Chuck Strahl

Charles Strahl
Member of the Canada Parliament for Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon
In office 2004–2011
Preceded by	new riding
Succeeded by	Mark Strahl
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Fraser Valley
In office 1997–2004
Preceded by	new riding
Succeeded by	riding abolished
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Fraser Valley East
In office 1993–1997
Preceded by	Ross Belsher
Succeeded by	riding abolished
Personal details
Born	February 25, 1957 (1957-02-25) (age 54) New Westminster, British Columbia
Political party	Conservative
Other political affiliations	Reform (1993-2000) Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Spouse(s)	Deb Strahl
Residence	Chilliwack, British Columbia
Profession	Businessman, logging contractor
Portfolio	Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Religion	Christian and Missionary Alliance

Charles Strahl,^[1] PC, MP (born February 25, 1957) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.

Before politics

Strahl was raised in British Columbia's Interior, attended Trinity Western University, and worked for a private logging and road building company called Cheam Construction, which was owned by his father Bill Strahl, and later by him and his siblings after his father died.

Entrance to politics

Shortly after the business failed, Strahl ran for office under the Reform Party banner. He was first elected to office in the Reform Party sweep of the region in the 1993 election. He was re-elected in the 1997 and 2000 elections, running as a member of the Canadian Alliance, which had replaced Reform, in 2000. He represented Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, a large riding comprising the Upper Fraser Valley, a primarily agricultural area of the province, and the Fraser Canyon-Lillooet-Bridge River regions, which are mostly wilderness with a resource-based economy and also, like the Chilliwack area, have a significant First Nations population. He has held a number of shadow cabinet and committee positions.

Strahl first rose to national prominence in the summer of 2001, when he was the leader and most outspoken member of a group of Canadian Alliance MPs that left the Alliance caucus and sat as members of the Democratic Representative Caucus.

Strahl's own leadership ambitions were frustrated due to his inability to speak French as well as the lingering distrust amongst many colleagues over the perceived disloyalty shown to his party in 2001. He attempted to launch a bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but was not able to secure enough financial or political support to launch a viable campaign.^[2] Strahl then supported Tony Clement in his failed leadership bid.

At the outset of the 38th Parliament of Canada, Strahl was appointed Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole under the new rules brought about as a result of the minority government situation.

Health problems

In August 2005, Strahl announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable/terminal lung cancer as the result of exposure to asbestos many years prior. He noticed the problem in July of the same year when his lung collapsed twice.^[3]

However, despite his health problems, he successfully ran for re-election in the 2006 election. He later held various positions in the Cabinet such as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

On March 12, 2011, it was announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal election,^[4] which was held on May 2, 2011.

Personal life

Strahl married in 1975 and has four children.

On March 18, Mark Strahl succeeded his father Chuck Strahl as nominee for the Conservative Party in the riding of Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon. The nomination process, which is usually 4 weeks, lasted only a week. During the nomination Mark Strahl was endorsed by Preston Manning, who said "Mark Strahl - by virtue of his family background ...is well prepared for service in the House of Commons."^[5]

Former Chilliwack city councillor Casey Langbroek said most Conservative Party members from the riding were upset and that the nomination process effectively barred 80% of the party members from running. Alex Moens, another Conservative Party member said "High public office should not be like a family business, where it's passed on from father to son."^[5][6]

Notes

1. ^ Chuck Strahl
2. ^ "Lack of money may prevent Strahl from entering Conservative leadership race". CBC News. 15 January 2004. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/01/14/strahl040114.html. 
3. ^ "Conservative MP Chuck Strahl has lung cancer". CBC News. 22 August 2005. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/08/22/Strahl_cancer20050822.html. 
4. ^ Ibbitson, John (March 12, 2011). "Cabinet ministers Day, Strahl to quit politics". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cabinet-ministers-day-strahl-to-quit-politics/article1939857/. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Paul Henderson. "Selection debacle dogs local Tory party". http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/Selection+debacle+dogs+local+Tory+party/4542616/story.html. 
6. ^ Michael Smyth. "Tories grumbling over fast-track nominations". The Province. http://www.theprovince.com/Tories+grumbling+over+fast+track+nominations/4540738/story.html. 

External links

• Federal Political Profile from the Library of Parliament
• Chuck Strahl’s voting record

28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (3)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
John Baird	Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities from 6 August 2010 to May 2, 2011	Denis Lebel
Jim Prentice	Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from 14 August 2007 to 6 August 2010	John Duncan
Andy Mitchell	Minister of Agriculture from 6 February 2006 to 14 August 2007	Gerry Ritz
Political offices
Preceded by Bob Kilger	Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons & Chairman of Committees of the Whole 2004–2006	Succeeded by Bill Blaikie

Persondata
Name	Strahl, Chuck
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1957-02-25
Place of birth	New Westminster, British Columbia
Date of death
Place of death