Robert Thibault

{{Infobox CanadianMP

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Robert G. Thibault

| honorific-suffix = PC

| image =

| riding = West Nova

| parliament = Canadian

| term_start = November 27, 2000

| term_end = October 14, 2008

| predecessor = Mark Muise

| successor = Greg Kerr

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|09|29}}

| birth_place = Digby, Nova Scotia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Liberal

| profession = Municipal administrator

| spouse = Janice Boudreau

| residence = Concession, Nova Scotia

}}

Robert G. Thibault, {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} (born September 29, 1959) is a Canadian politician.

Early life

Thibault was born in Digby, Nova Scotia in 1959. He is the grandson of former provincial politician, Joseph William Comeau.[http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=ba85452a-6a32-4cbe-bfdd-4ee2b64a271c&Language=E&Section=FamilyRelation COMEAU, The Hon. Joseph Willie] Parliament of Canada

Political career

Thibault served as a municipal councillor in Clare, Nova Scotia from 1988 to 2001 and was reelected in 2012.[http://www.clarenovascotia.com/doc/news/Elections_results_Clare_20121.pdf Clare municipal election results] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006133441/http://www.clarenovascotia.com/doc/news/Elections_results_Clare_20121.pdf# |date=2014-10-06 }}, 2012. He is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and a former member in the House of Commons of Canada, serving three terms as the representative of West Nova from 2000 to 2008. He won his first federal election in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thibault-wins-tight-race-in-west-nova-1.238150|title=Thibault wins tight race in West Nova|publisher=CBC News|date=November 28, 2000|access-date=March 31, 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000/11/28+238.raw+FE00Nov28+2|title=Thibault wrestles West Nova from Conservative Muise|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=November 28, 2000|access-date=2014-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124092047/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2000%2F11%2F28+238.raw+FE00Nov28+2|archive-date=January 24, 2005|url-status=dead}} He was named Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ns-liberal-mp-named-new-acoa-minister-1.294853|title=NS Liberal MP named new ACOA minister|publisher=CBC News|date=January 9, 2001|access-date=March 31, 2024}} He was Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from 2002 to 2003. He won re-election in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2004/06/29+243.raw+FE04Jun29+2|title=Thibault wins with 43% of vote|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=June 29, 2004|access-date=2014-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050914080359/http://www.herald.ns.ca/cgi-bin/home/displaypackstory?2004%2F06%2F29+243.raw+FE04Jun29+2|archive-date=September 14, 2005|url-status=dead}} Thibault was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health from 2004 to 2006 under Paul Martin. In the 2006 election, he defeated Conservative opponent and former Nova Scotia cabinet minister Greg Kerr by 511 votes. On April 27, 2007, Thibault was named Liberal Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy by Liberal leader Stéphane Dion.{{Cite web |url=http://www.liberal.ca/story_12737_e.aspx |title=Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion Appoints Robert Thibault as Liberal Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy |access-date=2007-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430184705/http://www.liberal.ca/story_12737_e.aspx |archive-date=2007-04-30 |url-status=dead }} He was subsequently appointed Liberal critic for Health. Thibault was defeated in Canada's 40th general election on October 14, 2008, by Conservative opponent Greg Kerr.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/west-nova-goes-conservative-1.734739|title=West Nova goes Conservative|publisher=CBC News|date=October 15, 2008|access-date=March 31, 2024}}

On October 3, 2009, Thibault was once again nominated to contest the West Nova seat for the Liberals in the 2011 federal election.{{cite web|url=http://www.novanewsnow.com/Politics/2009-10-08/article-599195/Thibault-renominated-in-West-Nova/1|title=Thibault re-nominated in West Nova|work=Nova News Now|date=October 8, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809182734/http://www.novanewsnow.com/Politics/2009-10-08/article-599195/Thibault-renominated-in-West-Nova/1|archivedate=August 9, 2011}} On May 2, 2011, Thibault was defeated in his comeback attempt, losing to Kerr by more than 4,000 votes.{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/Vote2011/7779363.html|title=Kerr repeats in West Nova|work=The Chronicle Herald|date=May 3, 2011|access-date=March 31, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042227/http://thechronicleherald.ca/Vote2011/7779363.html|archivedate=July 18, 2011}}

=Controversy=

In August 2008, Thibault caused controversy with some accusing him of ageism when he suggested that his Conservative opponent Greg Kerr was too old for the job.[http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=1ad73326-8d6f-4058-81a6-58cb02021c7f Nova Scotia MP charged with 'ageism'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709130433/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=1ad73326-8d6f-4058-81a6-58cb02021c7f# |date=2015-07-09 }} Canada.com Only five days later, Thibault was accused of sexism when he called Marjory LeBreton, then government leader in the Senate, an "idiot" and suggested she should "go back to making tea" for former prime minister Brian Mulroney.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/liberal-mp-apologizes-for-another-taunt/article20386545/ Liberal MP apologizes for another taunt] The Globe and Mail Three months later, Thibault lost his seat in the 2008 election.