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Bob Speller | |
|---|---|
| Member ofParliament of Canada forHaldimand—Norfolk | |
| In office 1988–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Bud Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Diane Finley |
| Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food | |
| In office December 12, 2003 – June 28, 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Paul Martin |
| Preceded by | Lyle Vanclief |
| Succeeded by | Andy Mitchell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-02-29)February 29, 1956 Hagersville, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | December 16, 2021(2021-12-16) (aged 65) nearWaterford, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Canada |
| Spouse | Joan Mouland |
| Children | Christopher and Victoria |
| Profession | Businessman, consultant |
Robert Speller,PC (February 29, 1956 – December 16, 2021) was a Canadian politician. A member of theLiberal Party of Canada, Speller was elected to theHouse of Commons of Canada four times from 1988 to 2000. He was defeated in2004 by a 20,938 to 19,277 margin.
Speller was born inHagersville, Ontario on February 29, 1956. In 1983, he married Joan Mouland, with whom he had a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Victoria. He died on December 16, 2021, at the age of 65 at a care facility nearWaterford, Ontario, after an illness.[1][2]
Speller was first elected in the1988 Canadian federal election as a member of the Liberal Party, defeating incumbentBud Bradley by only 209 votes.Brian Mulroney'sProgressive Conservatives won the election, however, relegating Speller to oppositionMember of Parliament (MP). As an opposition MP, Speller was associate trade critic, youth critic and chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus.
Speller was re-elected in1993,1997 and2000, as a member of the winning party.Jean Chrétien's Liberals won three successive elections. Speller served on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food (1994–1995), served on the Canadian Parliamentary Association International Executive Committee, served on the Parliamentary Steel Caucus (1993, 1994, 1998), served on the Joint Inter-Parliamentary Council, and was chair of the Sub-committee on Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment and theCommonwealth Parliamentary Association (Canadian Branch).
On December 12, 2003, incomingPrime MinisterPaul Martin named Speller the federalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.[3]
Speller represented the constituency ofHaldimand—Norfolk—Brant until riding lines were redrawn prior to the June2004 federal election. In his new riding ofHaldimand—Norfolk, Speller lost the election toConservative candidateDiane Finley, and formally left cabinet the following July.
In June 2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin asked Speller to consider running in the next federal election. Speller ran in the following general election, but was defeated again. Speller did not run in the2008 federal election but ran again in the2011 federal election.
| 27th Ministry – Cabinet ofPaul Martin | ||
| Cabinet post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Lyle Vanclief | Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 2003–2004 | Andy Mitchell |