Randy Boissonnault

Randy Boissonnault (born July 14, 1970) is a former Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Edmonton Centre as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election and served until his defeat in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[1]

Randy Boissonnault
Boissonnault in 2014
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 Issues
In office
November 15, 2016 – September 11, 2019
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Edmonton Centre
In office
October 19, 2015 – September 11, 2019
Preceded byLaurie Hawn
Succeeded byJames Cumming
Personal details
Born (1970-07-14) July 14, 1970
Morinville, Alberta
Political partyLiberal
ProfessionManagement Consultant
Websiterboissonnault.liberal.ca

He was one of five openly LGBT MPs serving in the 42nd Canadian Parliament, alongside Rob Oliphant, Seamus O'Regan, Randall Garrison and Sheri Benson.[2] He was the first openly gay MP elected in Alberta.[3]

Early life

Boissonnault was born in the Franco-Albertan town of Morinville, Alberta[4] on July 14, 1970.

After graduating from the University of Alberta, Boissonault studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.[4] He subsequently worked as a lecturer at the University of Alberta's Campus Saint-Jean and as a journalist and political commentator for Radio-Canada and Les Affaires.[5]

Political career

Boissonnault was elected in the 2015 election in the riding of Edmonton Centre, the first Liberal MP to win in the riding for almost a decade.[4]

Upon being sworn in as a Member of Parliament, Boissonnault was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.[4]

On November 15, 2016, Boissonnault was named special advisor on LGBTQ2 issues to the Prime Minister.[6] The role involves advising Trudeau "on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s LGBTQ2 agenda" including protecting LGBT rights in Canada and addressing both present and historical discrimination.[6]

He was defeated in the 2019 election.

Election results
2019 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeJames Cumming22,00641.4%+6.45none listed
LiberalRandy Boissonnault17,52433.0%-4.19none listed
New DemocraticKatherine Swampy10,95920.6%-3.85$53,174.12
GreenGrad Murray1,3942.6%-0.02none listed
People'sPaul Hookham8051.5%-$5,550.42
RhinocerosDonovan Eckstrom2060.4%-0.08$0.00
IndependentAdil Pirbhai1190.2%-0.10$3,475.90
Marxist–LeninistPeggy Morton790.1%-$0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,092100.0
Total rejected ballots 362
Turnout 53,45465.4
Eligible voters 81,766
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +5.32
Source: Elections Canada[7][8][9]
2015 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRandy Boissonnault19,90237.19+13.46–
ConservativeJames Cumming18,70334.95-11.25–
New DemocraticGil McGowan13,08424.45-1.37–
GreenDavid Parker1,4032.62-0.94–
RhinocerosSteven Stauffer2570.48––
IndependentKat Yaki1630.30––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,512100.00 $210,254.07
Total rejected ballots 2340.44–
Turnout 53,74668.79–
Eligible voters 78,131
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +12.35
Source: Elections Canada[10][11]

References
  1. "Riding profile: Edmonton Centre". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  2. "Hedy Fry wins decisively as Liberals sweep Canada for majority". Daily Xtra, October 20, 2015.
  3. "Edmonton's newest Liberal, Randy Boissonnault, got taste for politics at U of A and wanted to bring generational change to national politics". Edmonton Journal", October 21, 2015
  4. Estabrooks, Trisha (May 2016). "A Force of Nature: From Morinville to Oxford to Ottawa, Randy Boissonnault hasn't let anything stand in the way of getting what he wants". Avenue Edmonton. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  5. http://randyboissonnault.liberal.ca/biography/ Randy Boissonault - Biography - Liberal.ca
  6. "Feds name gay MP as ‘LGBTQ2 issues’ advisor". Daily Xtra, November 15, 2016.
  7. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  9. "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  10. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Edmonton Centre (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 23, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  11. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates


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