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
Three Hills, Alberta, Canada
PartyConservative
SpouseSue Benzen
Children3
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]

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 –13.06 $67,437.01
New Democratic Kathleen M. Johnson 9,320 17.41 +8.27 $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 – none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 53,542 99.42 – $111,217.22
Total rejected ballots 313 0.58 +0.13
Turnout 53,855 66.18 –4.47
Eligible voters 81,375
Conservative hold Swing -10.66
Source: Elections Canada[11][12][13]
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 $4,785.78
New Democratic Holly Heffernan 5,278 9.14 +6.25 $143.81
Green Allie Tulick 2,027 3.51 +1.73 $919.83
People's Stephanie Hoeppner 1,123 1.95 – $4,376.81
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 – $108,766.26
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[14][15][16]
Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Calgary Heritage
Resignation of Stephen Harper
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Bob Benzen 19,383 71.48 +7.71 $105,821.01
Liberal Scott Forsyth 5,889 21.72 –4.25 $52,539.03
New Democratic Khalis Ahmed 785 2.89 –4.39 $1,292.92
Green Taryn Knorren 484 1.78 –0.35 none listed
Christian Heritage Jeff Willerton 385 1.42 – $27,034.59
Libertarian Darcy Gerow 114 0.42 +0.00 none listed
National Advancement Stephen J. Garvey 76 0.28 – $594.45
Total valid votes/expense limit 27,116 99.71 – $113,917.11
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[17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ "Bob Benzen 🇨🇦 on Twitter".
  2. ^ "Byelection results: Liberal Mona Fortier, Conservative Bob Benzen projected to win". CBC News, April 3, 2017.
  3. ^ Bob Benzen Official Website Archived 2017-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, 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. ^ Canada, Elections. "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". enr.elections.ca. Archived from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  11. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Calgary Heritage, Alberta (2021)". lop.parl.ca.
  12. ^ "Forty-Fourth General Election 2021 — Poll-by-poll Results: Calgary Heritage". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2021.
  13. ^ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2021). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2021 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  14. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Calgary Heritage, Alberta (2019)". lop.parl.ca.
  15. ^ "Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll Results: Calgary Heritage". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2019.
  16. ^ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2019). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2019 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  17. ^ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Calgary Heritage, Alberta (2017)". lop.parl.ca.
  18. ^ "April 3, 2017, By-Election – Poll-by-Poll Results: Calgary Heritage". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2017.
  19. ^ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2017). "Candidate Campaign Returns, April 3, 2017, By-Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
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