Greg Thompson

Gregory Francis Thompson, PC (March 28, 1947 – September 10, 2019[1]) was a Canadian politician who served six terms as a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the district of Saint Croix in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly from 2018 until 2019.

For other people named Greg Thompson, see Greg Thompson (disambiguation).
The Honourable

Greg Thompson

PC
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of New Brunswick
In office
November 9, 2018 – September 10, 2019
PremierBlaine Higgs
Preceded byFrancine Landry
Succeeded byBlaine Higgs
Member of the
New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for Saint Croix
In office
September 24, 2018 – September 10, 2019
Preceded byJohn Ames
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
February 6, 2006 – January 16, 2010
Prime MinisterStephen Harper
Preceded byAlbina Guarnieri
Succeeded byJean-Pierre Blackburn
Member of Parliament
for New Brunswick Southwest
In office
June 2, 1997 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byJohn Williamson
Member of Parliament
for Carleton—Charlotte
In office
November 21, 1988 – October 25, 1993
Preceded byFred McCain
Succeeded byHarold Culbert
Personal details
Born(1947-03-28)March 28, 1947
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
DiedSeptember 10, 2019(2019-09-10) (aged 72)
Saint John, New Brunswick
Political partyProgressive Conservative (2018 - 2019)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse(s)Linda Thompson

Political career

Thompson was formerly a high school history teacher at Fundy High School from 1975–1980.[2]

Thompson, a high school teacher, a businessman and financial planner was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1988 Canadian federal election as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected in the riding of Carleton—Charlotte. His bid for re-election in the 1993 Canadian federal election was unsuccessful and he was defeated by Harold Culbert of the Liberal Party of Canada by fewer than 1,000 votes.

Thompson however ran again in the next election and was re-elected in the riding of Charlotte, where he defeated Culbert. Thompson was re-elected in the 2000 Canadian federal election in the riding of New Brunswick Southwest and again the 2004 Canadian federal election in the riding of St. Croix—Belleisle. Shortly before the 2004 election, he joined the new Conservative Party of Canada. He was re-elected in the 2006 federal election. In the 2008 federal election he was elected for a sixth term in the riding of New Brunswick Southwest by garnering over 58% of the vote.

During his time in parliament, he has served as the critic of Human Resources Development, the Treasury Board, Regional Development, Health, and Public Accounts, as well as critic of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. On February 6, 2006, he was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs in Stephen Harper's Cabinet. In April 2007, he and Harper told the press in Kitchener, Ontario that a Veterans' Bill of Rights would come into effect soon and there would be a new ombudsman for veterans along with it.[3]

Thompson resigned from his position in Cabinet on January 16, 2010, because years of travel had worn him down and he wasn't looking forward to making a trip to New Zealand due to the length and time he had to invest in the trip. He also announced he would not run in the 2011 federal election.[4][5]

Veterans Affairs privacy issues
Thompson speaking with veterans at the ceremony marking the 89th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

In October 2010, Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart uncovered evidence that widespread privacy abuses had been occurring at Veterans Affairs Canada. Among the cases where privacy issues were investigated is that in which highly personal information of an outspoken critic of Veterans Affairs, including confidential medical and financial information, was included in briefing notes prepared for then-minister Greg Thompson.[6][7][8]

Provincial Politics

In 2018 Thompson ran provincially under the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Saint Croix and won. He served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs until his death in September 2019.[9]

Electoral record
2018 New Brunswick general election: Saint Croix
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Thompson3,24939.21+0.02
LiberalJohn Ames2,43629.40-12.34
People's AllianceJoyce Wright1,46617.69+11.74
GreenDonna Linton1,04712.63+6.27
New DemocraticJan Underhill891.07-5.69
Total valid votes 8,28799.83
Total rejected ballots 140.17-0.15
Turnout 8,30166.19+7.22
Eligible voters 12,176
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.18
2008 Canadian federal election: New Brunswick Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeGreg Thompson17,47458.3+3.5
LiberalNancy MacIntosh5,86319.6-7.2
New DemocraticAndrew Graham4,95816.5+0.9
GreenRobert Wayne Boucher1,6675.6+2.8
Total valid votes 29,962
Total rejected ballots 180
Total number of votes 30,142
2006 Canadian federal election: New Brunswick Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeGreg Thompson18,15554.8+1.7
LiberalStan Smith8,87726.8-4.7
New DemocraticAndrew Graham5,17815.6+3.9
GreenErik Millett9222.8-0.3
2004 Canadian federal election: St. Croix—Belleisle
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeGreg Thompson16,33953.1
LiberalJames Dunlap9,70231.5+4.0
New DemocraticPatrick Webber3,60011.7+7.9
GreenErik Millett9603.1
Canadian ActionDavid Szemerda1940.6
Total valid votes 30,795
2000 Canadian federal election: New Brunswick Southwest
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Thompson14,48947.2+2.3
LiberalWinston Gamblin8,44227.5+1.8
AllianceJohn Erbs6,56221.4
New DemocraticHabib Kilisli1,1733.8-3.6
Total valid votes 30,666
1997 Canadian federal election: Charlotte
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Thompson14,53344.9
LiberalHarold Culbert8,30925.7
ReformEric Banks6,81421.0
New DemocraticRob Rainer2,3977.4
Natural LawThomas Mitchell2800.9
Total valid votes 32,333
1993 Canadian federal election: Carleton—Charlotte
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalHarold Culbert13,97043.1+1.5
Progressive ConservativeGreg Thompson12,15740.6-6.6
ReformGreg Wyborn3,82711.8
New DemocraticBill Barteau1,0163.1-4.6
NationalRichard Shelley4311.3
Total valid votes 32,401
1988 Canadian federal election: Carleton—Charlotte
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeGreg Thompson16,02647.2-14.6
LiberalHarold Culbert14,11641.6+17.6
New DemocraticBen Kilfoil2,5967.7-6.5
Confederation of RegionsRobert Storr1,1833.5
Total valid votes 33,921

See also

References
  1. Greg Thompson, longtime politician and Saint Croix MLA, dies at 72
  2. "Canada Votes 2006: New Brunswick Southwest". CBC News. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  3. "Canada's veterans get bill of rights". CBC News. April 3, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  4. "Veterans Affairs minister Thompson resigns". CBC News. January 16, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  5. "Go to NZ? No way - I quit, says minister". The New Zealand Herald. January 18, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  6. "Veterans Affairs critic's confidential medical information given to minister". The Globe and Mail. September 21, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  7. "Privacy Commissioner finds evidence of systemic abuse at Veterans Affairs". The Globe and Mail. September 28, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  8. "Vet alleges government tried to hospitalize him". Toronto Sun. October 10, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  9. Jacques, Poitras (September 11, 2019). "Saint Croix MLA Greg Thompson remembered as gentleman of 'stubborn determination'". CBC. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
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