Ron Gray
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ron" O. Gray is a minor Canadian federal politician. He was the leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada
(CHP) from 1995 to 2008.
, Gray has worked in journalism, public relations, and the federal public service.
He began his career at the The Vancouver Sun
newspaper, and has also worked at community newspapers in BC and in Suva, Fiji; and the BC Report
magazine. He was a public information officer for a major public utility in BC, and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
.
He was a Trade and Commerce Officer attached to the Canadian Consulate
in Cleveland, Ohio
. He later managed store-front Federal government public information services in Winnipeg
and Vancouver
. He became Public Information Officer for one of BC's first community colleges, and later served 10 years in a similar capacity at Trinity Western University
, an evangelical university.
He and his wife, Janet, have raised nine children, including adopted, step- and foster-children, and have 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
, Gray ran in his first election under the Christian Heritage Party banner in the electoral district of Fraser Valley East
. On election night, he placed fourth out of six candidates with over eight percent of the popular vote, finishing well behind Progressive Conservative
incumbent Ross Belsher
.
Gray has since run for the CHP in every general election, with the exception of 1993. He has also contested four byelections, including one in Calgary Southwest
against Canadian Alliance
leader Stephen Harper
, who later was elected to serve as prime minister of Canada. In a 1999 byelection, he finished one vote ahead of the Reform Party
candidate in the Quebec riding of Hull—Aylmer
.
Near the end of 2006, a human rights complaint was filed against Ron Gray alleging communication via the Internet, messages likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt. As of Oct. 24, 2008, the complaint has been dropped and the file closed by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Christian Heritage Party of Canada
The Christian Heritage Party of Canada, also referred to as CHP Canada, is a federal political party that advocates that Canada be governed according to Biblical principles...
(CHP) from 1995 to 2008.
Early life
Born and educated in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Gray has worked in journalism, public relations, and the federal public service.
He began his career at the The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
newspaper, and has also worked at community newspapers in BC and in Suva, Fiji; and the BC Report
BC Report
BC Report was a newsmagazine published in British Columbia, Canada, that was noted for its right-wing or conservative editorial stance. BC Report was published by the producers of the comparable Alberta Report and Western Report magazines, and its first editor-in-chief was Alberta Report founder...
magazine. He was a public information officer for a major public utility in BC, and for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
.
He was a Trade and Commerce Officer attached to the Canadian Consulate
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade , more commonly known as Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is a department in the Government of Canada which has responsibility for foreign policy and diplomacy, as well as import/export and international trade policies.On June...
in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He later managed store-front Federal government public information services in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. He became Public Information Officer for one of BC's first community colleges, and later served 10 years in a similar capacity at Trinity Western University
Trinity Western University
Trinity Western University is a private, Christian liberal arts university located in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.The school was founded in 1962 as Trinity Junior College, and now enrolls approximately 4000 students and sits on a campus....
, an evangelical university.
He and his wife, Janet, have raised nine children, including adopted, step- and foster-children, and have 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
First election
In the 1988 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, Gray ran in his first election under the Christian Heritage Party banner in the electoral district of Fraser Valley East
Fraser Valley East
Fraser Valley East was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from1968 to 1997.This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Fraser Valley, Kamloops and Okanagan Boundary ridings....
. On election night, he placed fourth out of six candidates with over eight percent of the popular vote, finishing well behind Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
incumbent Ross Belsher
Ross Belsher
Douglas Ross Belsher was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. His career included managing Eaton's stores at various British Columbia locations....
.
Gray has since run for the CHP in every general election, with the exception of 1993. He has also contested four byelections, including one in Calgary Southwest
Calgary Southwest
Calgary Southwest is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. The district is in the southwest part of the City of Calgary, south of Glenmore Trail, and west of the Canadian Pacific railway.The seat is held by Prime...
against Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
leader 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...
, who later was elected to serve as prime minister of Canada. In a 1999 byelection, he finished one vote ahead of the Reform Party
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....
candidate in the Quebec riding of Hull—Aylmer
Hull—Aylmer
Hull—Aylmer is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1917....
.
Leadership
Gray became the party leader in 1995. His leadership was confirmed at three subsequent CHP conventions, most recently in 2005. He stepped down in November 2008.Near the end of 2006, a human rights complaint was filed against Ron Gray alleging communication via the Internet, messages likely to expose homosexuals to hatred or contempt. As of Oct. 24, 2008, the complaint has been dropped and the file closed by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
| 1988 federal Canadian federal election, 1988 The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement .... |
Fraser Valley East Fraser Valley East Fraser Valley East was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from1968 to 1997.This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Fraser Valley, Kamloops and Okanagan Boundary ridings.... , B.C. |
CHP | 3,560 | 8.3% | 4/6 | Ross Belsher Ross Belsher Douglas Ross Belsher was a Progressive Conservative party member of the Canadian House of Commons. His career included managing Eaton's stores at various British Columbia locations.... , Prog. Cons. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues.... |
| March 1996 byelection | Etobicoke North Etobicoke North Etobicoke North is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979. It covers Rexdale, the northern part of Etobicoke, which is part of Toronto.... , Ont. |
CHP | 284 | 1.1% | 5/7 | Roy Cullen Roy Cullen For the Texas businessman, see Hugh Roy Cullen.Roy Cullen, PC, MP was a Liberal MP for the riding of Etobicoke North in the Canadian House of Commons.-Background:... , 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... |
| November 1999 byelection | Hull--Aylmer, Que. | CHP | 176 | 1.0% | 6/9 | Marcel Proulx Marcel Proulx Marcel Proulx is a Canadian politician.Proulx is a former member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, having represented the riding of Hull—Aylmer from 1999 to 2011. Proulx is a former administrator, businessman, claim adjuster, and executive assistant... , 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... |
| 2000 federal 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.... |
Hull--Aylmer, Que. | CHP | 184 | 0.4% | 8/10 | Marcel Proulx Marcel Proulx Marcel Proulx is a Canadian politician.Proulx is a former member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the Canadian House of Commons, having represented the riding of Hull—Aylmer from 1999 to 2011. Proulx is a former administrator, businessman, claim adjuster, and executive assistant... , 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... |
| May 2002 byelection | Calgary Southwest Calgary Southwest Calgary Southwest is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. The district is in the southwest part of the City of Calgary, south of Glenmore Trail, and west of the Canadian Pacific railway.The seat is held by Prime... , Alb. |
CHP | 320 | 1.7% | 5/5 | 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... , Canadian Alliance Canadian Alliance The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held... |
| May 2003 byelection | Perth-Middlesex, Ont. | CHP | 902 | 2.9% | 5/5 | Gary Schellenberger Gary Schellenberger Gary Ralph Schellenberger is a Canadian politician. He is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Perth—Wellington for the Conservative Party.... , Prog. Cons. Progressive Conservative Party of Canada The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues.... |
| 2004 federal 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... |
Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, B.C. | CHP | 1,147 | 2.6% | 5/7 | Chuck Strahl Chuck Strahl Charles Strahl, PC, MP was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.-Before politics:... , Conservative 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... |
| 2006 federal 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:... |
Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, B.C. | CHP | 935 | 1.95% | 5/6 | Chuck Strahl Chuck Strahl Charles Strahl, PC, MP was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.-Before politics:... , Conservative 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... |
| 2008 federal 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... |
Langley Langley (electoral district) Langley is a federal electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004... , B.C. |
CHP | 614 | 1.2% | 5/5 | Mark Warawa, Conservative 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... |