Greg Thompson Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Birth Name:Greg Francis Thompson
Honorific-Suffix:PC
Office1:Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of New Brunswick
Term Start1:November 9, 2018
Term End1:September 10, 2019
Premier1:Blaine Higgs
Predecessor1:Francine Landry
Successor1:Blaine Higgs
Office2:Member of the
New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for Saint Croix
Term Start2:September 24, 2018
Term End2:September 10, 2019
Predecessor2:John Ames
Office3:Minister of Veterans Affairs
Term Start3:February 6, 2006
Term End3:January 16, 2010
Primeminister3:Stephen Harper
Predecessor3:Albina Guarnieri
Successor3:Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Office4:Member of Parliament
for New Brunswick Southwest
Term Start4:June 2, 1997
Term End4:May 2, 2011
Predecessor4:District created
Successor4:John Williamson
Office5:Member of Parliament
for Carleton—Charlotte
Term Start5:November 21, 1988
Term End5:October 25, 1993
Predecessor5:Fred McCain
Successor5:Harold Culbert
Birth Date:28 March 1947
Birth Place:St. Stephen, New Brunswick
Death Place:Saint John, New Brunswick
Party:Progressive Conservative (2018 - 2019)
Spouse:Linda Thompson

Gregory Francis Thompson, (March 28, 1947 – September 10, 2019[1]) was a Canadian politician who served six terms as a Member of Parliament (MP), and for one term he represented the district of Saint Croix in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, from 2018 until 2019.

Political career

Thompson was a high school history teacher at Fundy High School from 1975 to 1980.[2]

Thompson, a high school teacher, a businessman and financial planner was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1988 Canadian federal election as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He was elected in the riding of Carleton—Charlotte. His bid for re-election in the 1993 Canadian federal election was unsuccessful and he was defeated by Harold Culbert of the Liberal Party of Canada by fewer than 1,000 votes.

Thompson however ran again in the next election and was re-elected in the riding of Charlotte, where he defeated Culbert. Thompson was re-elected in the 2000 Canadian federal election in the riding of New Brunswick Southwest and again the 2004 Canadian federal election in the riding of St. Croix—Belleisle. Shortly before the 2004 election, he joined the new Conservative Party of Canada. He was re-elected in the 2006 federal election. In the 2008 federal election he was elected for a sixth term in the riding of New Brunswick Southwest by garnering over 58% of the vote.

During his time in parliament, he has served as the critic of Human Resources Development, the Treasury Board, Regional Development, Health, and Public Accounts, as well as critic of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. On February 6, 2006, he was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs in Stephen Harper's Cabinet. In April 2007, he and Harper told the press in Kitchener, Ontario that a Veterans' Bill of Rights would come into effect soon and there would be a new ombudsman for veterans along with it.[3]

Thompson resigned from his position in Cabinet on January 16, 2010, because years of travel had worn him down and he wasn't looking forward to making a trip to New Zealand due to the length and time he had to invest in the trip. He also announced he would not run in the 2011 federal election.[4] [5]

Veterans Affairs privacy issues

In October 2010, Canada's Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart uncovered evidence that widespread privacy abuses had been occurring at Veterans Affairs Canada.Among the cases where privacy issues were investigated is that in which highly personal information of an outspoken critic of Veterans Affairs, including confidential medical and financial information, was included in briefing notes prepared for then-minister Greg Thompson.[6] [7] [8]

Provincial politics

In 2018 Thompson ran provincially under the Progressive Conservatives in the riding of Saint Croix and won. He served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs until his death in September 2019.[9]

See also

References

  1. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5278834 Greg Thompson, longtime politician and Saint Croix MLA, dies at 72
  2. News: Canada Votes 2006: New Brunswick Southwest. CBC News. June 22, 2014.
  3. Web site: Canada's veterans get bill of rights. April 3, 2007. CBC News. June 22, 2014.
  4. Web site: Veterans Affairs minister Thompson resigns. January 16, 2010. CBC News. June 22, 2014.
  5. News: Go to NZ? No way - I quit, says minister. January 18, 2010. The New Zealand Herald. October 2, 2011.
  6. Web site: Veterans Affairs critic's confidential medical information given to minister. The Globe and Mail. September 21, 2010. February 28, 2023.
  7. Web site: Privacy Commissioner finds evidence of systemic abuse at Veterans Affairs. The Globe and Mail. September 28, 2010. February 28, 2023.
  8. News: Vet alleges government tried to hospitalize him. Toronto Sun. October 10, 2010. June 22, 2014.
  9. Web site: Saint Croix MLA Greg Thompson remembered as gentleman of 'stubborn determination'. Jacques. Poitras. September 11, 2019. CBC. September 14, 2019.