Lee Richardson (politician)

Richardson announced his resignation from the House of Commons on May 30, 2012, in order to accept an appointment as Principal Secretary to the Premier of Alberta.

On May 30, 2012 Richardson resigned from Parliament as the Member for Calgary Centre. In his farewell speech he remarked to his colleagues that: "While we advocate for different ideas of Canada, we are all Canadians and we all love our country. We would all, I think, do well to remember that and leave the partisan furies at the water's edge."

After the 2011 federal election, Richardson was one of eight Members of Parliament who put their name forward to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. Richardson lasted to the fifth round and placed third.

From 2007 until 2011 Richardson served as the Chair of the International Trade Committee. According to the Montreal Gazette, "the International Trade Committee, under the genial chair of Conservative Lee Richardson, is a collegial exception to the toxic tone of most House committees."

Richardson was appointed Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources in 2006.

He was re-elected in 2004, winning four consecutive elections in the constituency of Calgary Centre.

Richardson returned to federal politics in 2004, winning election in the electoral district of Calgary Centre which had previously been held by PC Leader Joe Clark. Re-elected in 2006, capturing 55.4% of the vote and a 20,000 vote plurality, he was again re-elected with 55.6% of the vote in 2008 and 57.7% in the general election of 2011.

In 1993 Richardson returned to a successful career in business, community service and philanthropy.

In his first term as a Parliamentarian, Richardson served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Communications, and the Minister of Transport. He was instrumental in relocating the National Energy Board to Calgary and placing the Calgary International Airport under local authority. Richardson was defeated in the 1993 federal election by Jan Brown, a Reform Party candidate.

He returned to Calgary in 1993 to form Lee Richardson Financial Corporation. He has over 20 years of corporate experience in senior executive roles at six publicly traded corporations including: President of In-Flight Phone Canada, President of Goldtex Resources, Chairman of the Board of ACD Systems Inc. (TSE), and Chairman of the Board of Streetlight Intelligence Inc.

Richardson was first elected to Parliament in the 1988 election as a Progressive Conservative representing the riding of Calgary Southeast.

Richardson was a member representing the Government of Canada on the board of directors for Calgary Olympic Organizing Committee of the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Richardson served on the Board of Directors of the 1988 Winter Olympics; on the Board of Southminster United Church; and continues to serve as a board member of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

After the 1984 federal election, Richardson served as Prime Minister Mulroney's Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Advisor on Western Affairs. Richardson remained in the Prime Minister's Office until he ran in the 1988 general election in the federal riding of Calgary Southeast. Richardson won with 62.67% of the vote. Richardson's candidacy was the first political endorsement of Peter Lougheed following his retirement.

In 1983 Richardson returned to Ottawa to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to the newly elected Progressive Conservative leader and Leader of the Opposition Brian Mulroney.

Richardson received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 "in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada", the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992, the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 "in recognition of outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta", and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 " in recognition of your contributions to Canada".

From 1974 to 1983 he served successively as Executive Assistant, Director of the Office of the Premier and Chief of Staff to Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed.

Richardson first entered federal politics serving on Parliament Hill as Executive Assistant to former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker from 1972 to 1974.

Married to Susanne Reece in 1971, they had three children: Michael, Jill, and Jane.

Lee Richardson (born October 31, 1947) is a Canadian businessman and politician.