Sheri Benson
Sheri Benson | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Leader of the New Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office March 14, 2019 Serving with Alexandre Boulerice | |
| Leader | Jagmeet Singh |
| Preceded by | David Christopherson |
| Member of Parliament for Saskatoon West | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Riding Established |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Residence | Saskatoon |
| Profession | Member of Parliament |
| Portfolio | NDP Critic for Housing |
Sheri Benson MP is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Saskatoon West in the House of Commons of Canada in the federal election of 2015. Benson is a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP). Prior to her election she was the CEO of the local United Way and also served as a justice of the peace.[1][2] Benson was appointed as Deputy Leader of the New Democratic Party serving with Alexandre Boulerice on March 14, 2019 by party leader Jagmeet Singh.
She is one of five out LGBT people serving in the 42nd Canadian Parliament, alongside Rob Oliphant, Seamus O'Regan, Randall Garrison and Randy Boissonnault.[3] Benson is the first out LGBT politician in Saskatchewan to be elected to the House of Commons and first out lesbian before being elected to parliament.
Benson currently serves as the New Democratic Party Deputy-Leader and critic for Housing in the 42nd Canadian Parliament.[4]
She lived in Winnipeg during her childhood, where she also participated in Girl Guides of Canada programs as a Brownie and Guide. As a member of Girl Guides, Benson earned a fire safety badge for which she was presented a certificate of achievement by Manitoba's then-Minister of Labour, Howard Pawley, and often went by the nickname "Safety Sher".[5]
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Background and prior community involvement[2][edit]
United Way[edit]
As CEO for the local United Way, since 2009, Benson worked with community, labour and business groups to launch Saskatoon’s first-ever Plan to End Homelessness and Saskatoon's Housing First Program. Benson also implemented the organization’s ground-breaking Aboriginal Engagement Strategy.
Under Benson's leadership, United Way support for community programs grew 60%—to nearly $5-million in 2014.
Victims of Domestic Violence Act[edit]
Benson was the inaugural Justice of the Peace for Saskatchewan’s Victims of Domestic Violence Act. And in 2014, Benson's hard work was recognized with a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Community Building.
Community services[edit]
To further strengthen community services, she co-founded the Saskatoon Collaborative Funding Partnership and has co-chaired the Saskatoon Regional Intersectoral Committee.
Electoral record[edit]
| 2015 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Sheri Benson | 14,921 | 39.6 | -11.7 | – | |||
| Conservative | Randy Donauer | 12,401 | 32.9 | -9.64 | – | |||
| Liberal | Lisa Abbott | 9,234 | 24.5 | +20.73 | – | |||
| Green | Lois Carol Mitchell | 658 | 1.7 | -0.87 | – | |||
| Canada Party | Jim Pankiw | 271 | 0.7 | – | – | |||
| Libertarian | Bronek Hart | 230 | 0.6 | – | – | |||
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 37,715 | 100.0 | $190,628.75 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 170 | – | – | |||||
| Turnout | 37,885 | 67.78 | – | |||||
| Eligible voters | 55,886 | |||||||
| New Democratic notional hold | Swing | -10.67 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[6][7] | ||||||||
References[edit]
- ^ Giles, David (19 October 2015). "NDP's Sheri Benson wins in Saskatoon West". Global News. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Sheri Benson - About". sheribenson.ndp.ca. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ^ "Hedy Fry wins decisively as Liberals sweep Canada for majority". Daily Xtra. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ^ Kirkup, Kristy (12 November 2015). "Tom Mulcair taps Nathan Cullen, Charlie Angus, Guy Caron for top critic roles". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
- ^ "GM Grazings" (PDF).
- ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Saskatoon West, 30 September 2015
- ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
External links[edit]
 | This article about a Saskatchewan politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- Living people
- New Democratic Party MPs
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Saskatchewan
- Politicians from Saskatoon
- Women members of the House of Commons of Canada
- Canadian LGBT Members of Parliament
- Lesbian politicians
- United Ways people
- Women in Saskatchewan politics
- Canadian justices of the peace
- 21st-century Canadian politicians
- 21st-century Canadian women politicians
- Saskatchewan politician stubs
