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Information About

Raymond Speaker




Speaker was born and raised in Enchant, Alberta where he farms to this day. He also worked as a teacher until 1962 .


PROVINCIAL POLITICS


He entered politics in the 1963 Provincial Election when he was elected as an Member Of The Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Social Credit Party Of Alberta . He served as Minister Without Portfolio in 1967 , Minister of Health and Social Development and Minister of Personnel in 1968 , and Chairman of the Human Resources Development Authority 1969 .

He remained a Social Credit MLA for many years after the party lost power in the 1971 Election . He served in the early 1980 s as Leader Of The Opposition and leader of the Social Credit party.

In 1984 , after having left the party and sat as an Independent MLA, Ray and Walt Buck founded the Representative Party Of Alberta when they were denied funding guaranteed to political parties. Ray was elected leader of the party, which served as an alternative right wing party and served as a home for members of Social Credit after the party collapsed. The party ultimately, disbanded and Speaker joined the ruling Progressive Conservative Association Of Alberta . He was named to the cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in 1989 .


NATIONAL POLITICS


Speaker ran for and won a Seat in the Canadian House Of Commons in the 1993 Election as the Member Of Parliament (MP) for the Reform Party Of Canada in the Federal Riding of Lethbridge . He served as finance critic and then House Leader of the Reform caucus. He retired from politics at the 1997 Election .

In 1999, Speaker was appointed to the Security Intelligence Review Committee, an agency which provides an external review of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service , and was named to the Queen's Privy Council For Canada .

In 2001 , he was made an Officer of the Order Of Canada .

After the Conservative Party won a plurality of seats in the 2006 Federal Election , Speaker was appointed to the Prime Minister 's transition team.


EXTERNAL LINKS




  Before Peter Dawson
  Title MLA Little Bow
  Years 1963-1992
  After Barry McFarland


  Before Robert C Clark
  Title Leader Of The Official Opposition In Alberta
  Years 1980-1984
  After Grant Notley


  Before Blaine Thacker
  Title Member Of Parliament Lethbridge
  Years 1993–1997