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Glenn Thibeault

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Glenn Thibeault
Thibeault in 2014
Ontario Minister of Energy
In office
13 June 2016 – 29 June 2018
PremierKathleen Wynne
Preceded byBob Chiarelli
Succeeded byGreg Rickford
(Energy, Northern Development and Mines)
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Sudbury
In office
5 February 2015 – 7 June 2018
Preceded byJoe Cimino
Succeeded byJamie West
Member of Parliament
for Sudbury
In office
14 October 2008 – 2 January 2015
Preceded byDiane Marleau
Succeeded byPaul Lefebvre
Personal details
Born
Glenn Edward Thibeault

(1969-10-23) 23 October 1969 (age 55)
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Political partyOntario Liberal (2014–present)
Other political
affiliations		New Democratic (2008–2015)
SpouseYolanda Thibeault
Occupation
  • Politician
  • journalist
  • executive director

Glenn Edward Thibeault[1] (born 23 October 1969) is a former Canadian politician. He was Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2015 to 2018 who represented the riding of Sudbury. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of Kathleen Wynne. From 2008 to 2015, he represented the federal electoral district of Sudbury in the House of Commons of Canada as a member of the New Democratic Party.

On 16 December 2014, Thibeault announced that he would be resigning from the House of Commons in order to run for the provincial Ontario Liberal Party in a by-election in the provincial riding of Sudbury for a seat in the Ontario legislature after being recruited by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. His resignation became official on 5 January 2015, shortly before Wynne called the by-election.[2][3][4] He won the by-election on 5 February 2015 but was defeated in the general election in 2018.[5]

Background

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Thibeault was born in Sudbury, and was a newscaster and reporter at local stations CIGM and CJRQ during the 1990s. He later graduated from the developmental services worker program at Cambrian College, and was hired as a behavioural consultant for the West Vancouver School Board in British Columbia. He worked for five years as coordinator at the Mainstream Association for Pro-Active Community Living in Vancouver, and returned to Sudbury in 2003 to become campaign director of the United Way of Sudbury and District.[6] In June 2005, he was promoted to executive director.[7] The United Way held several successful campaigns in this period, increasing its total from $1.3 million in 2003 to $2.3 million in 2007.[8]

Federal politics

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Thibeault won the New Democratic Party's Sudbury nomination in September 2008, after the resignation of previously nominated candidate Gerry McIntaggart and the withdrawal of Dave Battaino from the contest.[9][10] He received endorsements from the Sudbury Star newspaper, the Sudbury and District Labour Council and United Steelworkers of America Local 2020, and won an upset victory over six-term Liberal Party incumbent Diane Marleau.[11][12][13][14]

The Conservative Party won a minority government in this election, and Thibeault entered parliament as a member of the opposition. He was appointed as his party's critic for consumer protection and amateur sport in late November 2008.[15] Along with other New Democratic Party MPs, he later called for an investigation into the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's handling of tainted milk that was sold in Sudbury and other parts of Ontario.[16][17] Thibeault supported a planned coalition government of Liberals and New Democrats in late 2008, and wrote an editorial describing Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a "coward" for proroguing parliament when it appeared his government would be defeated by the coalition in a motion of non-confidence.[18] The coalition was abandoned when Michael Ignatieff became Liberal Party leader, and decided to support the Conservative government's January 2009 budget.[citation needed]

Thibeault called on the federal government to regulate interest rates and fees on credit cards and debit cards in March 2009, describing existing rates as "out of control" and a hindrance to consumers and businesses during an economic downturn.[19][20][21] Finance Minister Jim Flaherty later announced that his government would launch an education campaign and provide for increased disclosure on credit-card statements, but would not regulate rates. Thibeault described this as "disappointing".[22][23][24] On 18 June 2009, Thibeault introduced a private member's bill to cap annual interest rates on credit cards to no more than five per cent above the current Bank of Canada target for overnight rates.[25]

Thibeault also introduced a private member's bill in April 2009 to ensure the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is provided by health insurance programs in every province.[26] He later introduced another private bill to have the third Saturday in June recognized as Emergency Services Appreciation Day in Canada.[27]

Thibeault stood with striking workers from Vale Inco in the summer of 2009, and criticized Industry Minister Tony Clement's announcement that the federal government would not intervene to stop job and production cuts in Sudbury.[28] He called for Clement's resignation after the minister stated that Vale had "saved Sudbury" from becoming a "Valley of Death" by purchasing Inco in 2006.[29] He also protested cuts to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Northern Ontario radio services in this period.[30]

