Ron Duhamel

{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Ronald J. Duhamel | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}} | image = | alt = | caption = | order = | office = Minister of Veterans Affairs | term_start = October 18, 2000 | term_end = January 14, 2002 | prime_minister = Jean Chrétien | predecessor = George Baker | successor = Rey Pagtakhan | office1 = Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) | prime_minister1 = Jean Chrétien | minister1 = John Manley<br/>Brian Tobin | term_start1 = June 11, 1997 | term_end1 = January 15, 2002 | predecessor1 = Jon Gerrard | successor1 = Stephen Owen | office2 = Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) | prime_minister2 = Jean Chrétien | minister2 = John Manley | term_start2 = June 11, 1997 | term_end2 = August 3, 1999 | predecessor2 = Jon Gerrard | successor2 = Gilbert Normand | office3 = Canadian Senator<br />from Manitoba | term_start3 = January 15, 2002 | term_end3 = September 30, 2002 | nominator3 = Jean Chrétien | appointer3 = Adrienne Clarkson | majority3 = | riding4 = Saint Boniface | parliament4 = Canadian | term_start4 = November 21, 1988 | term_end4 = January 15, 2002 | predecessor4 = Léo Duguay | successor4 = Raymond Simard | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|03|02}} | birth_place = Saint Boniface, Manitoba, Canada | death_date = {{death date and age|2002|09|30|1938|03|02}} | death_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | party = Liberal | other_party = | spouse = | relatives = | children = 3 | alma_mater = Lakehead University (BA)<br/> University of Toronto (MA, PhD)<ref>{{cite web |author=|date=August 31, 2025|title=Memorable Manitobans: Ronald J. “Ron” Duhamel (1938-2002)|url=https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/duhamel_rj.shtml|website=mhs.mb.ca|publisher=Manitoba Historical Society|access-date=February 24, 2026}}</ref> | occupation = | profession = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = }}

'''Ronald J. Duhamel''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} (March 2, 1938 – September 30, 2002) was a Canadian politician. He was a Liberal member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Saint Boniface in the House of Commons of Canada. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://openparliament.ca/politicians/4255/|title = Ronald J. Duhamel | openparliament.ca}}</ref>

==Biography==

Ronald Duhamel was born in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Lakehead University and a Master of Arts (MA) and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He was a teacher, school principal, professor at the University of Manitoba, assistant deputy minister of education, and deputy minister of education in Manitoba. He died of cancer on September 30, 2002, survived by his wife Carolyn and three daughters, Kathie, Natalie and Karine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/senator-ron-duhamel-dies-1.304086|title=Senator Ron Duhamel dies|publisher=CBC News|date=October 1, 2002|access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref>

==Political career==

Duhamel was elected as a Liberal candidate in the riding of Saint Boniface in the 1988 federal election. He was re-elected in 1993, 1997 and 2000. Duhamel was wildly popular in the riding and never won an election with less than 50% of the vote, winning each of his elections by 52%, 63%, 51% and 52%.

In 2000, Duhamel was appointed to the federal Cabinet by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to the portfolio of Veterans Affairs, a post he held until 2002. Other posts he held include Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works (Public Works and Government Services), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development), Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification), and Secretary of State (Francophonie).

Duhamel was appointed to the Senate on January 15, 2002, representing the senatorial division of Manitoba.

== Electoral history == {{2000 Canadian federal election/Saint Boniface—Saint Vital}} {{1997 Canadian federal election/Saint Boniface—Saint Vital}} {{1993 Canadian federal election/Saint Boniface—Saint Vital}} {{1988 Canadian federal election/Saint Boniface—Saint Vital}}

== References == {{Reflist}} * {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=13020}} * [https://sencanada.ca/en/Content/Sen/chamber/372/debates/003db_2002-10-02-e Debates of the Senate (Hansard), 2nd Session, 37th Parliament, Volume 140, Issue 3]

{{s-start}} {{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=26}} {{ministry box cabinet posts | post1 = Minister of Veterans Affairs | post1years = 2000–2002 | post1note = | post1preceded = George Baker | post1followed = Rey Pagtakhan }} {{ministry box sub-cabinet posts | post1 = Secretary of State (La Francophonie) | post1years = 1999–2002 | post1note = | post1preceded = | post1followed = Denis Paradis }} {{s-end}} {{Chrétien Ministry}} {{CA-Ministers of Veterans Affairs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duhamel, Ronald}} Category:1938 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Canadian senators from Manitoba Category:Franco-Manitoban people Category:Lakehead University alumni Category:University of Toronto alumni Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs Category:Liberal Party of Canada senators Category:Members of the 26th Canadian Ministry Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Manitoba Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Category:People from St. Boniface, Winnipeg Category:Politicians from Winnipeg Category:Academic staff of the University of Manitoba Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada Category:21st-century members of the Senate of Canada Category:Minister of veterans affairs of Canada Category:Innovation, science and industry ministers of Canada