Kelly Block

Kelly Block MP (born November 30, 1961) is a Canadian politician representing the electoral district of Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek since 2015. She was first elected in the 2008 Canadian federal election to serve as the Member of Parliament for the Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar district. Prior to her election to the House of Commons, Block served two terms as mayor of Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Block was Waldheim's first female mayor, and also served as chairperson of the Gabriel Springs Health District. Block was later appointed to the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority when the government of Saskatchewan amalgamated its health districts. Block ran unsuccessfully for the Saskatchewan Party nomination for the provincial Martensville constituency by-election in November 2006 against Nancy Heppner.

Kelly Block
MP
Member of Parliament
for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek
Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar (2008-2015)
Assumed office
October 14, 2008
Preceded byCarol Skelton
Mayor of Waldheim
In office
October 2003 – 2008
Municipal Councilor for Waldheim
In office
2000–2003
Personal details
Born (1961-11-30) November 30, 1961
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Political partyConservative
ResidenceWarman, Saskatchewan
ProfessionMayor, Administrator

Career

Block is a member of the Conservative Party. She was appointed to the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC) and the Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee (ETHI). In fall 2009, Block was moved from PROC and appointed to the budget and finance committee. With the commencement of the 41st Parliament in 2011, Block was appointed to the health committee, and the government operations and estimates committee. Block was also appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to serve as the regional caucus chairperson for the Saskatchewan Conservative caucus.

Block was awarded the Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year – Rising Star – Award in June 2010 after receiving the highest number of weighted votes from fellow parliamentarians of all parties.[1][2]

In October 2012, Block sent out a flyer to her constituents entitled Ending Unfair Benefits for Refugee Claimants which criticized refugee claimants and rejected refugee applicants access to extended healthcare benefits.[3] She was criticized in the media[4] and Parliament[5] for the newsletter. Block defended the message but said the content was a draft, and expressed regret about some of the language used.[6]

Following the 2013 redrawing of Saskatchewan's federal electoral boundaries, Block stated she would run in the new riding of Humboldt-Warman-Martensville-Rosetown (later renamed Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek).[7]

In September 2013, Block was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources.[8]

In the 2015 federal election, won by the Liberal Party, Block was elected in the redrawn riding of Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek. She was appointed as the Conservative critic for Transport by interim leader Rona Ambrose.[9]

In 2019, Block was re-elected with an increased margin and the fourth-highest voter turnout in the election.[10] She was appointed as the Opposition critic for Public Services and Procurement Canada by Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer.[11]

Block was elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts On October 15, 2020.[12]

In February 2021, Kelly Block introduced the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act.[13]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKelly Block35,31378.5613.84$111,554.48
New DemocraticJasmine Calix5,53512.31-6.35none listed
LiberalRebecca Malo2,0854.64-9.73none listed
GreenDean Gibson8731.94-0.3$0.00
People'sCody Payant7991.78–none listed
IndependentGlenn Wright3440.76–$56.96
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,949100.0  
Total rejected ballots 240
Turnout 45,18978.5
Eligible voters 57,601
Conservative hold Swing +20.19
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]
2015 Canadian federal election: Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKelly Block26,00464.72-3.62$102,769.56
New DemocraticGlenn Wright7,49918.66-5.75$36,765.92
LiberalAlexander Slusar5,77414.37+10.45$4,877.96
GreenLynn Wesley Oliphant9022.24-0.36–
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,179100.0   $217,926.51
Total rejected ballots 1090.19–
Turnout 40,28873.18–
Eligible voters 55,048
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
2011 Canadian federal election: Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKelly Block14,65248.70+3.31
New DemocraticNettie Wiebe14,11446.91+2.49
LiberalLee Reaney6972.32-2.09
GreenVicki Strelioff6262.08-2.49
Total valid votes/Expense limit 30,089100.00
Total rejected ballots 1310.43
Turnout 30,22062.29
Conservative hold Swing +0.82
2008 Canadian federal election: Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeKelly Block12,16645.4-0.2$78,169
New DemocraticNettie Wiebe11,91344.5+5.5$63,284
GreenAmber Jones1,2284.6+2.1$8,174
LiberalRoy Bluehorn1,1764.4-7.7$10,785
IndependentRick Barsky1340.5+0.5N/A
Christian HeritageMarcel Bourassa1110.4-0.5$50
LibertarianKevin Stricker740.3+0.3$1,339
Total valid votes/Expense limit 26,802100.0$78,625
Conservative hold Swing -2.85

References
  1. Geddes, John (2 June 2010). "Rising Star: Kelly Block". Maclean's. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. "Tight race in Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar". The StarPhoenix. 15 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
  3. Warick, Jason (2012-10-16). "MP Kelly Block sends flyer criticizing refugees' access to healthcare". Postmedia Network. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  4. Mandryk, Murray (2012-10-16). "MP's message only too clear". The StarPhoenix. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  5. Bolen, Michael (2012-10-17). "Kelly Block's Newsletter On Refugee Health Cuts Called 'Offensive'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  6. "Kelly Block defends flyer". CBC News. 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  7. Graham, Jennifer (2013-08-21). "Contentious redrawing of federal election ridings in Saskatchewan complete". Maclean's. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  8. "Parliamentary Secretaries - Prime Minister of Canada". Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  9. Hamilton, Charles (2015-11-20). "Kelly Block and Gerry Ritz are now part of the Conservative's new shadow cabinet". The StarPhoenix. Archived from the original on 2019-01-17. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  10. Britneff, Beatrice (2019-10-23). "The ridings that had the lowest, highest voter turnout in the 2019 election". Global News. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  11. "Block named as Conservative public services and procurement critic". The Humboldt Journal. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  12. "Evidence PAPC 43-2 No1". Our Commons. 2020-10-15. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
  13. "MP Block introduces the Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act". 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  14. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  15. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  16. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, 30 September 2015
  17. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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