Christopher Bentley
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" Bentley is a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
, and is the province's Attorney General in the Liberal
government of Premier
Dalton McGuinty
.
degree from the University of Western Ontario
in London, Ontario
, and obtained a law degree from the University of Toronto
in 1979. Two years later, he obtained a Master's degree from Cambridge University
in England
. Bentley has practiced criminal and labour law, with the firm of Bentley & LeRoy LLP. In 1985, he was a founder and first chairperson of Neighbourhood Legal Services London & Middlesex, a legal clinic intended to assist low-income clients.
Since 1992, Bentley has worked as a part-time professor
at Western. He helped establish the university's Law School Careers Office, and has lectured at various continuing education courses. In 2000, he published a book entitled Criminal practice manual: A practical guide to handling criminal cases.
, contesting the riding of London West
as a Liberal. He was successful, defeating incumbent maverick Progressive Conservative
Bob Wood
by over 10,000 votes. The Liberals won the election, and Bentley was appointed Ontario Minister of Labour on October 23, 2003. After a cabinet shuffle on June 29, 2005, he was named as Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Bentley was re-elected in the 2007 election
and was named Attorney General of Ontario
shortly thereafter. In January 2010 he was assigned the additional portfolio of Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. In October 2011 he was named Minister of Energy.
|-
|Chris Bentley
|align="right"|26,089
|align="right"|52.5
|align="right"|+0.74
|-
|Allison Graham
|align="right"|12,085
|align="right"|24.3
|align="right"|-6.81
|-
|Paul Pighin
|align="right"|5,534
|align="right"|11.1
|align="right"|-3.79
|-
|Gary Brown
|align="right"|5,181
|align="right"|10.4
|align="right"|+8.78
|-
|Andrew Jezierski
|align="right"|266
|align="right"|0.5
|align="right"|
|-
|Paul McKeever
|align="right"|215
|align="right"|0.4
|align="right"|-0.53
|-
|Mike Reynolds
|align="right"|206
|align="right"|0.4
|align="right"|
|-
|Chris Gupta
|align="right"|82
|align="right"|0.2
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Chris Bentley
|align="right"|25,581
|align="right"|51.46
|align="right"|+7.12
|-
|Bob Wood
|align="right"|15,463
|align="right"|31.11
|align="right"|-13.81
|-
|Patti Dalton
|align="right"|7,403
|align="right"|14.89
|align="right"|+5.76
|-
|Laura Wythe
|align="right"|805
|align="right"|1.62
|align="right"|+1.01
|-
|Bill Frampton
|align="right"|460
|align="right"|0.93
|align="right"|+0.46
|}
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
, and is the province's Attorney General in the Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
government of Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
.
Academic endeavours
Bentley received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, and obtained a law degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1979. Two years later, he obtained a Master's degree from Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Bentley has practiced criminal and labour law, with the firm of Bentley & LeRoy LLP. In 1985, he was a founder and first chairperson of Neighbourhood Legal Services London & Middlesex, a legal clinic intended to assist low-income clients.
Since 1992, Bentley has worked as a part-time professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Western. He helped establish the university's Law School Careers Office, and has lectured at various continuing education courses. In 2000, he published a book entitled Criminal practice manual: A practical guide to handling criminal cases.
Member of Provincial Parliament
Bentley first ran for the provincial legislature in the 2003 general electionOntario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, contesting the riding of London West
London West
London West is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968. Its population in 2006 was 118,335.-Geography:The district includes the northwest part of the City of London....
as a Liberal. He was successful, defeating incumbent maverick Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Bob Wood
Bob Wood (Ontario provincial politician)
Robert "Bob" Wood, QC is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003....
by over 10,000 votes. The Liberals won the election, and Bentley was appointed Ontario Minister of Labour on October 23, 2003. After a cabinet shuffle on June 29, 2005, he was named as Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Bentley was re-elected in the 2007 election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
and was named Attorney General of Ontario
Attorney General of Ontario
The Attorney General of Ontario is a senior member of the Executive Council of Ontario and governs the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario - the department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province. The Attorney General is an elected Member of Provincial...
shortly thereafter. In January 2010 he was assigned the additional portfolio of Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. In October 2011 he was named Minister of Energy.
Electoral record
|-
|Chris Bentley
|align="right"|26,089
|align="right"|52.5
|align="right"|+0.74
|-
|Allison Graham
|align="right"|12,085
|align="right"|24.3
|align="right"|-6.81
|-
|Paul Pighin
|align="right"|5,534
|align="right"|11.1
|align="right"|-3.79
|-
|Gary Brown
Gary Brown
Gary Leroy Brown is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the eighth round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He is currently the running backs coach for the Cleveland Browns. A 5'11", 230-lb...
|align="right"|5,181
|align="right"|10.4
|align="right"|+8.78
|-
|Andrew Jezierski
|align="right"|266
|align="right"|0.5
|align="right"|
|-
|Paul McKeever
|align="right"|215
|align="right"|0.4
|align="right"|-0.53
|-
|Mike Reynolds
|align="right"|206
|align="right"|0.4
|align="right"|
|-
|Chris Gupta
|align="right"|82
|align="right"|0.2
|align="right"|
|}
|-
|Chris Bentley
|align="right"|25,581
|align="right"|51.46
|align="right"|+7.12
|-
|Bob Wood
Bob Wood (Ontario provincial politician)
Robert "Bob" Wood, QC is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003....
|align="right"|15,463
|align="right"|31.11
|align="right"|-13.81
|-
|Patti Dalton
|align="right"|7,403
|align="right"|14.89
|align="right"|+5.76
|-
|Laura Wythe
|align="right"|805
|align="right"|1.62
|align="right"|+1.01
|-
|Bill Frampton
|align="right"|460
|align="right"|0.93
|align="right"|+0.46
|}