Barry Devolin

Barry Devolin
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
In office
2004–2015
Preceded by John O'Reilly
Succeeded by Jamie Schmale
Chair of the Standing Committee on
Aboriginal Affairs
In office
13 November 2007 – 2 February 2009
Minister Chuck Strahl
Preceded by Colin Mayes
Succeeded by Bruce Stanton
Personal details
Born (1963-03-10) March 10, 1963
Peterborough, Ontario
Political party Conservative (2003–present)
Other political
affiliations		 Reform Party (1987–1997)
Residence Haliburton, Ontario

Barry Devolin, (born March 10, 1963) is an Associate Professor at Sejong University in Seoul, South Korea. Previously, he spent most of 20 years in Canadian politics, including more than a decade as the Member of Parliament for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock (2004-2015).

Early life and education

Devolin was born in Peterborough and grew up in Haliburton. While in high school Devolin was selected as an international exchange student by the Haliburton Rotary Club to spend a year in the Netherlands. After his year abroad, Devolin wanted to become a diplomat and decided to move to Ottawa to study political science at Carleton University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1985. Two years later he received a master's degree in political science from the Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York.

Political career

Devolin previously ran in the 1993 federal election as a member of the Reform Party in the riding of Victoria—Haliburton. Devolin placed second in the election, losing to John O'Reilly of the Liberals. Following the 1993 election, Devolin served as the director of research for the parliamentary caucus of the Reform Party. He spent time working in British Columbia and Korea, and in 1994 returned to Canada to assist Chris Hodgson to seek election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Haliburton—Victoria—Brock. After this, he served as Hodgson's chief of staff for a number of years, and then became a political consultant in Toronto.

Devolin did not seek the nomination in Haliburton—Victoria—Brock in the 1997 and 2000 elections. In 2004 he became the candidate for the new Conservative Party of Canada, and was elected in the 2004 election to represent the newly redistributed riding of Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, which largely overlaps his former riding. He received 44% of the popular vote, defeating O'Reilly. In the 2006 election Devolin was re-elected with 49% of the vote.

After being elected to Parliament Devolin created a non-partisan Farm Council in his riding to advise and inform him on agricultural issues. He also launched "The Capital Experience", a program that takes one or two students from each of the area’s seven high schools to Ottawa for three days to learn about career opportunities in public life.

Following his reelection in the 2008 election, he was named Assistant Deputy Speaker,[1] which makes him one of three presiding officers who may take over for the Speaker in the event of his absence. Devolin retained this position after the 2011 election.

In 2013, Barry Devolin announced he would not seek re-election in the 2015 federal election. [2] His former executive assistant, Jamie Schmale, became the Conservative candidate for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, and was subsequently elected as a Member of Parliament in October 2015.

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2011: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
ConservativeBarry Devolin 35,192 60.0 +4.0
New DemocraticLyn Edwards 12,934 22.1 +7.5
LiberalLaura Redman 7,539 12.9 −7.5
GreenSusanne Lauten 2,963 5.1 −3.2
Total valid votes 58,628
Total rejected ballots 1630.27−0.06
Turnout 58,79163.72
Eligible Voters 92,201
Canadian federal election, 2008: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeBarry Devolin 30,391 55.95 +6.95 $80,504
LiberalMarlene White 11,093 20.42 −8.33 $41,469
New DemocraticStephen Yardy 7,952 14.64 −2.58 $14,201
GreenMichael Bell 4,505 8.29 +3.27 $2
Christian HeritageDave Switzer 374 0.69 $1,702
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 54,315 100.00
Total rejected ballots 181
Turnout 54,496 60.10 −7.47
Electors on the lists 90,680
Canadian federal election, 2006: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeBarry Devolin 29,427 49.00 +4.77 $72,620
LiberalGreg Walling 17,266 28.75 −5.76 $73,312
New DemocraticAnne MacDermid 10,340 17.22 +2.15 $17,989
GreenAndy Harjula 3,017 5.02 +0.30 $1,787
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 60,050 100.00
Total rejected ballots 196
Turnout 60,246 67.57 +3.35
Electors on the lists 89,166
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.
Canadian federal election, 2004: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
ConservativeBarry Devolin 24,731 44.23 $62,433
LiberalJohn O'Reilly 19,294 34.51 $32,357
New DemocraticGil McElroy 8,427 15.07 $16,515
GreenTim Holland 2,637 4.72 $150
Christian HeritagePeter Vogel 493 0.88 $2,345
     Independent Charles Olito 330 0.59 $8,276
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 55,912 100.00 $86,102
Total rejected ballots 199
Turnout 56,111 64.22
Electors on the lists 87,371
Percentage change figures are factored for redistribution. Conservative Party percentages are contrasted with the combined Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative percentages from 2000.
Sources: Official Results, Elections Canada and Financial Returns, Elections Canada.

References

External links

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