The Honourable Steven John Fletcher
Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia (Manitoba)
Steven Fletcher is the Minister of State for Democratic Reform. In his role as Minister he is responsible for Senate reform legislation, House of Commons seat distribution, the creation of a Canadian agency to promote democracy abroad and many other initiatives surrounding voter turn-out and Canadian democracy. Steven is one of five Ministers who serve on the Treasury Board cabinet committee.
Fletcher was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 in the west Winnipeg federal riding of Charleswood St. James Assiniboia. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008 with increasing margins. In the 2008 election he won with 54% of the vote or over 13,000 vote plurality.
After being first elected in 2004, he was appointed the Official Opposition Critic for Health and was a member of the Standing Committee on Health. When Prime Minister Stephen Harper became Prime Minister in 2006 he appointed Steven to the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.
As health critic for the official opposition Fletcher championed compensation for the “forgotten victims” of Hepatitis C. His efforts on behalf of Hepatitis C victims, and the leadership of Prime Minister Harper and Health Minister Clement, led to the announcement that all Hepatitis C victims will receive the financial compensation that is so long over due. Fletcher also championed the need for the full implementation and funding of the Cancer Control, Mental Health and Heart Disease Strategies which led to a commitment to fully fund and implement the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. In recognition of his hard work, Fletcher is a recipient of the National Cancer Leadership Forum’s (NCLF) inaugural Award for Outstanding Individual Leadership and the Courage and Leadership Award from the Canadian Cancer Society.
Fletcher has also been inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, he has received the King Clancy Award and he is also the recipient of her Majesty's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contributions to Canada. Fletcher is also a recipient of the Champions of Mental Health award for his work in raising awareness for Mental Health.
Prior to his election, Mr. Fletcher worked as an engineer in the Mining Industry until an automobile collision with a moose, left him a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down. He returned to University where he obtained a Master's in Business Administration (MBA). He was elected for two terms as the president of the student body at the University of Manitoba (UMSU). He also served two terms on the University of Manitoba Board of Governors and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). Mr. Fletcher was twice elected the President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and has played a leading role in many community organizations
Mr. Fletcher has a Bachelor in Science degree in Engineering (B.Sc.GE) from the University of Manitoba. He is also the first permanently disabled Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1972, and he lives in Winnipeg.
A biography of Steven’s life was released in the fall of 2008 called “What do you do if you don’t Die” The Steven Fletcher Story. The biography is written by Linda McIntosh.
Read more…
Ottawa International Poets and Writers for human Rights (OIPWHR)
Comments