Monte Solberg

The Honourable Monte Solberg PC
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Medicine Hat
In office 1993 federal election – 2008
Preceded by	Bob Porter
Succeeded by	LaVar Payne
Personal details
Born	Monte Kenton Solberg September 17, 1958 (1958-09-17) (age 53) Calgary, Alberta
Political party	Conservative (2003-present)
Other political affiliations	Reform (1993-2000) Canadian Alliance (2000-2003)
Spouse(s)	Debbie Solberg
Residence	Brooks, Alberta
Profession	Broadcaster, Businessman
Portfolio	Minister of Human Resources and Social Development
Religion	Evangelical[1]

Monte Kenton Solberg, PC (born September 17, 1958) is a former Canadian Member of Parliament, representing the riding of Medicine Hat in the Canadian House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. He has also served as Critic for Foreign Affairs, National Revenue, and Human Resources Development.

Life and career

Solberg was born in Calgary, Alberta. A former broadcaster and businessman, Solberg is of Norwegian ancestry.^[2] He was elected as a Reform Party Member of Parliament (MP) in 1993 and 1997, and as a Canadian Alliance MP in 2000. In 2001, Solberg was one of 13 MPs who were suspended from the Canadian Alliance caucus for criticizing the leadership of Stockwell Day. He sat as an Independent Alliance MP for the summer, joining the Democratic Representative Caucus in September before returning to the Alliance in April 2002. He was also one of four Alliance MPs who agreed to sit with the Progressive Conservative caucus (to preserve their official party status) after the December 9, 2003 creation of the merged Conservative Party, as the Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parliamentary caucuses were not officially merged until a few weeks later. He was re-elected as a Conservative MP in the 2004 election.

Solberg kept a high-profile blog, and in 2005, is thought to have made history when, using his BlackBerry, he blogged from the floor of the House of Commons immediately upon the passage of Bill C-38, which provided legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Solberg was opposed to the bill. In 2006, Solberg again won his Medicine Hat riding, with 79.7% of the vote. He suspended updating his blog after being appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

In the January 4, 2007 cabinet shuffle, Solberg was appointed the new minister of Human Resources and Social Development, replacing Diane Finley.

Solberg announced on September 4, 2008 that he was retiring from politics and would not be a candidate in the 40th Canadian federal election.^[3]

Solberg is now a columnist with the Calgary Sun and a consultant for Fleishman Hillard Canada, a public relation and marketing strategy organisation.

References

1. ^ canadianchristianity
2. ^ http://markbyron.typepad.com/main/2006/02/the_harper_admi.html
3. ^ "Solberg retiring from politics", The Globe and Mail, September 4, 2008.

External links

• Solberg's official Blog
• Monte Solberg - Parliament of Canada biography
• Monte Solberg

28th Ministry – Cabinet of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Diane Finley	Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development 2007–2008 styled as Minister of Human Resources and Social Development	Diane Finley
Joe Volpe	Minister of Citizenship and Immigration 2006–2007	Diane Finley

Persondata
Name	Solberg, Monte
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 17, 1958
Place of birth	Calgary, Alberta
Date of death
Place of death