Tracy Gray Explained

Tracy Gray
Riding1:Kelowna—Lake Country
Parliament1:Canadian
Term Start1:October 21, 2019
Predecessor1:Stephen Fuhr
Office2:Kelowna City Councillor
Term Start2:November 15, 2014
Term End2:October 20, 2018
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Profession:Small Business Owner
Business Executive
Party:Conservative
Residence:Kelowna, British Columbia
Spouse:Larry Gray
Alma Mater:University of Calgary
Children:1

Tracy Gray is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Kelowna—Lake Country in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections.[2] She served in both the 43rd and 44th Canadian Parliaments as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. As a Member of Parliament she introduced one bill, Bill C-283 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (addiction treatment in penitentiaries), which sought to utilize penitentiaries as addiction treatment facilities but it was defeated at second reading. Prior to her election in the House of Commons, she was a city councillor for Kelowna City Council.

Business career

Prior to entering public service, Gray had worked extensively in the British Columbia liquor industry. She served in senior managerial capacities at several breweries and wineries in the Okanagan Valley, including Mission Hill Winery and Granville Island Brewing.[3] [4] She ran the Retail and Hospitality department at Mission Hill when it was awarded the International Wine and Spirit Competition Avery Trophy for Best Chardonnay in the World.[5]

In 2003, Gray launched a chain of VQA wine stores in the British Columbia Interior.[4] Throughout its operation, the chain included the highest ranked wine store in British Columbia in terms of sales,[6] and carried over 800 varieties of local British Columbia wine.[7] Gray has guest lectured at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Okanagan College about entrepreneurship and has been an advocate and mentor for women in business.[7] Gray hosted a weekly wine lifestyle segment on Global Okanagan and has also served as a judge at several international wine competitions.[8]

Gray was a director on the Okanagan Film Commission, an organization which promotes regional economic development in film and animation.[9] She was also a board member for Prospera Credit Union. Gray was on the board when Prospera merged with Westminster Savings, the largest credit union merger in Canadian history, making the new organization the 6th largest credit union in Canada.[10] She also served as a director on the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.[11]

Gray was appointed by British Columbia's cabinet to serve on the Passenger Transportation Board.[12]

Politics

Kelowna City Councillor (2014–2018)

Gray was elected as a Kelowna City Councillor following the 2014 municipal election. While on City Council, Gray was also elected as Chair of the Okanagan Basin Water Board,[13] and spearheaded the region's flood mitigation strategy and invasive Quagga mussel prevention campaign. In April 2017, the provincial government responded to the concerns raised by Gray and the Water Board about invasive mussels by hiring more conservation officers and providing funding for two more boat inspection stations in the area.[14] She was also appointed as a Trustee on the Okanagan Regional Library board.[15]

She also served at the regional government level as a director on the Central Okanagan Regional District board.[10]

Federal Politics (2018–present)

On September 6, 2018, Gray announced she would seek the federal Conservative nomination for the electoral district of Kelowna—Lake Country,[16] stating she felt compelled to run following the Liberal government's proposed small business tax changes.[17] She won the contested nomination on April 6, 2019.[18] Gray was elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding on October 21, defeating Liberal incumbent Stephen Fuhr.[19] She is the first woman to be elected as a Member of Parliament for the riding.[19]

Gray was named to the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in November 2019 as Shadow Minister for Interprovincial Trade.[20] Following the election of Erin O'Toole as Conservative party leader, in September 2020 Gray became Shadow Minister for Export Promotion and International Trade.[21] In her capacity as Shadow Minister for International Trade, Gray moved and passed a motion in the House of Commons to establish the Special Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States,[22] [23] composed of members from recognized parties to study trade issues between the two countries.[24]

She was re-elected for a second term in September 2021.[25] Following the election, Gray was re-appointed to Shadow Cabinet in a new role as Shadow Minister for Small Business Recovery and Growth.[26]

After the election of Pierre Poilievre as leader of the Conservative Party, Gray was given an updated role as the Shadow Minister for Employment, Future Workforce Development and Persons with Disabilities. She was also appointed vice-chair of the Committee on Human Resources, Skills and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.[27]

