Darrel Reid
Encyclopedia
Darrel R. Reid is a Canadian policy advisor, political manager and federal candidate in two Canadian federal political elections. He is particularly notable as having occupied positions as the Chief of Staff or Deputy Chief of Staff of two Canadian federal political leaders, Preston Manning
and Stephen Harper
.
in 1981. This was followed by a Master of Arts degree in 1984 and a Master of Library Sciences degree in 1985, both from the University of Toronto
. In 1994, he completed a doctorate in history at the Queen's University
. The topic of his dissertation was the life of Albert Benjamin Simpson
.
. In May, 1996 He became Chief of Staff to Preston Manning
, Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition. In 1997, he ran unsuccessfully as a Reform Party candidate for the riding of Lanark-Carleton.
. He promoted conservative Christian family values, while actively campaigning against issues such as divorce
, abortion
and same-sex marriage
.
In May 2005, Reid won the Conservative nomination for Richmond and ran unsuccessfully in the subsequent federal election. Following his January, 2006 election loss, Reid became Vice President of Project Development for the Work Research Foundation, an organization with the stated mission to “influence people to a Christian view of work and public life.”
. This was an appointment requiring the approval of the Office of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the practice established by the Prime Minister's office, following the Conservative Party minority election win earlier that year. Reid thereafter withdrew his candidacy for nomination to run again as the Conservative candidate in Richmond.
. On July 7, 2008, one week after Guy Giorno
assumed the position as the Prime Minister's new Chief of Staff, Reid was appointed Director of Policy in the Prime Minister's office, replacing Director of Policy and Research Mark Cameron. Reid's first parliamentary position, commencing in 1994 and as noted earlier herein, had been as Director of Policy and Research for the Reform Party of Canada
. Reid later was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff. In August 2009, Reid assumed additional responsibilities to those of Deputy Chief of Staff, becoming also the Prime Minister's Director of Regional Affairs.
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
and Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
.
Education
Reid obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of ReginaUniversity of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
in 1981. This was followed by a Master of Arts degree in 1984 and a Master of Library Sciences degree in 1985, both 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 1994, he completed a doctorate in history at the Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. The topic of his dissertation was the life of Albert Benjamin Simpson
Albert Benjamin Simpson
Albert Benjamin "A.B." Simpson was a Canadian preacher, theologian, author, and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance , an evangelical Protestant denomination with an emphasis on global evangelism....
.
Queen's University
Between 1988 and 1994, during the course of his doctoral studies, Reid served as Information Officer and Manager, Publishing and Information Systems, of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, School of Policy Studies, Queen's University.The Reform Party of Canada
Following the completion of his doctorate, Reid served as Director of Policy and Research for the Reform Party of CanadaReform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
. In May, 1996 He became Chief of Staff to Preston Manning
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
, Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition. In 1997, he ran unsuccessfully as a Reform Party candidate for the riding of Lanark-Carleton.
Focus On The Family Canada
From 1998 to 2004, Reid was the president of the evangelical Christian organization Focus on the Family CanadaFocus on the Family Canada
Focus on the Family Canada is a Canadian affiliate of the American evangelical Christian organization Focus on the Family. It was founded in 1983, and is based in Langley, British Columbia...
. He promoted conservative Christian family values, while actively campaigning against issues such as divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and same-sex marriage
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
As A Corporate Executive
In 2004, Reid left Focus on the Family Canada to become Vice-President of Current Corporation, a high-tech firm specializing in night vision systems for the marine industry.In May 2005, Reid won the Conservative nomination for Richmond and ran unsuccessfully in the subsequent federal election. Following his January, 2006 election loss, Reid became Vice President of Project Development for the Work Research Foundation, an organization with the stated mission to “influence people to a Christian view of work and public life.”
Minister Rona Ambrose
In September, 2006, Reid announced that he had accepted an offer to become the Chief of Staff for Environment Minister Rona AmbroseRona Ambrose
Ronalee "Rona" Ambrose, PC, MP is the Minister of Public Works and Government Services for Canada, Vice-Chair of the Treasury Board Cabinet committee, Minister of State for Status of Women Canada and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.In the previous Parliament, she was Canada's Minister...
. This was an appointment requiring the approval of the Office of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the practice established by the Prime Minister's office, following the Conservative Party minority election win earlier that year. Reid thereafter withdrew his candidacy for nomination to run again as the Conservative candidate in Richmond.
Office of The Prime Minister of Canada
In April 2007, Reid was appointed Deputy Director of Policy and Research to Prime Minister Stephen HarperStephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
. On July 7, 2008, one week after Guy Giorno
Guy Giorno
Guy Giorno is a Canadian lawyer and conservative political activist. Giorno was Chief of Staff to then Premier of Ontario Mike Harris. In 2002 he joined the Toronto office of the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin law firm...
assumed the position as the Prime Minister's new Chief of Staff, Reid was appointed Director of Policy in the Prime Minister's office, replacing Director of Policy and Research Mark Cameron. Reid's first parliamentary position, commencing in 1994 and as noted earlier herein, had been as Director of Policy and Research for the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
. Reid later was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff. In August 2009, Reid assumed additional responsibilities to those of Deputy Chief of Staff, becoming also the Prime Minister's Director of Regional Affairs.