Canada’s former Finance Minister, Ralph Goodale, is the Member of Parliament for the Regina-area constituency of Wascana and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He began this latter role in September of 2010, following more than four years as Liberal Opposition House Leader in the turbulence of a minority Parliament.
Mr. Goodale holds the distinction of being selected by his peers as Canada’s first-ever “Parliamentarian of the Year” in 2006.
Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, and educated at both the University of Regina (BA-71) and the University of Saskatchewan (LLB-72), Ralph Goodale has practical experience in business, agriculture, law and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.
He was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing the sprawling rural constituency of Assiniboia. In the 1980’s, he served as Leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1986.
Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the M.P. for Wascana, and was subsequently re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In government for more than 12 years, he served in the federal Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Natural Resources, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Public Works and finally Minister of Finance. During his tenure, Canada recorded strong economic growth, balanced budgets, declining debt, lower taxes, and the best fiscal performance in the western world.
Ralph Goodale and his spouse, Pamela, make their home in Regina.
