21 Facts About Chuck Strahl

Charles Richard Strahl was a Canadian businessman and politician.

Chuck Strahl was a Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2011.

On June 14,2012, Chuck Strahl was appointed to serve a five-year term as chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, but resigned in controversy over conflict of interest accusations resulting from his lobbying efforts for oil and pipeline companies.

Chuck Strahl was raised in British Columbia's Interior, attended Trinity Western University, and worked for Cheam Construction, a logging and road-building company owned by his father Bill Chuck Strahl.

Shortly after the business failed, Chuck Strahl ran for office under the Reform Party banner.

Chuck Strahl was first elected to office in the Reform Party sweep of the region in the 1993 election.

Chuck Strahl was re-elected in the 1997 and 2000 elections, running as a member of the Canadian Alliance, which had replaced Reform, in 2000.

Chuck Strahl held a number of shadow cabinet and committee positions.

Chuck Strahl rose into national prominence in the summer of 2001 when he was the leader and most outspoken member of a group of Canadian Alliance MPs that left the Alliance caucus and sat as members of the Democratic Representative Caucus.

Chuck Strahl attempted to launch a bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but was not able to secure enough financial or political support.

Chuck Strahl then supported Tony Clement in his failed leadership bid.

At the outset of the 38th Parliament of Canada in October 2004, Chuck Strahl was appointed Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees of the Whole under the new rules brought about as a result of the Liberal minority government situation.

Chuck Strahl was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board at the beginning of the 39th Parliament on 6 February 2006.

Chuck Strahl removed upwards of 16,000 farmers from the voters list in the midst of the 2006 election to the CWB.

Chuck Strahl was appointed Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians in a cabinet shuffle on 14 August 2007.

Chuck Strahl added to his responsibilities the title of Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency on 5 February 2010.

Between 6 August 2010 and 18 May 2011, Chuck Strahl was Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

Chuck Strahl later held various positions in the Cabinet such as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

On March 12,2011, Chuck Strahl announced he would not be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal election, which was held on May 2,2011.

On June 14,2012, Chuck Strahl was appointed to serve a five-year term as chair of the Security Intelligence Review Committee - Canada's spy agency watchdog.

Chuck Strahl died after a prolonged battle with mesothelioma in Chilliwack, on August 13,2024, at the age of 67.