Charles (Chuck) STRAHL
STRAHL, The Hon. Charles (Chuck), P.C.
Personal Data
- Party
- Conservative
- Constituency
- Chilliwack--Fraser Canyon (British Columbia)
- Birth Date
- February 25, 1957
- Website
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Strahl
- PARLINFO
- http://www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=ebfe7da1-60e6-4404-a884-5b0a4324dc9c&Language=E&Section=ALL
- Profession
- businessman, logging contractor
Parliamentary Career
- October 25, 1993 - April 27, 1997
- REFFraser Valley East (British Columbia)
- Whip of the Reform Party (Caucus Coordinator) (May 7, 1996 - January 31, 2000)
- Chief Opposition Whip (January 1, 1997 - January 30, 2000)
- Whip of the Canadian Alliance (January 1, 1997 - March 26, 2000)
- June 2, 1997 - October 22, 2000
- REFFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- Whip of the Reform Party (Caucus Coordinator) (May 7, 1996 - January 31, 2000)
- Chief Opposition Whip (January 1, 1997 - January 30, 2000)
- Whip of the Canadian Alliance (January 1, 1997 - March 26, 2000)
- Official Opposition House Leader (January 31, 2000 - March 26, 2000)
- Reform Party House Leader (January 31, 2000 - March 26, 2000)
- Official Opposition House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- Canadian Alliance House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- March 27, 2000 - October 22, 2000
- CAFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- Official Opposition House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- Canadian Alliance House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- November 27, 2000 - May 23, 2004
- CAFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- Official Opposition House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- Canadian Alliance House Leader (March 27, 2000 - April 24, 2001)
- Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- Canadian Alliance Deputy House Leader (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- April 10, 2002 - May 23, 2004
- INDFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- Canadian Alliance Deputy House Leader (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- April 16, 2002 - May 23, 2004
- CAFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- Canadian Alliance Deputy House Leader (June 23, 2003 - December 22, 2003)
- December 23, 2003 - May 23, 2004
- CPCFraser Valley (British Columbia)
- June 28, 2004 - November 29, 2005
- CPCChilliwack--Fraser Canyon (British Columbia)
- Conservative Party Deputy House Leader (July 22, 2004 - October 4, 2004)
- Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition (July 22, 2004 - October 4, 2004)
- Conservative Party Caucus Vice-Chair (July 22, 2004 - August 30, 2004)
- Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons (October 5, 2004 - February 5, 2006)
- January 23, 2006 - September 7, 2008
- CPCChilliwack--Fraser Canyon (British Columbia)
- Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole of the House of Commons (October 5, 2004 - February 5, 2006)
- Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board (February 6, 2006 - August 13, 2007)
- Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (February 6, 2006 - August 13, 2007)
- Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (August 14, 2007 - August 5, 2010)
- Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians (August 14, 2007 - August 5, 2010)
- October 14, 2008 - March 26, 2011
- CPCChilliwack--Fraser Canyon (British Columbia)
- Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (August 14, 2007 - August 5, 2010)
- Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians (August 14, 2007 - August 5, 2010)
- Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (August 25, 2009 - August 5, 2010)
- Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (August 6, 2010 - May 17, 2011)
Most Recent Speeches (Page 1 of 551)
March 25, 2011
Hon. Chuck Strahl (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, they are going to call this one the Pont Champlain election.
We have money in the budget to make sure the bridge remains safe. We are also waiting until the end of this month, when a report will be tabled with Transport Canada that will detail options for replacing the bridge. Of course, that is what one does when in government. One thinks of the long-term and working with the Quebec government to get it done.
The nearest I can tell, at the Bloc's convention the only change it made to its party constitution had nothing to do with the bridge. All it had to say was, “Let's form a coalition with those other parties over there”.
Subtopic: Champlain Bridge
March 25, 2011
Hon. Chuck Strahl (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, in the budget is an allocation to ensure the Champlain Bridge will remain safe. The engineers say that it is absolutely safe. The amount of money set aside in the budget will ensure that it stays safe for the next 10 years. We will be working with the Quebec government.