Thibeault, as the New Democrat critic for Sport, has been instrumental in raising national awareness about the very serious increase of violence in amateur sport and the ongoing concussion epidemic plaguing amateur hockey. He called for a Royal Commission to study violence in sports in February 2010; his call has been echoed by others, including Jaime Watt, a conservative strategist.[31] In February 2011, Thibeault introduced Bill C-616, calling for a national strategy to reduce the incidence of serious injury in amateur sport.[32]

He was successfully re-elected in the 2011 election.[33] The next year he supported Thomas Mulcair's successful bid to become leader of the NDP.[3] Thibeault served as caucus chairperson from April 2014 until resigning on 2 December 2014 citing family reasons.[3][34]

Provincial politics

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Thibeault supported Gilles Bisson's bid to lead the Ontario New Democratic Party at its 2009 leadership convention.[35]

Following the resignation of Ontario NDP Sudbury Member of Provincial Parliament Joe Cimino, Thibeault announced on 16 December 2014, that he would be resigning as an NDP MP in order to run in the upcoming by-election in the provincial Sudbury riding as the Ontario Liberal Party's candidate after being appointed the party's candidate by Premier Kathleen Wynne.[3] His appointment faced some controversy when Andrew Olivier, the party's candidate in the 2014 election, alleged that he had been offered a job or appointment by party strategists in exchange for withdrawing his candidacy from the nomination contest, although Thibeault himself was never personally implicated in the allegations.[36]

Thibeault was a Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2015 to 2016.[37]

On 13 June 2016, Thibeault replaced Bob Chiarelli as Minister of Energy in a Liberal cabinet shuffle.[38]

Cabinet positions

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Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Bob Chiarelli Minister of Energy
2016-2018 		Greg Rickford

Electoral record

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2018 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Jamie West 17,386 48.07 +12.92
Progressive Conservative Troy Crowder 8,405 23.24 +15.73
Liberal Glenn Thibeault 8,108 22.42 -18.83
Green David Robinson 1,504 4.16 +0.92
Consensus Ontario Mila Chavez Wong 284 0.79
Libertarian James Wendler 212 0.59
None of the Above David Sylvestre 186 0.51
Independent J. David Popescu 82 0.23 +0.14
Total valid votes 36,167 100.0  
Turnout 54.9
Eligible voters 65,850
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing -1.37
Source: Elections Ontario[39]
Ontario provincial by-election, February 5, 2015: Sudbury
Resignation of Joe Cimino
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Glenn Thibeault 10,618 41.25 +1.91
New Democratic Suzanne Shawbonquit 9,067 35.15 -7.09
Independent Andrew Olivier 3,183 12.34 -27.00
Progressive Conservative Paula Peroni 1,937 7.51 -6.29
Green David Robinson 837 3.24 -0.35
Pauper John Turmel 25 0.10 –
People's Political Party Jean-Raymond Audet 39 0.15 –
Independent J. David Popescu 24 0.09 -0.22
Independent Ed Pokonzie 22 0.09 –
Independent James Waddell 21 0.08 –
Total valid votes 25,795 99.45 +0.56
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 143 0.55 -0.56
Turnout 25,938 39.69 -12.23
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +4.50
Independent candidate Andrew Olivier lost 27.00 percentage points from the 2014 election, when he ran as a Liberal.
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2015). "Official Return from the Records, 088 Sudbury" (PDF). Retrieved 10 August 2017.
2011 Canadian federal election: Sudbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Glenn Thibeault 22,684 49.92 +14.77 –
Conservative Fred Slade 12,881 28.35 +2.56 –
Liberal Carol Hartman 8,172 17.98 -12.22 –
Green Frederick Twilley 1,359 2.99 -4.76 –
First Peoples National Will Morin 229 0.50 -0.42 –
Independent David Popescu 116 0.26 +0.07 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,441 100.00
Total rejected ballots 180 0.39 -0.05
Turnout 45,621 63.89 +5.38
Eligible voters 71,409 – –
2008 Canadian federal election: Sudbury
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Glenn Thibeault 15,094 35.15 +3.20 $71,329
Liberal Diane Marleau 12,969 30.20 −11.37 $50,177
Conservative Gerry Labelle 11,073 25.79 +4.11 $85,730
Green Gordon Harris 3,330 7.75 +5.02 $8,704
First Peoples National Will Morin 397 0.92 $0
Independent David Popescu 80 0.19 +0.08 $148
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,943 100.00 $82,461
Total rejected ballots 192 0.45 −0.03
Turnout 43,135 58.51 −7.48
Electors on the lists 73,724
Note: italicized expenditure totals refer to data that has not yet been finalized by Elections Canada.