Gray has advocated in Parliament for the federal government to do their part to complete the Okanagan Rail Trail, a multi-use path crossing the Okanagan region converting the former Okanagan Valley Railway. Presently, a 2 kilometer middle portion of the trail is incomplete while awaiting a federal government land transfer to the Okanagan Indian Band via an addition-to-reserve.[28] Gray has written to the federal government and has asked numerous questions seeking updates on the completion of this addition-to-reserve process.[29]

Gray voted against a bill that would prohibit compelling people to undergo conversion therapy intended to alter their sexual orientations.[30] Gray supported an updated bill to ban conversion therapy in Canada which passed unanimously in Parliament, Bill C-4, stating that this revised legislation addressed her concerns from the previous iteration.[31]

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada has identified Gray as anti-abortion.[32] Gray voted at second reading to send Bill C-233 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion) to the committee stage for further study, which would make it an indictable offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[33] [34]

Gray successfully advocated for the full re-opening of the Kelowna International Airport to international flights in November 2021.[35] [36] Transborder flights at the airport were initially halted at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the resumption of these flights from Kelowna delayed by Transport Canada despite airports with lesser passenger volumes being returned their international designation earlier.[37] She has also advocated for the expansion of passport services offered in the Okanagan, requesting the federal government allow Kelowna's passport office to provide urgent, same-day passport pick-up. Presently, individuals in BC's Interior must commute to either Surrey or Calgary for urgent passport requests.[38] [39]

In the 44th Parliament, Gray tabled Private Member's Bill C-283, titled End the Revolving Door Act. This bill sought to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to allow a penitentiary to be used as an addiction treatment facility and to insert into the Criminal Code an ability for a person sentenced to imprisonment to request they serve their sentence there,[40] with the objective of reducing recidivism and addressing mental health and addictions issues for federal inmates.[41] Despite being supported by the Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois, the bill was defeated at second reading.[42] As a person who was adopted at birth, she has also tabled a Private Member's Motion M-46 to recognize November as 'National Adoption Awareness Month'.[43]

Committee assignments

Current

Previous

Source: [44]

Personal life

Gray is married with one adult son.[19] [7] She was born in Edmonton and grew up in Lethbridge, moving to Kelowna in 1989. She is a graduate of the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.[45]

In her free time, Gray enjoys skiing and used to sing in a volunteer community rock band composed of elected officials in the Kelowna-area.[46] [7]

Awards and recognition

In 2006, Gray was named RBC Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.[47]

In 2008, she was named by the Women's Enterprise Centre as one of 100 'New Pioneers' in British Columbia involved in entrepreneurship.[48]

In 2015, she was named as a 'Woman to Watch' by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and Kelowna Capital News for her work in the local wine industry and on city council.[49]

Electoral record

Municipal

Kelowna Municipal Election (2014) Top 8 candidates elected
PartyCouncil candidateVote%
 Independent Luke Stack (X) 16,524 9.20
 Independent Gail Given (X) 15,559 8.66
 Independent Maxime DeHart (X) 15,522 8.64
 Independent Mohini Singh (X) 15,415 8.58
 Independent Brad Sieben 12,587 7.01
 Independent Tracy Gray 11,515 6.41
 Independent Ryan Donn 9,565 5.32
 Independent Charles Hodge 9,444 5.26
 Independent Beryl Itani 8,119 4.52
 Independent Laura Thurnheer 7,71 4.33
 Independent Alan Monk 6,185 3.44
 Independent David Mossman 5,262 2.93
 TaxPayersFirst Graeme James 4,835 2.69
 TaxPayersFirst Michael Gorman 4,391 2.44
 Propser Kelowna Mike McLoughlin 4,327 2.41
 Propser Kelowna Sean Upshaw 3,909 2.18
 TaxPayersFirst Carol Gran 3,803 2.12
 Independent Bobby Kennedy 3,107 1.73
 Independent Mo Rajabally 3,024 1.68
 TaxPayersFirst Dale Olson 2,491 1.39
 Independent Dayleen Van Ryswyk 2,294 1.28
 TaxPayersFirst Billie Aaltonen 2,191 1.22
 Independent Leslie Lendall 2,071 1.15
 Independent Rawle James 1,739 0.97
 Independent Connor P.J. O'Reilly 1,493 0.83
 Independent Ken Chung 1,474 0.82
 Independent Gwen Miles 1,272 0.71
 Independent Ken Finney 1,263 0.70
 Independent Cal Condy 989 0.55
 Independent Krista Jessacher 773 0.43
 Independent Red Somer 751 0.42

