About Leon

November 2007 - present

• Elected Member of Parliament (Conservative Party of Canada) for Vegreville-Wainwright Constituency
• Elected as Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
• Elected as President of the NATO Parliamentarians Association

January 2006 - Fall 2007

• Elected Member of Parliament (Conservative Party of Canada) for Vegreville-Wainwright Constituency
• Elected as Chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade
• Elected as President of the NATO Parliamentarians Association

38th Parliament - July 2004 to January 2006

• Elected Member of Parliament (Conservative Party of Canada) for Vegreville-Wainwright Constituency
• Elected as Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (one of only four Official Opposition Members to Chair a
House of Commons Standing Committee)

37th Parliament, November 27, 2000 – June 27, 2004

• Elected Member of Parliament (Canadian Alliance) for Lakeland Constituency
• Chief Opposition Critic for Public Works & Government Services Canada Issues, June 2003 – June 2004
• Chief Opposition Critic for National Defence, June 2001 - June 2003
• Deputy Opposition Critic for National Defence, November 2000 - May 2001
• Member, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association

36th Parliament, June 2, 1997 - November 27, 2000

• Elected Member of Parliament (Reform) for Lakeland Constituency
• Official Opposition Critic for Citizenship and Immigration, October 1998 - July 2000
• Deputy Opposition Critic for National Defence, October 1997 - September 1998
• Deputy Opposition Critic for Agriculture, October 1997 - September 1998

35th Parliament, October 25 1993 - June 2, 1997

• Elected Member of Parliament (Reform) for Vegreville Constituency
• Reform Critic for Inter-Provincial Trade Critic, 1996 - 1997
• Reform Critic for Agriculture, 1993 - 1995
• Political Member of Agriculture Task Force responsible for developing Reform Agriculture Policy adopted at Reform Assembly 1991
• Founding Director of Vegreville Constituency Association, Policy Director until 1992

Business Experience

Farming Experience, 1974-present

• Owner, operator and manager of 640-1000 acre farm; crops include wheat, canola, barley, oats and peas
• Special focus on soil conservation and efficiency in operations
• Utilization of various types of reduced tillage operations

Farm Economist, 1977-1993

• Farm Economist with Alberta Agriculture on seasonal and full time basis
• Provided business management information, training and education for farmers
• Farm management training, specializing in financial management and marketing
• Analyzed and projected impact of farm and economic policy on farm businesses
• Assisted farmers with income tax questions

Consultant, 1988-1993

• Part time Farm Management Consultant with individual farm businesses
• Farm Management Instructor on a contract basis

Farm-Based Business Owner, 1978-1985

• Owned and operated a farm-based business that sold specialized farm products

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, University of Alberta, Edmonton
• Specialized in economics and business management

Professional Involvement

• Member of Alberta Institute of Agrologists and Canadian Institute of Agrologists, (P.Ag.)
• Authored farm-related articles, brochures and course materials

Personal Info

• Born 1950, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
• Raised on a mixed farm of grain, cattle, horses and hogs
• Married - 1974 to Linda (nee Gabert)
• Children - Suzanne, Gabriel, Daniel, Jennifer and Paul