Maria Van Bommel
Encyclopedia
Maria Van Bommel is a politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. From 2003 to 2011, she was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
, representing the London
area riding
of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
for the Ontario Liberal Party
.
Van Bommel attended the Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, Fanshawe College
and the University of Western Ontario
. Before entering politics, Van Bommel worked in farming, accounting and small business. She owns a poultry farm near Strathroy, Ontario. Van Bommel has served as a provincial director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
and was a founding member of the Ontario Farm Women's Network and the Canadian Farm Women's Network. She also served for nine years on the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Board.
Van Bommel entered her political career at the municipal level, serving for two terms in East William Township. In the 2003 provincial election
, she defeated incumbent Progressive Conservative
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Marcel Beaubien
by about 3500 votes in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, a predominantly rural riding in the southwest region of the province.
Van Bommel served as the parliamentary assistant to the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services
, and served as co-chair of an "Industrial Pollution Action Team" formed by the provincial government. She also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Van Bommel holds some socially conservative
views. She opposed same-sex marriage
during the 2003 campaign, and is also a vocal opponent of euthanasia
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. From 2003 to 2011, she was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
, representing the London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
area riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
Lambton—Kent—Middlesex (provincial electoral district)
Lambton—Kent—Middlesex is a provincial electoral district in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario....
for the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
.
Van Bommel attended the Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario, Canada. The main campus is in London, Ontario, with additional campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas, Woodstock, and Tillsonburg. There are about 15,000 full-time students and 40,000 part-time students. Fanshawe College has more than 112,000 alumni...
and the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. Before entering politics, Van Bommel worked in farming, accounting and small business. She owns a poultry farm near Strathroy, Ontario. Van Bommel has served as a provincial director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture is a general farm organization established in 1936 and headquartered in Guelph, Ontario. The OFA comprises 52 county farm organizations from across the province. Bette Jean Crews was acclaimed OFA President at the 2008 Annual General Meeting, held in Toronto,...
and was a founding member of the Ontario Farm Women's Network and the Canadian Farm Women's Network. She also served for nine years on the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Board.
Van Bommel entered her political career at the municipal level, serving for two terms in East William Township. In the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, she defeated incumbent Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Marcel Beaubien
Marcel Beaubien
Marcel Beaubien is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and unsuccessfully sought election to the Canadian House of Commons as the Conservative candidate in the federal riding of Sarnia-Lambton in...
by about 3500 votes in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, a predominantly rural riding in the southwest region of the province.
Van Bommel served as the parliamentary assistant to the Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services
Ministry of Children and Youth Services (Ontario)
The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is responsible for services to children and youth in the Canadian province of Ontario. They recently introduced Bill 210 -- an Act to amend the Child and Family Services Act -- which will open adoptions to members of the child's extended families...
, and served as co-chair of an "Industrial Pollution Action Team" formed by the provincial government. She also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Van Bommel holds some socially conservative
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
views. She opposed same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
during the 2003 campaign, and is also a vocal opponent of euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
.