Notes and References

  1. News: Conservative nomination date draws nearer in Kelowna-Lake Country. Miller. James. Penticton Herald. February 19, 2019. October 23, 2019.
  2. Web site: Gray turns Kelowna blue. Manchester. Joe. October 21, 2019. October 21, 2019. Castanet.net.
  3. News: Waters . Alistair . Kelowna businesswoman first to toss her hat into civic election ring . 23 December 2019 . Kelowna Capital News . 2014-06-18 . Gray, a successful local businesswoman who owns the Discovery Wines store in Orchard Plaza and is a former general manager of Granville Island Brewing.
  4. News: Paillard . Sylvie . Toast of the Town: Kamloops wine lovers finally have something to cheers about . 23 December 2019 . Kamloops Daily News . 2013-05-01 . Gray came by her expertise rubbing shoulders with such top names in B.C. wines starting in 1989 as a tour guide for Mission Hill before moving through the ranks at 10 other wineries between the Okanagan and Vancouver..
  5. Web site: Mission Hill Familyu Estate Crowned "Canadian Wine Producer of the Year" at the 2011 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, UK by Propietor Chàteau Haut-Brion . Mission Hill Winery . 13 January 2020.
  6. News: Sturmanis . Donna . Kamloops Customers Welcome Discover Wines . 13 January 2020 . Food & Wine Trails BC . 27 May 2013.
  7. News: Gaze . Denise . Retailer Profile: Wine charm . 13 January 2020 . Homestyle Magazine . 1 September 2013.
  8. News: Wine judges prepare for Best of BC Wine Awards . 16 January 2020 . OkanaganLife Magazine . 24 February 2015.
  9. News: They're supporting Tracy Gray . 2 January 2020 . Kelowna Daily News . 4 April 2019 . As a director on the Okanagan Film Commission, she saw a need, and started a governance committee to work through fulfilling the Province of B.C.’s new constitution and bylaw requirements as part of the Societies Act..
  10. News: Shore . Randy . Election 2019: B.C., meet your new MPs . 23 December 2019 . Vancouver Sun . Postmedia . 22 October 2019 . Gray has built a solid business resume as the founder of Discover Wines and a director for Prospera Credit Union.
  11. News: Waters . Alistair . Kelowna chamber names new president . 2 January 2020 . Kelowna Capital News . 15 March 2018.
  12. Web site: Passenger Transportation Board Annual Report, 2012-2013 . BC Passenger Transportation Board . 23 December 2019.
  13. News: Gerding . Barry . Kelowna city councillor re-elected water board chair . 23 December 2019 . Vernon Morning Star . 7 February 2018.
  14. News: Waters . Alistair . More to do in fight against invasive mussels says water board . 13 January 2020 . Kelowna Capital News . 6 April 2017.
  15. Web site: Okanagan Regional Library Board Minutes . Okanagan Regional Library . 2 January 2020.
  16. News: Waters . Alistair . Kelowna city councillor enters race for Conservative nomination . 23 December 2019 . Kelowna Capital News . 6 September 2018.
  17. News: Michaels . Kathy . Nomination date set for Kelowna- Lake Country Conservatives . 13 January 2020 . Lake Country Calendar . 18 February 2019 . “I started to seriously consider this when the current federal government was going to implement substantial tax changes without consultation or consideration of how it would hurt businesses, families and retirement planning,” she said at the time..
  18. News: Berry . Carli . Tracy Gray new Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative candidate . 23 December 2019 . Kelowna Capital News . 6 April 2019.
  19. News: MacNaull . Seve . Conservative Tracy Gray wins big in Kelowna-Lake Country . 23 December 2019 . Kelowna Daily Courrier . 21 October 2019.
  20. News: Potenteau . Doyle . All four Okanagan MPs named to federal government critic roles . 23 December 2019 . Global Okanagan . 29 November 2019 . Gray was elevated to a position in the Conservative Party’s shadow cabinet, as she was named official shadow minister for interprovincial trade..
  21. News: Emmanuel . Rachel . Strategists applaud O'Toole's inclusion of women, young MPs in shadow cabinet . 12 November 2020 . iPolitics . 8 September 2020 . while Tracy Gray will oversee export promotion and international trade after her tenure in interprovincial trade.
