Laura Ross (politician)
Encyclopedia
Laura Ross is a Canadian
politician. She was elected to represent the electoral district
of Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
in the 2007 election
, having previously run unsuccessfully in the electoral district
of Regina Douglas Park in the 2003 election. She is a member of the Saskatchewan Party
. In July 2010, Ross was appointed Minister for Government Services.
. Raised on her family's farm, Ross attained a Bachelor of Arts
degree majoring in geography and sociology from the University of Regina
before entering the workforce. Ross, along with her husband Terry, were farmers before entering the catering business as a self-employed person. After exiting the world of catering, Ross moved into residential real estate
, working in this field for over twenty years.
Prior to her entrance into politics, Ross worked in the community, serving at various times in roles such as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regina Pioneer Village, a large care facility for senior citizens in Regina
. Ross has also been involved in women's rights organisations, serving in executive positions on the Regina Council of Women, the Saskatchewan Council of Women, and later the Canadian Federation of University Women. Today, Ross involves herself in the community at various times by organising fundraisers for organisations such as the Salvation Army
.
In the 2007 Saskatchewan provincial election
, Ross won the electoral district
of Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
for the Saskatchewan Party
with a slim plurality - she won 4324 votes (42.55%), with second place incumbent
Mark Wartman
winning 4125 votes (40.6%). Ross had previously attempted to win the constituency of Regina Douglas Park in the 2003 election, but placed second after then Member for Regina Victoria Harry Van Mulligen
.
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. She 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 Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. This district includes the Regina neighbourhoods of Prairie View and Normanview West Addition...
in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
in the 2007 election
Saskatchewan general election, 2007
The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, having previously run unsuccessfully in 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 Regina Douglas Park in the 2003 election. She is a member of the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
. In July 2010, Ross was appointed Minister for Government Services.
Biography
Laura Ross was born in Yorkton, SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Raised on her family's farm, Ross attained 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 majoring in geography and sociology from the University of Regina
University 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...
before entering the workforce. Ross, along with her husband Terry, were farmers before entering the catering business as a self-employed person. After exiting the world of catering, Ross moved into residential real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, working in this field for over twenty years.
Prior to her entrance into politics, Ross worked in the community, serving at various times in roles such as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regina Pioneer Village, a large care facility for senior citizens in Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
. Ross has also been involved in women's rights organisations, serving in executive positions on the Regina Council of Women, the Saskatchewan Council of Women, and later the Canadian Federation of University Women. Today, Ross involves herself in the community at various times by organising fundraisers for organisations such as the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
.
In the 2007 Saskatchewan provincial election
Saskatchewan general election, 2007
The 26th Saskatchewan general election was held on November 7, 2007; the writ was dropped on October 10, 2007. The election determined the composition of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
, Ross won 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 Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley
Regina Qu'Appelle Valley is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. This district includes the Regina neighbourhoods of Prairie View and Normanview West Addition...
for the Saskatchewan Party
Saskatchewan Party
The Saskatchewan Party is a conservative liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The party was established in 1997 by a coalition of former provincial Progressive Conservative and Liberal party members and supporters who sought to remove the Saskatchewan New Democratic...
with a slim plurality - she won 4324 votes (42.55%), with second place incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Mark Wartman
Mark Wartman
Mark Wartman is a Canadian provincial politician. He was the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Regina Qu'Appelle Valley from 1999 to 2007...
winning 4125 votes (40.6%). Ross had previously attempted to win the constituency of Regina Douglas Park in the 2003 election, but placed second after then Member for Regina Victoria Harry Van Mulligen
Harry Van Mulligen
Harry Van Mulligen is a retired Canadian provincial politician. He was a Saskatchewan New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1986 to 2009, when he resigned from the legislature to permit newly elected leader Dwain Lingenfelter to run in a...
.