Len Webber

Len Webber
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Calgary Confederation
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Riding Established
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Foothills
In office
November 22, 2004 – September 29, 2014
Preceded by Pat Nelson
Succeeded by Jim Prentice
Personal details
Born Leonard Warren Webber[1]
(1960-11-10) November 10, 1960
Calgary, Alberta
Political party Progressive Conservative (2004-2014)
Independent (2014)
Conservative (2014-present)
Spouse(s) Heather (deceased March 3, 2010)
Children Lauren, Jaime, Kelly
Residence Calgary, Alberta
Alma mater University of Calgary
SAIT

Leonard Warren "Len" Webber (born November 10, 1960) is the Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation and sits in the House of Commons as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected to this position in October 2015 in the newly created urban riding. Previously he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-Foothills from 2004 to 2014, initially as a Progressive Conservative and in his last six months in office as an independent.

Early life

Webber was born November 10, 1960 in Calgary, Alberta. His father, Dr. Neil Webber, served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the constituency of Calgary-Bow from 1975 until 1989 and was also a member of cabinet. (Len) Webber graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and went on to acquire his Journeyman Communications Electrician certificate from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He then pursued work as an apprentice electrician and managed his own contracting company for 10 years. Prior to seeking office, Webber served as vice president and director of the Webber Academy, a private, non-profit university preparatory school in southwest Calgary for above-average and gifted children from junior kindergarten to grade 12 founded by his father, Neil Webber.

Political career

Len Webber first sought public office in the 2004 provincial election in the constituency of Calgary-Foothills. In that election, he received 57% of the vote. In addition to his responsibilities as MLA during his first term, Webber held the position of Deputy Government Whip and was chair of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change, the MLA Review Committee of Private Investigators and Security Guards Act, the Healthy Aging and Continuing Care in Alberta Committee, and the MLA Task Force on Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Alberta. He also acted as co-chair of the MLA Task Force on Continuing Care Health Service and Accommodation Standards Committee and served as a member of numerous other committees and boards.

In the 2008 provincial election, Webber was reelected as MLA for Calgary-Foothills with 48% of the vote. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Homeless Foundation, and WorldSkills Calgary 2009.[2] Webber was reelected in 2012, and in March 2014 left the Progressive Conservative caucus to sit as an independent in protest against the leadership of Alison Redford.[3]

Webber resigned his seat in the legislature on September 29, 2014,[4] one day after winning the federal Conservative Party of Canada nomination for Calgary Confederation.[5]

He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation in the 2015 federal election as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.[6]

Personal life

Len Webber and his late wife Heather have three teenaged daughters: Lauren, Jaime, and Kelly. An avid volunteer, Webber has been involved with many community groups including Hospice Calgary, the MS Society, the Calgary Foundation, and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC). He is also a dedicated advocate for events surrounding breast cancer awareness and research. Webber is a recipient of the Alberta Centennial medal for his many philanthropic contributions.[2]

Electoral record

Federal

Canadian federal election, 2015: Calgary Confederation
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeLen Webber 30,669 45.91 –6.52 –
LiberalMatt Grant 29,083 43.53 +25.89 –
New DemocraticKirk Heuser 4,770 7.14 –8.69 –
GreenNatalie Odd 2,146 3.21 –10.49 –
Marxist–LeninistKevan Hunter 140 0.21 -0.19 –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 66,808100.00 $225,060.22
Total rejected ballots 2160.32–
Turnout 67,02475.43–
Eligible voters 88,854
Conservative hold Swing –16.21
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]

Provincial

Alberta general election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeLen Webber 8,251 53.65
WildroseDustin Nau 5,135 33.39
LiberalKurt Hansen 1,414 9.19
New DemocraticJenn Carkner 578 3.76
Total 15,378
2008 Alberta general election results[9] Turnout 35.24% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeLen Webber 6,088 48.20% -8.57%
LiberalMike Robinson 4,909 38.86% 4.12%
Wildrose AllianceKevin Legare 972 7.70% 3.09%
Green Ian Groll 411 3.25% *
New DemocraticStephanie Sundberg 251 1.99% -1.89%
Total 12,631
Rejected, spoiled and declined 61
Eligible electors / Turnout 36,019 %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -6.35%
2004 Alberta general election results[10] Turnout 37.13% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeLen Webber 5,819 56.77% -10.64%
LiberalStephen Jenuth 3,561 34.74% 6.53%
Alberta AllianceVincent Jansen van Doorn 472 4.61%
New DemocraticMalcolm Forster 398 3.88% -0.50%
Total 10,250
Rejected, spoiled and declined 50
Eligible electors / Turnout 27,739 %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -8.59%

References

  1. ↑
  2. 1 2 "Webber's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography".
  3. ↑ Wood, James (March 12, 2014). "MLA won't remain a Tory 'with her as leader of the party'". Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Premier Prentice running in Calgary-Foothills byelection set for Oct. 27". CTV News. September 29, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Calgary MLA Len Webber earns Conservative nod for vacant federal riding". Calgary Sun. September 28, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Calgary Confederation's Len Webber celebrates 'nail biter' victory over Matt Grant". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Calgary Confederation (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  9. ↑ The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 206–209.
  10. ↑ "Calgary-Foothills Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.