  22. Web site: House of Commons . Vote No. 49 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session . OurCommons . 7 October 2021.
  23. News: Moss . Neil . New committee a forum to look deeper into ever-important Canada-U.S. economic relationship, but will partisan squabbles dominate? . 24 February 2021 . The Hill Times . The Hill Times.
  24. Web site: House of Commons . Special Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States . OurCommons . House of Commons . 7 October 2021.
  25. News: Munro . Rob . Conservative Tracy Gray re-elected in Kelowna-Lake Country . 7 October 2021 . InfoTel News . 20 September 2021.
  26. News: Burns . Iain . Tracy Gray named to Conservative shadow cabinet . 6 December 2021 . Kelowna Now . Kelowna Now . 9 November 2021.
  27. News: Daily Courier Staff . Kelowna MP Gray gets Tory shadow cabinet role as Employment critic . 10 January 2023 . The Daily Courier . 12 October 2022.
  28. News: Seymour . Ron . Rail trail's missing middle of concern to Gray . 10 January 2023 . The Daily Courier . October 5, 2020.
  29. News: Moore . Wayne . Still no time frame as to when a 2.3 kilometre section of the Okanagan Rail Trail will be accessible . 10 January 2023 . Castanet . 2 February 2022.
  30. Web site: Aug 12, 2021 . Conservative Kelowna MP not welcome at Pride celebration after conversion therapy vote . CTV.
  31. News: Tran . Paula . Kelowna-Lake Country MP supports new conversion therapy ban . 10 January 2023 . Kelowna Capital News . Black Press . 1 December 2021.
  32. Web site: Aug 13, 2021 . Members of Parliament with an Anti-choice stance . Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.
  33. Web site: June 2, 2021 . Vote No. 125 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session, Subject: 2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion) . Parliament of Canada House of Chambers.
  34. Web site: June 26, 2022 . Bill C-233 First Reading . June 26, 2022 . LegisInfo.
  35. News: Matassa-Fung . Darrian . MPs call for international flights to resume at Kelowna, B.C. airport . 10 January 2023 . Global News Okanagan . Global . October 28, 2021.
  36. News: Michaels . Kathy . Kelowna's airport gets international flights back following long wait . 10 January 2023 . Global News Okanagan . Global . 2 November 2021.
  37. News: MacNaull . Steve . Give Kelowna airport its international status back, demands local MP . 10 January 2023 . Kelowna Now . 7 October 2021.
  38. News: Moore . Wayne . MP Tracy Gray calls on government to expand Kelowna passport office . 10 January 2023 . Castanet . 5 August 2022.
  39. News: MacNaull . Steve . Kelowna needs 'urgent pick-up' passport service, says MP Tracy Gray . 10 January 2023 . Kelowna Now . 5 August 2022.
  40. Web site: Bill C-283 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (addiction treatment in penitentiaries) . Parliament of Canada . June 14, 2022.
  41. News: Gray . Tracy . Private member's bill to help deal with mental health, addiction issues . 10 January 2023 . Castanet . 28 October 2022.
  42. Web site: Kelowna-Lake Country MP Gray's 'End Revolving Door Act' closed . Gary . Barnes. March 23, 2023 . Penticton Western News.
  43. Web site: House of Commons . M-46 NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH . OurCommons . House of Commons . 10 January 2023.
  44. Web site: House of Commons . Tracy Gray - Roles . OurCommons . 7 October 2021.
  45. News: Miller . James . Race for federal Tory nomination to be decided Saturday . 15 January 2020 . The Daily Courrier . 4 April 2019.
  46. News: Weld . Carmen . Cannan: A tough road . 13 January 2020 . CastaNet . 29 September 2015 . He's still an avid drummer who can often be seen picking up the sticks with the Political Posse (featuring Cannan, MLA Norm Letnick and Kelowna city councillors Tracy Gray and Ryan Donn)..
  47. Web site: Government of Canada Invests in Recognizing Women Entrepreneurs and Business Networks . Government of Canada . 4 September 2008 . 23 December 2019.
  48. Book: New Pioneers: Stories of 100 BC Women Entrepreneurs . 2008 . Women’s Enterprise Centre . Kelowna, British Columbia . 47 . 16 January 2020.
  49. News: Klassen . Sawyer . Women to Watch: Tracy Gray . 16 January 2020 . Kelowna Capital News . 2 October 2015.