Ridings
204 Welland
2006 Candidates:
RIDING PROFILE
This southern Ontario riding in the Niagara region contains the cities
of Port Colborne, Thorold, Wainfleet and Welland and stretches north from the shore
of Lake Erie.
Part of the city of St. Catharines south of St. Paul Street West, St.
Paul Crescent, Twelve Mile Creek and Glendale Avenue is included in the
riding.
The area is heavily industrialized and a large percentage of the work
force is employed in steel, rubber, textile, automobile and other types
of manufacturing. Average family income is $61,498 and unemployment is
6.6 per cent.
In the 2001 census, more than seven per cent listed French as their mother
tongue and 7.9 per cent were Italian.
The riding of Welland was re-established in 2004 from 78 per cent of
Niagara Centre, 25 per cent of Erie-Lincoln and three per cent of Niagara
Falls. Welland riding was established in 1867 and abolished in 1986, becoming
Welland-St. Catharines-Thorold. In 1996, Niagara Centre was established
from portions of Welland-St.Catharines-Thorold and Erie ridings.
Political History
In 2004, Liberal John Maloney, MP for Erie-Lincoln, won in Welland to
earn his fourth term in office. Maloney defeated NDP candidate Jody DiBartolomeo
by 5,019 votes.
Liberal Gilbert (Gib) Parent was elected in Welland in 1979 and 1980,
but defeated by Conservative Allan Pietz in 1984. Parent was re-elected
in Welland-St. Catharines-Thorold in 1993 and Niagara Centre in 1997.
He served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1994 to 2001. He did
not run in the 2000 election.
Tony Tirabassi won one term in Niagara Centre for the Liberals in 2000,
defeated the Alliance's Bernie Law.
Welland:
1935-80 - LIB
1984 - PC
Welland-St. Catharines-Thorold:
1988, 1993 - LIB
Niagara Centre:
1997, 2000 - LIB
Welland:
2004 - LIB
CANDIDATE PROFILES
Irma D. Ruiter
Party: Christian Herritage Party
Education: MA in Communication Disorders & Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo. Currently enrolled in the
graduate program of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Steubenville, Ohio, Distance Education
Profession: Speech-Language Pathologist
Career Background: Works with children with mild articulation impairments at the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre.
Developed the workshop series "Allow Me" geared to training counsellors of adults with developmental disabilities and concomitant
language delays, in methods of facilitating the development of communication skills. Authored book: "Allow Me", published December 2000
Community Activities: President, T Welland & Port Colborne Pro Life Association, from 1998 to May 2002. Continuing on Board.
Music Ministry (choir), St. Alexander's Roman Catholic Church, Fonthill
Electoral History
Federal: Defeated in the 2004 Election
Campaign Address:
wellandchp@yahoo.ca
Mel Grunstein
Party: Conservative Party of Canada
Birth Date: Sept. 29, 1946
Age: 59
Birthplace: Edinburgh, U.K. Arrived to Canada in 1975
Education: B.Sc. in civil engineering, University of Manchester
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Margaret
Children: Nancy
Career Background: Worked around the world as a civil engineer and with the Canadian International Development Agency,
and is a member of the Professional Engineers in Ontario. Owns Biggar's Key Shop Locksmith Co.
Community Activities: Involved in tennis and youth soccer
Electoral History
Federal: Defeated in Niagara Falls as Reform Party member (1993 and 1997). Defeated as Canadian Alliance member in 2000.
Defeated as a Conservative in Welland in 2004
Campaign Address:
(905) 735-6565
cpcwellandeda@yahoo.ca
www.conservativewelland.ca
Brian Simpson
Party: Green Party of Canada
Age: 46
Education: BBA, MBA and LL.B
Profession: Lawyer
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Lori
Children: One son
Career Background: Lawyer, with offices in St. Catharines and Port Colborne. Practice is litigation, criminal, and
administrative law
Community Activities: Serves on the Provincial Council for Easter Seals; chair of the Business Improvement Area in Port Colborne;
chair of the Youth Justice Steering Committee; Treasurer of the Lincoln County Bar Association; board member of other organizations
including Port Cares, United Way, Healthy Lifestyles Coalition, and the Lincoln County Humane Society. Coaching in the Pelham Youth
Basketball league
Campaign Address:
(905) 834-8488
bsimpson@greenparty.ca
John Maloney
Party: Liberal Party of Canada
Birth Date: Jan. 5, 1945
Age: 61
Birthplace: Welland, Ont.
Education: BA and LL.B., University of Toronto
Profession: Lawyer
Marital Status: Married
Name of Spouse: Sherrie
Children: Megan, Patrick, Alanna, Andrew and Sarah
Career Background: City solicitor for 15 years
Community Activities: Served on board of directors: Port Colborne-Wainfleet Chamber of Commerce; Welland County Law Association.
Former member: Ontario County and District President's Association; Ports Canada advisory board; Community Futures board; chair
Regional Niagara Chamber of Commerce; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Kinsman Club. Regional director, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Served
on steering committees to establish a Palliative Care Unit at the hospital, United Way, Business Improvement Area and to establish a
Crimestoppers Program in Regional Municipality of Niagara
Electoral History
Federal: Elected in Erie (1993). Elected in Erie-Lincoln (1997 and 2000). Elected in Welland in 2004
Political History
Parliamentary Secretary: Sept 7/99-Sep 12/01 - to Minister of Justice and Attorney-General
Committee: Former Chair and Vice-Chair: Justice and Legal Affairs. Former Chair:Sub-Committee on Corrections and Conditional
Release Act. Former Member: Scrutiny of Regulations; Agriculture and Agri-Food, Human Rights and Status of Persons with Disabilities;
Sub-Committee on Organized Crime of Justice and Human Rights; sub-committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Chair:
sub-committee on Solicitation Laws of Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Member: Justice, Human Rights,
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Caucus: Past Chair of the Niagara Caucus. Chair of Hamilton-Niagara Regional Caucus. Chair of the Parliamentary Steel Caucus.
Served on the Prime Minister's Task Force on Canada-US Relations
Campaign Address:
142 Main Street West, Welland, Ont.
(905) 734-4487
Riding Address:
50 Division Street, Welland, Ont.
(905) 788-2204
Ottawa Address:
Room 723 Confed Bldg, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ont.
(613) 995-0988
Ron Walker
Party: Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada
Birth Date: Sept. 20, 1949
Age: 56
Birthplace: Montreal, Que.
Education: BA (Hons.) in Political Science from Brock University. Attended Sir George Williams University. Took labour studies
at the Welland campus of Niagara College
Career Background: Has been an industrial labourer for 35 years and has worked in Kitchener, Toronto, London and Welland
Campaign Office:
235 McAlpine Ave. South
Welland, Ont.
L3B 1T8
Jody DiBartolomeo
Party: New Democratic Party
Birthplace: Port Colborne, Ont.
Education: BA, MA (Philosophy) from Brock University. Doctorate from the University of Ottawa, concentrating on Environmental
Ethics
Career Background: Has worked in the occupational health and safety field for the past four years for a pharmaceutical company.
Worked part-time in the Adult Education Program of Brock University. Developed a curriculum for a new degree program at George Brown
College
Community Activities: Volunteers with a number of organizations, including the Humane Society and the Red Cross
Electoral History
Federal: Defeated in Erie-Lincoln in 2000; in Welland in 2004
Campaign Address:
(905) 732-3378 (Welland); (905) 834-3754(Port Colborne); (905) 680-1896 (Thorold); (905) 641-0930 (St. Chatherines)
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