Near as I can tell, from watching the last convention that the Bloc Québécois had, the only bridge those members seem to be concerned about is building bridges with the other parties in a coalition. Why did they not deal with the Champlain Bridge when they had the chance?
Subtopic: Champlain Bridge
March 24, 2011
Hon. Chuck Strahl (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, it has been written that to everything there is a season. In my political career, everything came together some 17 years ago when I was first elected to the House of Commons. While I can assure members of my good health and although I still feel honoured and privileged to be a member of Parliament, I have decided I will not seek re-election when Canada next goes to the polls.
I was 36 years old when this adventure started, and all four of our children were still at home. Now they are all grown up, married, and Deb and I have 10 grandchildren. I vowed I would leave politics one day with the one thing that mattered most when I entered into it: the love and respect of those closest to me. It is thanks mostly to my wife, Deb, who is the anchor and love of my life, that this will happen. It is my life's greatest achievement.
I was elected first as a Reformer and quickly learned that listening to and serving the public had its own unique rewards. My constituents are passionate about their issues and politics and working with them has been an ongoing inspiration and motivation. They are wonderful, commonsense people and I will forever be grateful for their encouragement and support.
One of the best parts of political life is the friends we make along the way. A whole new world of people we would never have met otherwise have become near and dear to us. Not just political partisans either, but interesting, thought-provoking folks from all kinds of backgrounds, religions and regions. Like the rock solid friends we have always had in our home town, these new friends have become an integral part of our lives. We are richer and better people for their loyal companionship.
Of course serving in cabinet has been an exceptional experience. I will always be grateful to the Prime Minister who went out of his way to assure me that he not only wanted me to be a minister, but he was confident I could do the job. He appointed me right on the heels of my serious encounter with cancer, and his encouragement to me at the time was, “Don't let people tell you that you can't still contribute – don’t let them push you aside”. Cancer survivors need to hear words like that and they need to know in their heart that they are true. I thank the Prime Minister for those words. My health has been good ever since.
Throughout it all, my staff have been exceptional. The workload, the high expectations and public pressure on these people is enormous, but they have consistently risen to the occasion and they have all served Canada with distinction. Any good reputation I may have garnered over the years is due in large part to their efforts. The same can be said for so many of the professional civil servants I have worked with in three separate ministries, and the Clerk and her staff are on that list as well. Our country is fortunate to have these people toiling on our behalf.
In all ways, large and small, my experiences these past 17 years have reinforced the conviction that Canada is one of the most blessed countries in the world. Full of abundant natural resources and a generous, stoic people, consistently peaceful and generally prosperous, we are among history's most fortunate. What a great country.
One day, and perhaps soon, I will leave this place and my role here behind. I will leave with mixed feelings, because I love serving our country and its people. But for everything there is a season, and I am convinced this is the right time for me and Deb to seek out the next, wonderful purpose that God has in mind for us.
I thank one and all for the honour and privilege of serving together in the common service of our constituents and country.
Subtopic: Resignation of Members
March 23, 2011
Hon. Chuck Strahl (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, of course we are not playing with people's safety. That is why when I spoke with the CEO of the federal bridge authority, when I talked to the engineers a month ago in Quebec, they said that the investments we have made in the bridge will keep it absolutely safe for the next 10 years.
At the end of the month or thereabouts, there will be a report given to us on options for the bridge. Everyone knows the bridge will need to be replaced in the long term, but what we cannot know without that option paper presented to us yet is if contains light rail, if it contains a rapid transit option, if it contains a bus option. Those options will be presented to us and, of course, we will make a decision working hand in hand with the Quebec government.
Subtopic: Champlain Bridge
March 23, 2011
Hon. Chuck Strahl (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)
Mr. Speaker, the Champlain Bridge is very important to entrepreneurs and the people of Montreal and Canada. We have invested a great deal of money in this corridor because the bridge is very important. Furthermore, I spoke with the Quebec minister this morning, and we discussed the bridge's condition and its safety. The future is clear: we must have discussions with the Government of Quebec about the future of—
Subtopic: Champlain Bridge