Robert Thibault

Robert G. Thibault, PC (born September 29, 1959) is a Canadian politician.

The Honourable
Robert G. Thibault
PC
Member of Parliament
for West Nova
In office
November 27, 2000 – October 14, 2008
Preceded byMark Muise
Succeeded byGreg Kerr
Personal details
Born (1959-09-29) September 29, 1959
Digby, Nova Scotia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseJanice Boudreau
ResidenceConcession, Nova Scotia
ProfessionMunicipal administrator

Early life

Thibault was born in Digby, Nova Scotia in 1959. He is the grandson of former provincial politician, Joseph William Comeau.[1]

Political career

Thibault served as a municipal councillor in Clare, Nova Scotia from 1988 to 2001 and was reelected in 2012.[2] He is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and a former member in the House of Commons of Canada, serving three terms as the representative of West Nova from 2000 to 2008. He won his first federal election in 2000.[3][4] He was named Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) in 2001.[5] He was Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from 2002 to 2003. He won re-election in 2004.[6] Thibault was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health from 2004 to 2006 under Paul Martin. In the 2006 election, he defeated Conservative opponent and former Nova Scotia cabinet minister Greg Kerr by 511 votes. On April 27, 2007, Thibault was named Liberal Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion.[7] He was subsequently appointed Liberal critic for Health. Thibault was defeated in Canada's 40th general election on October 14, 2008, by Conservative opponent Greg Kerr.[8]

On October 3, 2009, Thibault was once again nominated to contest the West Nova seat for the Liberals in the 2011 federal election.[9] On May 2, 2011, Thibault was defeated in his comeback attempt, losing to Kerr by more than 4,000 votes.[10]

Controversy

In August 2008, Thibault caused controversy with some accusing him of ageism when he suggested that his Conservative opponent Greg Kerr was too old for the job.[11] Only five days later, Thibault was accused of sexism when he called Marjory LeBreton, then government leader in the Senate, an "idiot" and suggested she should "go back to making tea" for former prime minister Brian Mulroney.[12] Three months later, Thibault lost his seat in the 2008 election.

Electoral record
2011 Canadian federal election: West Nova
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGreg Kerr20,20447.04+7.10$82,563.21
LiberalRobert Thibault15,63236.39+0.24$62,177.30
New DemocraticGeorge Barron5,63113.11-3.78$12,244.90
GreenRoss Johnson1,4873.46-1.55none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,954100.0   $86,810.95
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 3560.82+0.10
Turnout 43,31063.75+1.27
Eligible voters 67,938
Conservative hold Swing +3.43
Sources:[13][14]
2008 Canadian federal election: West Nova
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGreg Kerr16,77939.94+1.83$69,467.56
LiberalRobert Thibault15,18536.15-3.09$57,096.02
New DemocraticGeorge Barron7,09716.89-1.95$12,741.38
GreenRonald Mills2,1065.01+2.71$123.04
IndependentCindy M. Nesbitt8442.01–$10,570.22
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,011100.0   $83,932
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 3040.72+0.12
Turnout 42,31562.48-1.20
Eligible voters 67,722
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +2.46
2006 Canadian federal election: West Nova
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRobert Thibault17,73439.24-3.42$53,606.19
ConservativeGreg Kerr17,22238.11+5.06$54,945.96
New DemocraticArthur Bull8,51218.84-2.29$25,148.83
GreenMatthew Granger1,0402.30-0.92$74.10
IndependentKen Griffiths6811.51–$2,576.48
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,190100.0   $79,451
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 2740.60-0.21
Turnout 45,46463.68-2.26
Eligible voters 71,393
Liberal hold Swing -4.24
2004 Canadian federal election: West Nova
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRobert Thibault18,34342.66+8.06$48,703.53
ConservativeJon Charles Carey14,20933.05-20.44$70,393.83
New DemocraticArthur Bull9,08621.13+9.67$24,310.23
GreenMatthew Granger1,3853.22–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,996100.0   $76,207
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 3520.81
Turnout 43,34865.94+1.04
Eligible voters 65,736
Liberal notional gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +14.25
Changes from 2000 are based on redistributed results. Change for the Conservative Party is based on the combined totals of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance.
2000 Canadian federal election: West Nova
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRobert Thibault12,78336.09+10.39$57,653
Progressive ConservativeMark Muise12,08034.11-0.20$34,692
AllianceMike Donaldson6,58118.58-0.23$32,417
New DemocraticPhil Roberts3,97611.23-9.23$14,118
Total valid votes 35,420 100.00

Results for the Canadian Alliance from 1997 are based on the results of its predecessor, the Reform Party.

References
  1. COMEAU, The Hon. Joseph Willie Parliament of Canada
  2. Clare municipal election results Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine, 2012.
  3. Thibault wins tight race in West Nova, CBC News. November 28, 2000.
  4. "Thibault wrestles West Nova from Conservative Muise". The Chronicle Herald. 28 November 2000. Archived from the original on 24 January 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  5. NS Liberal MP named new ACOA minister, CBC News. January 9, 2001.
  6. "Thibault wins with 43% of vote". The Chronicle Herald. 29 June 2004. Archived from the original on 14 September 2005. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  7. "Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion Appoints Robert Thibault as Liberal Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy". Archived from the original on 30 April 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
  8. West Nova goes Conservative, CBC News. October 15, 2008.
  9. "Thibault re-nominated in West Nova". Novanewsnow, October 8, 2009.
  10. "Kerr repeats in West Nova". The Chronicle Herald, May 3, 2011.
  11. Nova Scotia MP charged with 'ageism' Archived 2015-07-09 at the Wayback Machine Canada.com
  12. Liberal MP apologizes for another taunt The Globe and Mail
  13. Elections Canada – Official voting results, Forty-first general election, 2011
  14. Elections Canada – Candidate's electoral campaign return, 41st general election
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