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Len Webber

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Len Webber
MP
Member of Parliament
for Calgary Confederation
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byRiding Established
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Foothills
In office
November 22, 2004 – September 29, 2014
Preceded byPat Nelson
Succeeded byJim Prentice
Personal details
Born
Leonard Warren Webber[1]

(1960-11-10) November 10, 1960 (age 64)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative (2004-2014)
Independent (2014)
Conservative (2014-present)
Spouse
Heather Macdonald
​
​
(m. 1987; died 2010)​
[2]
ChildrenLauren, Jaime, Kelly
Residence(s)Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Calgary
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Leonard Warren Webber MP (born November 10, 1960) is a Canadian politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Confederation since 2015 as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. During the 43rd Canadian Parliament his private member bill An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (organ and tissue donors) (Bill C-210) was adopted to allow Canadians to indicate their intent to sign up as a donor through their annual income tax return. Previously, he was a Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Foothills from 2004 to 2014, serving cabinet portfolios of Minister of International & Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Aboriginal Relations.

Early life

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Webber was born November 10, 1960, in Calgary, Alberta. His father, Dr. Neil Webber, served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Calgary-Bow from 1975 until 1989 and was also a member of cabinet. (Len) Webber graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and went on to acquire his Journeyman Communications Electrician certificate from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He then pursued work as an apprentice electrician and managed his own contracting company for 10 years. Prior to seeking office, Webber served as vice president and director of the Webber Academy, a private University preparatory school in southwest Calgary founded by Len's father, Neil.

Political career

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Webber first sought public office in the 2004 provincial election in the constituency of Calgary-Foothills. In that election, he received 57% of the vote. In addition to his responsibilities as MLA during his first term, Webber held the position of Deputy Government Whip and was chair of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change, the MLA Review Committee of Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, the Healthy Aging and Continuing Care in Alberta Committee, and the MLA Task Force on Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Alberta. He also acted as co-chair of the MLA Task Force on Continuing Care Health Service and Accommodation Standards Committee and served as a member of numerous other committees and boards.

In the 2008 provincial election, Webber was reelected as MLA for Calgary-Foothills with 48% of the vote. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Homeless Foundation, and WorldSkills Calgary 2009.[3] Webber was re-elected in 2012, and in March 2014 left the Progressive Conservative caucus to sit as an independent in protest against the leadership of Alison Redford.[4]

Webber resigned his seat in the legislature on September 29, 2014,[5] one day after winning the federal Conservative Party of Canada nomination for the newly created urban riding of Calgary Confederation.[6] He was elected in the 2015 federal election, to be the Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation, though his party formed the official opposition.[7] During the 42nd Canadian Parliament he introduced one private member bill which passed the House of Commons but died in the senate. He was re-elected in the 2019 federal election. During the 43rd Canadian Parliament Webber re-introduced his private member bill An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (organ and tissue donors) (Bill C-210), adopted in June 2021 with all party support, to allow Canadians to indicate their intent to sign up as a donor through their annual income tax return.[8][9]

In April 2023, Webber submitted a petition to address abuse in long term care facilities.[10]

Before being elected to the House of Commons, Webber served three terms as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Calgary-Foothills and served in the cabinet portfolios of Minister of International & Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Aboriginal Relations.[11]

Controversy

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In February 2020 Webber faced criticism for accepting a $324,000 transition allowance when moving from a provincial MLA role to a federal MP role. The allowance, intended to ease exiting a political career, was part of Alberta's policy for politicians at the time. Since Webber resigned his seat in the legislature the day after he won the federal Conservative Party of Canada nomination, some criticized the appropriateness of him accepting the transition payment, since he was transitioning only to a higher level of politics.[12]

Personal life

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Webber has three daughters. His wife is deceased. Webber has been involved with Hospice Calgary, the MS Society, the Calgary Foundation, and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC). He is an advocate for events surrounding breast cancer awareness and research. Webber is a recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his many philanthropic contributions.[3]

