Bill Rompkey

William Hubert Rompkey PC (May 13, 1936 – March 21, 2017) was a Canadian educator who served as member of Parliament from 1972 to 1995 and a senator from 1995 to 2011.[1]

Bill Rompkey
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office
January 15, 2004  February 5, 2006
Prime MinisterPaul Martin
LeaderJack Austin
Preceded byFernand Robichaud
Succeeded byGerald Comeau
Government Whip in the Senate
In office
September 7, 2001  January 14, 2004
Prime MinisterJean Chrétien
Paul Martin
LeaderSharon Carstairs
Jack Austin
Preceded byLéonce Mercier
Succeeded byRose-Marie Losier-Cool
Canadian Cabinet
Minister of State (Mines)
In office
June 30, 1984  September 16, 1984
Prime MinisterJohn Turner
MinisterGerald Regan
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byRobert Layton
Minister of State (Transport)
In office
June 30, 1984  September 16, 1984
Prime MinisterJohn Turner
MinisterLloyd Axworthy
Preceded byRobert Howie (1980)
Succeeded byBenoît Bouchard
Minister of National Revenue
In office
March 3, 1980  September 29, 1982
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byWalter Baker
Succeeded byPierre Bussières
Parliamentary constituencies
Canadian Senator
from Newfoundland and Labrador
In office
September 21, 1995  May 13, 2011
Nominated byJean Chrétien
Appointed byRoméo LeBlanc
Preceded byJack Marshall
Succeeded byNorman Doyle (2012)
Member of Parliament
for Labrador
(Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador; 1972–1988)
In office
October 30, 1972  September 20, 1995
Preceded byAmbrose Peddle
Succeeded byLawrence D. O'Brien (1996)
Personal details
Born
William Hubert Rompkey

(1936-05-13)May 13, 1936
Belleoram, Dominion of Newfoundland
DiedMarch 21, 2017(2017-03-21) (aged 80)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Carolyn Pike
(m. 1963)
ChildrenHilary Rompkey
Peter Rompkey
Alma mater
OccupationCanadian Senator
ProfessionEducator
CabinetDeputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (2004-2006)
Government Whip in the Senate (2001-2004)
Minister of State (Mines) (1984)
Minister of State (Small business and Tourism) (1982-1983)
Minister of National Revenue (1980-1982)
Military service
AllegianceCanada
Branch/serviceRoyal Canadian Navy
RankLieutenant (Reserve)

Early life and education

Rompkey was born in Belleoram, Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. He attended Bishop Feild College in St. John's. In 1953, after he left Bishop Feild College, Rompkey entered Memorial University, where he graduated with a BA, a diploma in education, and an MA. Rompkey continued his studies at the University of London, England, where he received the Academic Diploma in Education.

Career as an educator

After Rompkey returned from his studies in London, he started his career as an educator. Rompkey taught school at Upper Island Cove and in St. John's. In 1963, he married fellow Memorial University graduate Carolyn Pike, and then, lured by Tony Paddon, Rompkey took an appointment as principal of the Yale Amalgamated School in North West River. Rompkey later became the first Superintendent of Education with the Labrador East Integrated School Board, a position he held until 1971. In January 1972, Rompkey was studying for his Ph.D. in Adult Education at the University of Toronto when he won the nomination to represent the Grand Falls-White Bay-Labrador riding for the Liberal Party.

Parliamentary career

The House of Commons

Rompkey was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 federal election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador, the first of seven consecutive election victories. He defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Ambrose Peddle to win the seat. In 1980, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau elevated Rompkey to the Canadian Cabinet as Minister of National Revenue. In 1982, he was moved to the position of Minister of State for Small Businesses and Tourism becoming Minister of State for Mines in 1984. He was Minister of State for Transport in the short-lived Cabinet of John Turner until the government's defeat in the 1984 election.

Senate

In 1995, Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, on the advice of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, appointed Rompkey to the Senate of Canada. In 2001, he became Government Whip in the Senate and was deputy leader of the government in the Senate until the Conservatives took power in February 2006 as a result of a federal election. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on May 13, 2011.

References

  1. "VOCM - Former Senator and MP, Bill Rompkey Passes Away at 80". Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
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