Diane Finley
Encyclopedia
Diane Finley, PC
, MP
(born October 3, 1957) is a Canadian
politician
. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee
of cabinet ("P & P Committee"), known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman. She is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the riding
of Haldimand—Norfolk
for the Conservative Party
.
Diane Finley was raised in Port Dover and Charlotteville in Norfolk County
, Ontario
, and has a Bachelor of Arts
degree and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario
. After graduation, she became the administrator of Western's French Immersion School. She then worked in a series of private and public sector jobs, in a variety of fields. She was named "one of Canada's future leaders" by the Governor-General’s Study Conference 2000.
was campaign manager and director of political operations for the Conservative Party of Canada
and is a Canadian Senator.
Long active in conservative politics, Finley first ran for public office herself in the 2004 federal election
. She defeated Bob Speller
, a Liberal
cabinet minister, by 1,645 votes. After being re-elected in the 2006 election
, she was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
. An order in council transferred authority for Social Development Canada
to her as well, and accordingly she served under the style Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
In 2006, she announced that she has Graves' disease
, a non-life-threatening thyroid
condition which causes increased sensitivity to bright lights and forces her to wear tinted glasses.
She was shuffled from the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada
portfolio on January 4, 2007.
In her role as Immigration Minister, Diane Finley announced in 2008 that the government would not intervene if the courts denied the deserter Jeremy Hinzman
's final request to remain in Canada. Her statement came four months after a June 3, 2008 Parliament
motion that passed 137 to 110 urging the government to allow U.S. military deserters of wars not sanctioned by United Nations
to remain in Canada as permanent residents instead of deporting them to face possible jail time. Another deserter, Robin Long, was sentenced to fifteen months in jail on Aug 22, 2008, a month before Diane Finley’s statement.
Finley introduced Bill C-17 in the fall of 2007 as a means of preventing foreign adult entertainment performers from entering the country.
On October 14, 2008, Finley won as the Conservative Party candidate for Haldimand—Norfolk
in the 2008 election
. She was again elected May 2, 2011 as the Conservative Party candidate for Haldimand—Norfolk
in the 2011 election with 50.9% of the vote.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, MP
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
(born October 3, 1957) is a Canadian
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She serves as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (Canada)
The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the federal department that oversees programs such as Employment Insurance and Canada Student Loans...
in the cabinet of Prime Minister 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...
. Of the 12 MPs in the Priorities and Planning Committee
Priorities and Planning Committee
The Priorities and Planning Committee is a key organ of the Cabinet of Canada. Usually chaired by the Prime Minister of Canada, this committee sets and guides the agenda of the government and in some cases acts for the whole cabinet....
of cabinet ("P & P Committee"), known as the inner cabinet, she is the only woman. She is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the riding
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 Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1997, and since 2004. Its Member of Parliament is Conservative Diane Finley...
for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Diane Finley was raised in Port Dover and Charlotteville in Norfolk County
Norfolk County, Ontario
Norfolk County is a rural city-status single-tier municipality on the north shore of Lake Erie in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Bloomsburg is a small town located in Norfolk County and is the hometown of David Slater. The county seat and largest community is Simcoe...
, Ontario
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....
, and has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor 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 and a Masters in Business Administration 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...
. After graduation, she became the administrator of Western's French Immersion School. She then worked in a series of private and public sector jobs, in a variety of fields. She was named "one of Canada's future leaders" by the Governor-General’s Study Conference 2000.
Part of political couple
Her husband Doug FinleyDoug Finley
Michael Douglas Finley is a Canadian Senator and was formerly campaign manager for the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 and 2008 federal elections and the party's director of political operations. He is described often as Harper's "number two man" who vets and disciplines candidates...
was campaign manager and director of political operations for the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
and is a Canadian Senator.
Political positions and affiliations
Finley has promoted increased private-sector involvement in health services. She was the founder of Canada's largest private-sector ambulance service, Canadian Medical Response, and has chaired the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.Long active in conservative politics, Finley first ran for public office herself in the 2004 federal election
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...
. She defeated Bob Speller
Bob Speller
Robert "Bob" Speller, PC is a Canadian politician.A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Speller was elected to the Canadian House of Commons four times from 1988 to 2000...
, a 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...
cabinet minister, by 1,645 votes. After being re-elected in the 2006 election
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:...
, she was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (Canada)
The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the federal department that oversees programs such as Employment Insurance and Canada Student Loans...
. An order in council transferred authority for Social Development Canada
Social Development Canada
The Department of Social Development, also referred to as Social Development Canada, was from Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2006 the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for developing and implementing social policies involving families with children, disabled people, senior citizens and...
to her as well, and accordingly she served under the style Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
In 2006, she announced that she has Graves' disease
Graves' disease
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease where the thyroid is overactive, producing an excessive amount of thyroid hormones...
, a non-life-threatening thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
condition which causes increased sensitivity to bright lights and forces her to wear tinted glasses.
She was shuffled from the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development , operating under the FIP applied title Human Resources and Skills Development Canada , is the department of the Government of Canada responsible for developing, managing and delivering a variety of social programs and services...
to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for issues dealing with immigration and citizenship...
portfolio on January 4, 2007.
In her role as Immigration Minister, Diane Finley announced in 2008 that the government would not intervene if the courts denied the deserter Jeremy Hinzman
Jeremy Hinzman
Jeremy Dean Hinzman is the first American Iraq war resister/deserter to seek refugee status in Canada....
's final request to remain in Canada. Her statement came four months after a June 3, 2008 Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
motion that passed 137 to 110 urging the government to allow U.S. military deserters of wars not sanctioned by United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to remain in Canada as permanent residents instead of deporting them to face possible jail time. Another deserter, Robin Long, was sentenced to fifteen months in jail on Aug 22, 2008, a month before Diane Finley’s statement.
Finley introduced Bill C-17 in the fall of 2007 as a means of preventing foreign adult entertainment performers from entering the country.
On October 14, 2008, Finley won as the Conservative Party candidate for Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1997, and since 2004. Its Member of Parliament is Conservative Diane Finley...
in the 2008 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...
. She was again elected May 2, 2011 as the Conservative Party candidate for Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk
Haldimand—Norfolk is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1997, and since 2004. Its Member of Parliament is Conservative Diane Finley...
in the 2011 election with 50.9% of the vote.