March 3, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Calgary Heritage from 2017 to 2022. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on April 3, 2017.[2] He succeeded former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who had resigned as an MP in 2016.

Prior to his election, Benzen was a businessman specializing in data storage and information management for energy companies.[3]

Benzen was responsible for initiating Erin O'Toole's removal as Conservative leader in 2022, after he submitted a letter from 36 Conservative MPs calling for a leadership review.[4]

Politics

Benzen voted in support of Bill C-233, an act to amend the Criminal Code of Canada (sex-selective abortion), which would make it an indictable or summary offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[5][non-primary source needed]

Benzen voted against a bill that would prohibit forcing children or adults to undergo conversion therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation; however, the bill was ultimately passed and conversion therapy in Canada was banned.[6][7]

On October 21, 2022, Benzen announced that he would retire from his role as MP on December 31, 2022.[8] The by-election to replace him was held on July 24, 2023.[9] He was succeeded by Shuvaloy Majumdar.[10]

Electoral record

2021 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Bob Benzen 30,870 57.66 -13.07 $68,220.18
New Democratic Kathleen Johnson 9,320 17.41 +8.26 $1,119.48
Liberal Scott Forsyth 8,960 16.73 +2.77 $8,531.08
People's Bailey Bedard 2,682 5.01 +3.06 $2,115.28
Green Malka Labell 766 1.43 -2.08 $21.70
Maverick Annelise Freeman 714 1.33 – $4,651.15
Rhinoceros Mark Dejewski 230 0.43 – $0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,542 99.42 -0.13 $111,217.22
Total rejected ballots 313 0.58 +0.13
Turnout 53,855 65.89 -4.76
Eligible voters 81,735
Conservative hold Swing -10.66
Source: Elections Canada[11]
2019 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Bob Benzen 40,817 70.72 -0.76 $75,391.36
Liberal Scott Forsyth 8,057 13.96 -7.76 $6,153.00
New Democratic Holly Heffernan 5,278 9.14 +6.25 $143.81
Green Allie Tulick 2,027 3.51 +1.73 none listed
People's Stephanie Hoeppner 1,123 1.95 - none listed
Independent Hunter Mills 228 0.40 - none listed
Christian Heritage Larry R. Heather 185 0.32 -1.10 $4,539.49
Total valid votes/expense limit 57,715 99.55
Total rejected ballots 260 0.45 +0.16
Turnout 57,975 70.65 +37.19
Eligible voters 82,059
Conservative hold Swing +3.50
Source: Elections Canada[12][13][14]
Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Calgary Heritage
Resignation of Stephen Harper
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Bob Benzen 19,383 71.47 +7.71
Liberal Scott Forsyth 5,889 21.72 −4.25
New Democratic Khalis Ahmed 785 2.89 −4.39
Green Taryn Knorren 484 1.78 −0.35
Christian Heritage Jeff Willerton 385 1.42
Libertarian Darcy Gerow 114 0.42 −0.00
National Advancement Stephen J. Garvey 76 0.28
Total valid votes/expense limit 27,116 99.71 –  
Total rejected ballots 78 0.29 −0.10
Turnout 27,194 33.46 −39.16
Eligible voters 81,270
Conservative hold Swing +5.98
Source: Elections Canada[15]

References

  1. ^ https://twitter.com/BobBenzen/status/1609259741322280962 [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Byelection results: Liberal Mona Fortier, Conservative Bob Benzen projected to win". CBC News, April 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Bob Benzen Official Website, April 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "Conservative caucus revolt triggers vote on Erin O'Toole's leadership". Cbc.ca. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  5. ^ House of Commons (June 2, 2021). "2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Siever, Kim (June 23, 2021). "Canadian MPs approve conversion therapy ban". Alberta Worker. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  7. ^ House of Commons (December 8, 2021). "Bill C-4 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)". LEGISinfo.
  8. ^ "Calgary Heritage MP Bob Benzen to ring in new year with return to private life". 20 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Federal byelection called for Calgary Heritage - Calgary | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  10. ^ https://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx?ed=1612&lang=e [bare URL]
  11. ^ "forty-fourth general election 2021 — Poll-by-poll results". Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  13. ^ "forty-third general election 2019 — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  14. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-31.


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