Robert Thibault

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

The Honourable Robert G. Thibault PC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for West Nova
In office November 27, 2000 – October 14, 2008
Preceded by	Mark Muise
Succeeded by	Greg Kerr
Personal details
Born	(1959-09-29) September 29, 1959 Digby, Nova Scotia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Janice Boudreau
Residence	Concession, Nova Scotia
Profession	Municipal 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 subsequently lost his seat in the 2008 election.

Electoral record

2011 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Greg Kerr	20,204	47.04	+7.10
	Liberal	Robert Thibault	15,632	36.39	+0.24
	New Democratic	George Barron	5,631	13.11	-3.78
	Green	Ross Johnson	1,487	3.46	-1.55
Total valid votes/Expense limit			42,954	100.00
Total rejected ballots			356	0.82	+0.10
Turnout			43,310	63.95	+1.2
Eligible voters			67,287	–	–

2008 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Greg Kerr	16,779	39.94	+1.83	$70,657
	Liberal	Robert Thibault	15,185	36.15	-3.09	$65,606
	New Democratic	George Barron	7,097	16.89	-1.94	$12,741
	Green	Ronald Mills	2,106	5.01	+2.71	$230
	Independent	Cindy M. Nesbitt	844	2.01	–	$10,570
Total valid votes			42,011	100.00
Total rejected ballots			304	0.72
Turnout			42,315	62.8
	Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		-2.46

2006 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Robert Thibault	17,734	39.24	-3.42	$72,735
	Conservative	Greg Kerr	17,222	38.11	+5.06	$54,065
	New Democratic	Arthur Bull	8,511	18.83	-2.30	$25,355
	Green	Matthew Granger	1,040	2.30	-0.92	$193
	Independent	Ken Griffiths	681	1.51	–	$2,576
Total valid votes			45,189	100.00
	Liberal hold		Swing	-4.24

2004 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Robert Thibault	18,343	42.66	+6.57	$49,127
	Conservative	Jon Charles Carey	14,209	33.05	-1.06	$119,570
	New Democratic	Arthur Bull	9,086	21.13	+9.90	$18,596
	Green	Matthew Granger	1,385	3.22	–	$0.00
Total valid votes			42,996	100.00

Conservative Party change is based on the combination of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party totals.

2000 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Robert Thibault	12,783	36.09	+10.39	$57,653
	Progressive Conservative	Mark Muise	12,080	34.11	-0.20	34,692
	Alliance	Mike Donaldson	6,581	18.58	-0.23	$32,417
	New Democratic	Phil Roberts	3,976	11.23	-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. November 28, 2000. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
5. NS Liberal MP named new ACOA minister, CBC News. January 9, 2001.
6. "Thibault wins with 43% of vote". The Chronicle Herald. June 29, 2004. Archived from the original on September 14, 2005. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
7. "Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion Appoints Robert Thibault as Liberal Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy". Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
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

External links

• Robert Thibault – Parliament of Canada biography

26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Herb Dhaliwal	Minister of Fisheries and Oceans 2002–2003	Geoff Regan
Bernie Boudreau	Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) 2001–2002	Gerry Byrne