Will Bouma

Willem Bouma (born July 27, 1972) is a Dutch-Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election.[2] He represents the riding of Brantford—Brant as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. Before becoming an MPP, Bouma practised optometry and was a member of the Brant County Council.[2]

Will Bouma
MPP
Bouma in 2019
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance
Assumed office
July 9, 2021
MinisterPeter Bethlenfalvy
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byStan Cho
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Brantford—Brant
Assumed office
June 7, 2018
Preceded byDave Levac
Brant County Councillor
for Ward 1
In office
December 1, 2014 – June 7, 2018
Serving with John Wheat
Preceded bySteve Schmitt
John Wheat
Succeeded byJohn MacAlpine
John Wheat
Personal details
Born (1972-07-27) July 27, 1972
Rinsumageast, The Netherlands
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)St. George, Ontario
Alma materUniversity of Waterloo (BS)
Michigan College of Optometry (OD)[1]
OccupationOptometrist

Early life and optometry career

Born in the village of Rinsumageast in The Netherlands, Bouma's family moved to Ontario when he was four years old. His parents operated a dairy farm near Forest, Ontario.[3][4][5] Bouma attended the University of Waterloo, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1995. He then studied at the Michigan College of Optometry, graduating in 1999. He practiced optometry in Michigan for seven years, but moved back to Ontario in 2006, settling in St. George, where he established an optometry office.[1][5]

Politics

Bouma served in several community positions before he ran for office, including the Brant County Committee of Adjustment; the Brant County Board of Health; and as president of the Brant Waterways Foundation.[6]

Brant County Council

In 2014, he ran for the Brant County Council in ward 1, which consists of the rural areas in the north of the municipality.[5] Bouma placed second in the election, 28 votes behind incumbent councillor John Wheat, winning one of the two seats.[7]

Provincial Parliament

Bouma ran to succeed retiring MPP Dave Levac in the 2018 provincial election. He was nominated by the Brantford—Brant Progressive Conservative Riding Association on April 8, 2017.[8] Bouma's campaign focused primarily on cost-of-living, healthcare, hydro prices, and taxation.[4] Bouma defeated NDP candidate Alex Felsky in the June 7 election, winning by 635 votes (1.09%).[2][9]

Bouma was sworn-in on July 11, 2018.[10] In June 2019, he was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.[11]

Abortion controversy

Bouma, along with fellow Progressive Conservative MPPs Christina Mitas and Sam Oosterhoff, spoke at an anti-abortion rally in Queen's Park in May 2019. Bouma quoted from the Bible, while Oosterhoff pledged to "make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime". This drew criticism from parts of the Progressive Conservative Party, as well as the New Democratic Official Opposition.[12] The Brantford—Brant NDP issued a statement calling Bouma's comments "archaic",[13] and Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath said that she was "horrified" that the MPPs' participation in the demonstration.[12] Following the rally, Premier Doug Ford said that he would not re-open the abortion debate.[14] Demonstrators on both sides of the issue gathered outside of Bouma's office in Brantford on May 31, 2019.[15][16][17]

Personal life

Bouma lives in the town of St. George with his wife Joni and their five children.[6] He is a member of the Free Reformed Churches of North America.[5]

Electoral record
2018 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeWill Bouma24,43742.00+12.07
New DemocraticAlex Felsky23,80240.91+13.76
LiberalRuby Toor5,5539.54-28.08
GreenKen Burns2,7414.71+0.65
IndependentDave Wrobel5340.92
None of the AboveNicholas Archer4240.73
LibertarianRob Ferguson3790.65-0.08
Canadians' ChoiceLeslie Bory2580.44
PauperJohn Turmel600.10-0.02
Total valid votes 58,188100.0  
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing -
Source: Elections Ontario[18]
2014 Brant County Council election, Ward 1
Candidate Vote  %
John Wheat95620.69
Will Bouma92820.09
Willie Morley75416.32
Dave Thomson49010.61
John MacApline4489.70
Ken Burns4299.28
John Bell4118.90
William Kelley1122.42
Ray Grummett921.99
Source: County of Brant[19]

References
  1. "Will Bouma". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. "Bouma wins tight Brandford-Brant race". Brantford Expositor. Postmedia. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  3. "Willem Bouma OD". Facebook. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  4. Ball, Vincent (May 27, 2018). "Serving community drives Bouma". Brantford Expositor. Postmedia. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. Shypula, Brian (August 10, 2014). "Bouma running in Ward 1". Toronto.com. Metroland Media. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. "Will Bouma". Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  7. Shypula, Brian (October 28, 2014). "Two new faces elected to Brant council". Toronto.com. Metroland Media. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  8. "Statement from Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown on the nomination of Willem Bouma". Facebook. April 8, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  9. "Brantford-Brant voters opt for PC candidate Will Bouma". CTV News Kitchener. Bell Media. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  10. "Ontario legislature resumes, MPPs sworn in". Global News. July 11, 2018. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  11. "Premier Ford Announces Parliamentary Assistant Assignments". Office of the Premier. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  12. Clementson, Laura (May 9, 2019). "'We pledge to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime': PC MPP Sam Oosterhoff". CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  13. Ruby, Michelle (May 17, 2019). "Local NDP call anti-abortion comments 'archaic'". Brantford Expositor. Postmedia. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  14. Herhalt, Chris (May 9, 2019). "Ford pledges not to re-open abortion debate after 3 MPPs speak at anti-abortion rally". CP24. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  15. Craggs, Samantha (May 30, 2019). "Pro-choice and anti-abortion groups to hold competing protests at Brantford MPP's office". CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  16. Craggs, Samantha (June 1, 2019). "Brantford abortion rally brings all sides, including those who say it saved their lives". CBC News. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  17. Gamble, Susan (May 31, 2019). "Hundreds gather over abortion issue". Brantford Expositor. Postmedia. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  18. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  19. "Declared Election Results" (PDF). County of Brant. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
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