Jim Hart (politician)
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Jim Hart (born October 30, 1955) is a former Canadian politician.
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[edit] Early years
Hart was born in Calgary,Alberta, was educated in Calgary and completed his military training at Fleet School California, CFB Borden and CFB Esquimalt. He completed his broadcasting training at the Columbia Academy of Radio and Television Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1981. Hart has also studied at the Canadian Securities Institute, completing the Canadian Securities Course and the Ethics, Conduct and Practices Program. Prior to entering political life, Hart worked in the broadcasting industry as radio host, account executive and radio station manager.
[edit] Political career
In 1988, Hart was elected to municipal government and served two terms as a Trustee. In 1989, he joined a new national political movement, the Reform Party of Canada, which was renamed Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance (Canadian Alliance} party in 2000.
Hart was first elected 1993 to represent the riding of Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, British Columbia], in the Canadian parliament. He was re-elected in 1997 in the new riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla.
In 1998, as a member of Canada’s official opposition, he was elected by his peers as the Vice Chairman of the House Standing Committee of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs. As well, Hart was appointed as Chief Opposition Critic for a number of senior portfolios including Defense, Veterans’ Affairs, and Justice. He also served as an executive member on the Canada/Japan and NATO Parliamentary Associations.
In 1996 Hart charged MP Jean-Marc Jocob with sedition in the House of Commons, citing Jacob for "contempt" for the "seditious" act of inviting Canadian soldiers to immedediately join a Quebec Army the day after a Yes vote during the 1995 Quebec Referendum on separation from the Canadian confederation. Hart claimed that his privileges as a parliamentarian had been trampled on by Jacob's action. The majority, however, removed all reference to contempt and sedition, leaving the motion to read simply that "the matter" of Jacob's letter of recruitment to the new Quebec Armed Forces be referred to the committee. Speaker Gilbert Parent ruled that Jacob's action formed a prima facie case for Hart to argue a breach of parliamentary privilege.[citation needed]
[edit] Inquiry
Hart resigned as a Member of Parliament in order so that newly elected Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day could enter the House of Commons through a by-election. After the by-election, Hart received a severence payment of $50,000 from the Canadian Alliance, which prompted an RCMP inquiry . The Canadian Alliance maintained that the payment was made to cover lost income between the time of his resignation and the date of the next election, and was not an inducement.
The RCMP inquiry concluded that an investigation was not necessary and that neither Hart nor the Canadian Alliance had committed a criminal offence, and no charges were ever laid in the matter.
[edit] Later career
Since leaving parliament, Hart has worked as a lobbyist, with clients including the British Columbia Naturopathic Association, and has continued to speak publicly about proposed changes to health care regulations in British Columbia.
In 2004 Hart moved to the Republic of Georgia and now works with the Georgian Parliament. In 2005, Hart received an honorary doctorate from Georgian Technical University for his work promoting democracy in Georgia.
[edit] Publications
- Hart, Jim. Straight from Hart•ISBN 1-896967-50-7
