# Bob Benzen

Bob Benzen (born March 3, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Calgary Heritage from 2017 to 2022. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on April 3, 2017. He succeeded former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who had resigned as an MP in 2016.
Prior to his election, Benzen was a businessman specializing in data storage and information management for energy companies.
Benzen was responsible for initiating Erin O'Toole's removal as Conservative leader in 2022, after he submitted a letter from 36 Conservative MPs calling for a leadership review.

## Politics

Benzen voted in support of Bill C-233, an act to amend the Criminal Code of Canada (sex-selective abortion), which would make it an indictable or summary offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.
Benzen voted against a bill that would prohibit forcing children or adults to undergo conversion therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation; however, the bill was ultimately passed and conversion therapy in Canada was banned.
On October 21, 2022, Benzen announced that he would retire from his role as MP on December 31, 2022. The by-election to replace him was held on July 24, 2023. He was succeeded by Shuvaloy Majumdar.

## Electoral record

vte2021 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Bob Benzen | 30,870 | 57.66 | -13.07 | $68,220.18 |
| | New Democratic | Kathleen Johnson | 9,320 | 17.41 | +8.26 | $1,119.48 |
| | Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 8,960 | 16.73 | +2.77 | $8,531.08 |
| | People's | Bailey Bedard | 2,682 | 5.01 | +3.06 | $2,115.28 |
| | Green | Malka Labell | 766 | 1.43 | -2.08 | $21.70 |
| | Maverick | Annelise Freeman | 714 | 1.33 | – | $4,651.15 |
| | Rhinoceros | