Raymond Simard
Member of Parliament
for Saint Boniface
In office
May 13, 2002 – October 14, 2008
Preceded byRonald Duhamel
Succeeded byShelly Glover
Personal details
Born (1958-03-08) March 8, 1958
Ste-Anne, Manitoba
Political partyLiberal
SpouseMarguerite Desrosiers
ResidenceSaint Boniface, Winnipeg
Professionbusiness consultant

Raymond Simard, PC (born March 8, 1958) is a politician from Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 2002 to 2008, representing the riding of Saint Boniface for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Simard was born in Ste. Anne, Manitoba. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College universitaire de Saint-Boniface, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba. Simard worked as a businessman and consultant before entering political life, initially for a number of business concerns owned by his family. In 1999, he became the founding President and CEO of Riel Economic Development Corporation, and is also the President and co-owner of Simard Solutions.

In 2002, sitting Saint Boniface MP Ron Duhamel was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Simard was selected as the Liberal candidate for the resulting by-election, and on May 13, 2002, he defeated Canadian Alliance candidate Denis Simard by about 4400 votes.[1]

In parliament, Simard has expressed a special interest in matters relating to francophone concerns in Canada. His riding is one of the few in western Canada with a significant francophone population (16% list French as their mother tongue, according to the 2001 Canadian census), and the only such riding which regularly elects francophone candidates to parliament.

In his private business life, Simard was responsible for opening the first bilingual services centre in Canada.

Simard was re-elected in the 2004 federal election, defeating Conservative Ken Cooper by about 6,000 votes. On July 20, 2004, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Internal Trade, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Minister responsible for Official Languages with responsibility for Official Languages and Democratic Reform.

In the 2006 federal election, Simard's third election in the federal riding of Saint-Boniface, Simard defeated for a second time Conservative Ken Cooper however by far fewer votes than previous years. In the same year, Simard was appointed Deputy Whip of Her Majesty's loyal opposition (Canada). Simard endorsed Michael Ignatieff in the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada.

In 2007, Simard was appointed critic of Western Economic Development of her Majesty's loyal opposition.

Simard was defeated by Conservative candidate Shelly Glover in the 2008 federal election.[2] He ran again in the 2011 election losing to Glover.[3][4]

Electoral history

2011 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeShelly Glover21,73750.3+4.0$84,354.60
LiberalRaymond Simard13,31430.8-4.3$82,059.23
New DemocraticPatrice Miniely6,93516.0+2.9$1,082.97
GreenMarc Payette1,2452.9-2.1$950.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,231100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 181 0.4+0.1
Turnout 43,41267.18+2.86
Eligible voters 64,620 ––
2008 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeShelly Glover19,44046.3+11.3$71,480
LiberalRaymond Simard14,72835.1-3.5$78,353
New DemocraticMatt Schaubroeck5,50213.1-8.8$12,641
GreenMarc Payette2,1045.0+1.2$8,506
Christian HeritageJustin Gregoire1950.5-0.2$12
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,969100.0 $79,503
Total rejected ballots 1330.3-0.1
Turnout 42,10264.32-1.6
2006 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRaymond Simard16,41738.6-8.0$72,056
ConservativeKen Cooper14,89335.04.0$57,276
New DemocraticMathieu Allard9,31121.9+3.9$23,405
GreenMarc Payette1,6403.9+1.5$4,830
Christian HeritageJane MacDiarmid2850.7-0.3$503
Total valid votes 42,546100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 1630.40.0
Turnout 42,70966.9+6.2
2004 Canadian federal election: Saint Boniface—Saint Vital
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRaymond Simard17,98946.6+3.8$64,019
ConservativeKen Cooper11,95631.0-8.1$71,843
New DemocraticMathieu Allard6,95418.0+3.0$9,928
GreenDaniel Backé9252.4–$202
Christian HeritageJeannine Moquin-Perry3781.00.0$7,690
MarijuanaChris Buors3170.8-1.3–
CommunistGérard Guay770.2–$654
Total valid votes 38,596100.0 –
Total rejected ballots 1300.3
Turnout 38,72660.7
Canadian federal by-election, 13 May 2002
Party Candidate Votes%±%
On Mr. Duhamel being called to the Senate, 15 January 2002
LiberalRaymond Simard8,86242.8-9.3
AllianceDenis Simard4,49721.7-1.4
Progressive ConservativeMike Reilly3,58317.35.7
New DemocraticJohn Parry3,10615.0+2.0
MarijuanaChris Buors4352.1
Christian HeritageJean-Paul Kabashiki2101.0
Total valid votes 20,693 100.0

References

  1. ↑ "Liberals reel from by-election defeats". The Globe and Mail. 14 May 2002. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "'Damn! It feels good': Glover on Saint Boniface victory". CBC News. 15 October 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "St. Boniface picks Glover over Simard again". Winnipeg Free Press. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Glover gets Saint Boniface". CTV News. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
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