References

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  1. ^ @ONPARLeducation (13 July 2022). "Within the halls of the Legislature are walls that contain the names of every Member of Provincial Parliament elected to Ontario's Legislature since 1867" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Benzie, Robert (16 December 2014). "NDP MP defects to run for Wynne's Liberals in Sudbury". Queen's Park Bureau. Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "NDP's Glenn Thibeault to defect to Ontario Liberals: Wynne". CBC News. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Rob (7 January 2015). "Kathleen Wynne calls Sudbury byelection for Feb. 5". Queen's Park Bureau. Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Sudbury decides to go red, despite controversy". Northern Life. 5 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  6. ^ Bradley, Lara (10 September 2003). "United Way director glad to be back home". Sudbury Star. A1.
  7. ^ "United Way to get new boss". Sudbury Star. 10 June 2005. A3.
  8. ^ Punch, Rachel (11 October 2003). "It was a team approach". Sudbury Star. A3.
  9. ^ Punch, Rachel (29 August 2008). "Parties ready for fall vote". Sudbury Star. A1.
  10. ^ "Thibeault lone NDP contender". Sudbury Star. 30 August 2008. A3.
  11. ^ "Thibeault in Sudbury". Sudbury Star (editorial). 11 October 2008. A10.
  12. ^ "NDP candidates get council's nod". Sudbury Star. 13 October 2008. A3.
  13. ^ "Vote NDP, say Steelworkers". Sudbury Star. 14 October 2008. A2.
  14. ^ St. Pierre, Denis (15 October 2008). "Sudbury goes orange". Sudbury Star. A1.
  15. ^ "Thibeault named to NDP posts". Sudbury Star. 26 November 2008. A3.
  16. ^ Bradley, Lara (29 November 2008). "Federal agency concealed tainted milk: MPs". Sudbury Star. A1.
  17. ^ Punch, Rachel (9 December 2008). "Milk contained steel powder". Sudbury Star. A1.
  18. ^ Thibeault, Glenn (5 December 2008). "Prime Minister a coward". Sudbury Star (editoral). A11.
  19. ^ Trichur, Rita (12 March 2009). "MPs press for curbs on credit card firms". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  20. ^ "POLL SHOWS THAT CANADIANS SUPPORT NEW DEMOCRAT PROPOSAL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS" (press release). States News Service. 27 March 2009.
  21. ^ "NEW DEMOCRATS TABLE PLAN FOR CREDIT CARD RELIEF" (press release). States News Service. 22 April 2009.
  22. ^ Schmidt, Sarah (9 May 2009). "New regulations on credit cards needed, but users must wise up, too -- Flaherty". Edmonton Journal. G8.
  23. ^ Trichur, Rita (21 May 2009). "Credit-card firms ordered to come clean with clients". Toronto Star. A1.
  24. ^ "Conservatives fail to stop credit card fleecing [press release]". States News Service. 21 May 2009.
  25. ^ Thibeault, Glenn (18 June 2009). C-426, First Reading (40-3) (Private Member's Bill). House of Commons of Canada. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Federal Autism Legislation, Bill C-360, a 'Step in the Right Direction' [press release]". Market News. 15 April 2009.
  27. ^ "MP wants to recognize emergency response workers". Sudbury Star. 17 July 2009. A3.
  28. ^ "MPs blast government over jobs". Sudbury Star. 11 June 2009. A3.
  29. ^ Mulligan, Carol (21 July 2009). "Calls erupt for Clement's resignation". Sudbury Star. A1.
  30. ^ "Fuming over funding cuts". Timmins Daily Press. 30 March 2009. A5.
  31. ^ Watt, Jamie (16 March 2011). "Watt: Royal Commission needed on hockey violence" (special). CBC. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  32. ^ "New Democrats applaud talks to curb concussion epidemic". New Democratic Party of Canada (press release). 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012.
  33. ^ "Riding results from across Canada". Edmonton Journal. 3 May 2011. A6.
  34. ^ "Roles - Glenn Thibeault - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  35. ^ "NDP candidate nets support". Sudbury Star. 6 February 2009. A3.
  36. ^ Ferguson, Rob (15 January 2015). "Sudbury byelection candidate Andrew Olivier says tapes show Liberals discussed 'jobs' with him". Queen's Park Bureau. Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  37. ^ Fisher, Robert (9 March 2015). "Adding up a scandal: the Sudbury byelection by the numbers: A rundown of how Sudbury-obsessed Queen's Park has become". CBC News. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  38. ^ "Kathleen Wynne's shuffled cabinet features 40% women". CBC News. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  39. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 10-11. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
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