Claude Gravelle
Encyclopedia
Claude Gravelle is a Canadian
politician, who was elected to represent the electoral district
of Nickel Belt
in the 2008 Canadian federal election
. He is a member of the New Democratic Party
.
Gravelle is a retired machinist and union organizer at Inco's mining operations in Sudbury, where he was a member of the United Steelworkers
union. Gravelle first entered politics in 1997 on the town council of Rayside-Balfour
. He did not run for re-election to Greater Sudbury City Council
following the municipal amalgamation in the 2000 municipal election
, but became co-chair of the Rayside-Balfour community action network. He ran for re-election to city council in the 2003 municipal election
, but was not elected.
Gravelle ran as the federal New Democratic Party candidate in Nickel Belt in the 2004
and 2006
federal elections, losing narrowly to incumbent MP Ray Bonin both times. He won the riding in 2008 following Bonin's retirement, easily beating the new Liberal
candidate, former city councillor Louise Portelance.
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...
politician, who was elected to represent the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Nickel Belt
Nickel Belt
Nickel Belt is one of two federal electoral districts serving the Greater City of Sudbury.Nickel Belt has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1953.It consists of:...
in the 2008 Canadian federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. He is a member of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
Gravelle is a retired machinist and union organizer at Inco's mining operations in Sudbury, where he was a member of the United Steelworkers
United Steelworkers
The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union is the largest industrial labor union in North America, with 705,000 members. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, U.S., the United Steelworkers represents workers in the United...
union. Gravelle first entered politics in 1997 on the town council of Rayside-Balfour
Rayside-Balfour, Ontario
Rayside-Balfour was a town in Ontario, Canada, which existed from 1973 to 2000.It was created as part of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury...
. He did not run for re-election to Greater Sudbury City Council
Greater Sudbury City Council
Greater Sudbury City Council is the governing body of the City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the mayor plus a twelve-person council. The city is divided into twelve wards; each ward is represented by one councillor...
following the municipal amalgamation in the 2000 municipal election
Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000
The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2000 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2000. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date....
, but became co-chair of the Rayside-Balfour community action network. He ran for re-election to city council in the 2003 municipal election
Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2003
The Greater Sudbury municipal election, 2003 was held in the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on November 10, 2003. All municipal elections in the province of Ontario are held on the same date; see Ontario municipal elections, 2003 for elections in other cities.The election chose the mayor...
, but was not elected.
Gravelle ran as the federal New Democratic Party candidate in Nickel Belt in the 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
and 2006
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
federal elections, losing narrowly to incumbent MP Ray Bonin both times. He won the riding in 2008 following Bonin's retirement, easily beating the new Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate, former city councillor Louise Portelance.