Electoral record

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Federal

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2021 Canadian federal election: Calgary Confederation
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Len Webber 28,367 46.0 -9.1 $66,944.08
Liberal Murray Sigler 17,560 28.5 +5.9 $95,299.28
New Democratic Gulshan Akter 10,561 17.1 +7.0 $4,394.78
People's Edward Gao 2,670 4.3 +2.6 $2,377.79
Green Natalie Odd 2,295 3.7 -5.0 $16,335.22
Marxist–Leninist Kevan Hunter 178 0.3 +0.1 $0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 61,631 99.4 – $119,393.54
Total rejected ballots 369 0.6
Turnout 62,000 68.02
Eligible voters 91,149
Conservative hold Swing -7.5
Source: Elections Canada[13]
2019 Canadian federal election: Calgary Confederation
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Len Webber 36,312 55.1 +9.2 $83,521.26
Liberal Jordan Stein 14,908 22.6 –20.9 $74,229.77
New Democratic Gurcharan Singh Sidhu 7,312 11.1 +4.0 $1,171.80
Green Natalie Odd 5,700 8.7 +5.5 $27,621.83
People's Colin Korol 1,136 1.7 +1.7 $0.00
Libertarian Tim Moen 407 0.6 +0.6 none listed
Marxist–Leninist Kevan Hunter 117 0.2 – $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 65,892 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 410 0.6 +0.3
Turnout 66,302 72.2
Eligible voters 91,789
Conservative hold Swing +15.05
Source: Elections Canada[14][15][16]
2015 Canadian federal election: Calgary Confederation
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Len Webber 30,669 45.91 –6.52 $153,636.85
Liberal Matt Grant 29,083 43.53 +25.89 $159,579.52
New Democratic Kirk Heuser 4,770 7.14 –8.69 $57,375.70
Green Natalie Odd 2,146 3.21 –10.49 $21,308.54
Marxist–Leninist Kevan Hunter 140 0.21 –0.19 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 66,808 100.00   $228,532.64
Total rejected ballots 216 0.32 –
Turnout 67,024 75.43 –
Eligible voters 88,854
Conservative hold Swing –16.21
Source: Elections Canada[17][18]

Provincial

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2012 Alberta general election
Party Candidate Votes %
Progressive Conservative Len Webber 8,251 53.65
Wildrose Dustin Nau 5,135 33.39
Liberal Kurt Hansen 1,414 9.19
New Democratic Jenn Carkner 578 3.76
Total 15,378
2008 Alberta general election results[19] Turnout 35.24% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive Conservative Len Webber 6,088 48.20% −8.57%
Liberal Mike Robinson 4,909 38.86% 4.12%
Wildrose Alliance Kevin Legare 972 7.70% 3.09%
Green Ian Groll 411 3.25% *
New Democratic Stephanie Sundberg 251 1.99% −1.89%
Total 12,631
Rejected, spoiled and declined 61
Eligible electors / Turnout 36,019  %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −6.35%
2004 Alberta general election results[20] Turnout 37.13% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive Conservative Len Webber 5,819 56.77% −10.64%
Liberal Stephen Jenuth 3,561 34.74% 6.53%
Alberta Alliance Vincent Jansen van Doorn 472 4.61%
New Democratic Malcolm Forster 398 3.88% -0.50%
Total 10,250
Rejected, spoiled and declined 50
Eligible electors / Turnout 27,739  %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −8.59%

References

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  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2014-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ [legacy.com/obituaries/calgaryherald/obituary.aspx?n=heather-macdonald-webber&pid=140292574]
  3. ^ a b "Webber's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography".
  4. ^ Wood, James (March 12, 2014). "MLA won't remain a Tory 'with her as leader of the party'". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  5. ^ "Premier Prentice running in Calgary-Foothills byelection set for Oct. 27". CTV News. September 29, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. ^ "Calgary MLA Len Webber earns Conservative nod for vacant federal riding". Calgary Sun. September 28, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  7. ^ "Calgary Confederation's Len Webber celebrates 'nail biter' victory over Matt Grant". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  8. ^ Maloney, Ryan (January 26, 2021). "Len Webber Hopes Organ Donations Bill Can Be 'Unifying' Moment In New Parliament". HuffPost.
  9. ^ "Bill that looks to make becoming an organ donor even easier passes in House of Commons". CityNews. May 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Petition calls for measures to protect long-term care residents from abuse". The Globe and Mail. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Len Webber, MP | Calgary Confederation". Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  12. ^ "Calgary MP taking heat for cashing transition allowance, but isn't the first | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  13. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts".
  14. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  15. ^ "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  17. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Calgary Confederation (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  18. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 206–209.
  20. ^ "Calgary-Foothills Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
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