Blake Richards
MP
Chief Opposition Whip
In office
September 2, 2020 – February 5, 2022
LeaderErin O'Toole
Preceded byMark Strahl
Succeeded byBlaine Calkins
Member of Parliament
for Banff—Airdrie
Wild Rose (2008–2015)
Assumed office
October 14, 2008
Preceded byMyron Thompson
Personal details
Born (1974-11-08) November 8, 1974
Olds, Alberta, Canada
Political partyConservative
SpouseCarmen Richards
Residence(s)Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
EducationRed Deer College, University of Calgary
ProfessionReal estate agent
Firefighter

Blake Richards MP (born November 8, 1974) is a Canadian politician. He has been a Conservative Member of Parliament since 2008, having been elected to represent the now defunct electoral district (or riding) of Wild Rose in the October 14, 2008 and May 2, 2011 federal elections and subsequently the riding of Banff—Airdrie in federal elections held on October 19, 2015, October 21, 2019, and September 20, 2021.

Early life and career

Richards was born in Olds, Alberta. Prior to starting his real estate business, Richards worked in the oil field and agriculture-related industries, and attended Red Deer College and the University of Calgary, where he earned a degree in political science.

He served his community as a volunteer firefighter and minor hockey coach before being elected to the House of Commons in 2008.

Federal politics

Richards was elected in the 2008 federal election and re-elected in the 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021 federal elections.

Richards is the current Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs. He previously served as Chief Opposition Whip, Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Small Business, Export Promotion and Tourism. In the 41st Parliament, Richards chaired the Parliamentary Tourism Caucus and the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and the Special Committee on Co-operatives. He has also been a member of the committees on Finance; International Trade; Public Safety and National Security; Procedure and House Affairs; Canadian Heritage; Agriculture; and Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

Through the Rocky Mountain Hockey Challenge, Richards has raised $360,000 for regional groups that assist victims of crime.

In 2010, Richards spearheaded a national petition that called for changes to the national pardons system after it was revealed that convicted sex offender Graham James had received a pardon in 2007 for his offences. The petition attracted thousands of supporters from across Canada and in June 2010, Bill C-23A, an act to limit pardons for serious crimes, received Royal Assent.[1][2]

In October 2011, Richards introduced Private Member's Bill C-309 in the House of Commons. It received Royal Assent in June 2013. As a result, it is now an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada to wear a mask or to otherwise conceal one's identity during a riot or an unlawful assembly.

On November 30, 2017, House of Commons Speaker Geoff Regan ordered that Richards be removed from the House for "excessive heckling" following three repeated warnings.[3]

Richards has three times been recognized as the Hardest Working and Best Constituency MP in The Hill Times' Annual Politically Savvy Survey and has been recognized with a Canadian Tourism Award for his work in Parliament on behalf of the tourism industry.

Electoral record

2019 Canadian federal election: Banff—Airdrie
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeBlake Richards55,50471.09+7.71$82,810.16
LiberalGwyneth Midgley8,42510.79-15.28none listed
New DemocraticAnne Wilson8,18510.48+3.70$7,710.51
GreenAustin Mullins3,3154.25+0.48$824.70
People'sNadine Wellwood2,6513.40Newnone listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 78,080100.0
Total rejected ballots 393
Turnout 78,47373.1
Eligible voters 107,281
Conservative hold Swing +7.05
Source: Elections Canada[4][5][6]
2015 Canadian federal election: Banff—Airdrie
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeBlake Richards42,22863.37–7.36$86,619.91
LiberalMarlo Raynolds17,38026.08+18.02$72,801.97
New DemocraticJoanne Boissonneault4,5216.78–6.29$17,953.20
GreenMike MacDonald2,5093.77–3.98$3,011.33
Total valid votes/expense limit 66,638100.00 $243,369.66
Total rejected ballots 1790.27–
Turnout 66,81773.25–
Eligible voters 91,222
Conservative hold Swing –12.69
This riding was created from parts of Wild Rose and Macleod, both of which elected Conservative candidates in the 2011 election. Blake Richards was the incumbent from Wild Rose. Changes are based on redistributed results.
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
2011 Canadian federal election: Wild Rose
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeBlake Richards43,66974.7+1.8$49,673
New DemocraticJeff Horvath6,59511.3+3.1$3,784
GreenMichael MacDonald4,0717.0-5.6$5,270
LiberalJohn Reilly3,9086.7+1.0$43,616
Christian HeritageRandy VandenBroek1810.3––
Total valid votes/expense limit 58,424 100.0
Total rejected ballots 128 0.2 0.0
Turnout 58,55261.7 +6.0
Eligible voters 94,970––
Conservative hold Swing +3.7
2008 Canadian federal election: Wild Rose
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeBlake Richards36,86972.9+0.4$50,972
GreenLisa Fox6,39012.6+1.8$14,559
New DemocraticJeff Horvath4,1698.2+0.9$5,001
LiberalJenn Turcott2,8905.7-4.0$6,555
LibertarianKrista Zoobkoff2460.5–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 50,564100.0$101,401
Total rejected ballots 1070.2 0.0
Turnout 50,67156-9.0
Conservative hold Swing +2.2

References

  1. ↑ Snow, Stacie (March 14, 2012). "Airdrie-born bill becomes law". Airdrie City View. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Sara (December 2, 2013). "Wild Rose MP Blake Richards brings drunk driving petition to House of Commons". Cochrane Eagle. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  3. ↑ Harris, Kathleen (November 30, 2017). "Speaker gives Tory MP the boot from House for heckling". CBC News. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  4. ↑ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Banff—Airdrie (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 21, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
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