Robert Bertrand
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Bertrand is a Canadian politician.
He was a federal member of Parliament for the riding of Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle. He ran and won in the 1993
, 1997
and 2000
Canadian federal elections with significant majorities under the banner of the Liberal Party of Canada
. Although considered a backbencher
, he was very active in Parliament, participating in several standing committees including primarily National Defence
and Veterans Affairs
working to study and improve the poor quality of life for members of the Canadian Forces
and their families. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary
for the Minister of National Defence
from 1998 to 2000.
, he lost the Liberal party
candidate nomination
to an unknown at the time, David Smith
. This was due to new party nomination rules put in place by Paul Martin
that changed the long standing policy of selecting the incumbent
by acclamation
, part of the infighting
that was present within the party at the time. Many rural party members (who traditionally supported Mr. Bertrand) felt disenfranchised by this defeat because of the new party nomination rules which called for 3 polling locations spread out across the riding (Fort-Coulonge, Wakefield
and Maniwaki
) instead of the traditional 1 neutral polling site for both candidates. They believed this favoured the Maniwaki
area party members (most of whom supported Mr. Smith) because of the greater concentration in their numbers in conjunction with their polling location.
indicated that Robert Bertrand wished to run as a Liberal candidate in the upcoming federal election
. His original request to run was refused in March of 2007 and the nomination was closed, giving the candidacy instead to Cindy Duncan-McMillan in order to "meet the party’s target of 33 per cent female candidates". On April 4th, Mr. Bertrand received a call from the current director of the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec
, Serge Marcil
, telling him that the candidacy was re-opened, however he was given an impossible deadline of one week to collect memberships and present himself as a candidate. Mr. Bertrand refused this offer and the nomination went ahead with Mrs. Duncan-McMillan winning over Ottawa lawyer Richard Mahoney
on April 15, 2007.
He was a federal member of Parliament for the riding of Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle. He ran and won in the 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
, 1997
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
and 2000
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
Canadian federal elections with significant majorities under the banner of the Liberal Party of Canada
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...
. Although considered a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
, he was very active in Parliament, participating in several standing committees including primarily National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
and Veterans Affairs
Veterans Affairs Canada
The Department of Veterans Affairs , also referred to as Veterans Affairs Canada , is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for pensions/benefits and services for war veterans, retired personnel of the Canadian Forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, their families,...
working to study and improve the poor quality of life for members of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and their families. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
for the Minister of National Defence
Minister of National Defence (Canada)
The Minister of National Defence is a Minister of the Crown; the Canadian politician within the Cabinet of Canada responsible for the Department of National Defence which oversees the Canadian Forces....
from 1998 to 2000.
Lost Nomination in 2004
Although prepared to run in the 2004 federal electionCanadian 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...
, he lost the Liberal party
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 nomination
Nomination
Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office, or the bestowing of an honor or award.In the context of elections for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party...
to an unknown at the time, David Smith
David Smith (Quebec politician)
David Smith is a Canadian politician.A former member of the Canadian House of Commons, Smith served as a city councillor in Maniwaki, Quebec until 2004. At this point, he ran in the Canadian federal election, 2004 for the Liberal Party of Canada in the riding of Pontiac where he won...
. This was due to new party nomination rules put in place by Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
that changed the long standing policy of selecting the 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...
by acclamation
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
, part of the infighting
2004 Liberal Party of Canada infighting
The period between Paul Martin's assumption of the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada on November 14, 2003, and the 2004 federal election being called on May 23, 2004, saw a considerable amount of infighting within the party...
that was present within the party at the time. Many rural party members (who traditionally supported Mr. Bertrand) felt disenfranchised by this defeat because of the new party nomination rules which called for 3 polling locations spread out across the riding (Fort-Coulonge, Wakefield
Wakefield, Quebec
Wakefield is a village on the western shore of the Gatineau River, at the confluence of the La Pêche River in the Outaouais region of Quebec. The village, named after the town of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, is now the southern edge of the municipality of La Pêche, and was founded in 1830...
and Maniwaki
Maniwaki, Quebec
Maniwaki is a town north of Gatineau and located north-west of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, Canada. The town is situated on the Gatineau River, at the crossroads of Route 105 and Route 107, not far south of Route 117...
) instead of the traditional 1 neutral polling site for both candidates. They believed this favoured the Maniwaki
Maniwaki, Quebec
Maniwaki is a town north of Gatineau and located north-west of Montreal, in the province of Quebec, Canada. The town is situated on the Gatineau River, at the crossroads of Route 105 and Route 107, not far south of Route 117...
area party members (most of whom supported Mr. Smith) because of the greater concentration in their numbers in conjunction with their polling location.
Attempt to Run as a Liberal Candidate in the 40th Canadian federal election
An article in The Hill TimesThe Hill Times
The Hill Times is a Canadian weekly newspaper that covers the federal government and politics. Founded in 1989, this Ottawa based periodical is owned by Jim Creskey and Ross Dickson....
indicated that Robert Bertrand wished to run as a Liberal candidate in the upcoming federal election
40th Canadian federal election
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...
. His original request to run was refused in March of 2007 and the nomination was closed, giving the candidacy instead to Cindy Duncan-McMillan in order to "meet the party’s target of 33 per cent female candidates". On April 4th, Mr. Bertrand received a call from the current director of the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec
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...
, Serge Marcil
Serge Marcil
Serge Marcil, PC was an educator, administrator and politician in Quebec, Canada.After studying to be a teacher in Montreal, Marcil obtained work at various secondary schools as an administrator...
, telling him that the candidacy was re-opened, however he was given an impossible deadline of one week to collect memberships and present himself as a candidate. Mr. Bertrand refused this offer and the nomination went ahead with Mrs. Duncan-McMillan winning over Ottawa lawyer Richard Mahoney
Richard Mahoney
Richard J. Mahoney is a Canadian lawyer, specializing in public policy and regulatory law. He is also a prominent member of the Liberal Party of Canada, known as a strategist and advisor to former Prime Minister Paul Martin. He ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa Centre during the...
on April 15, 2007.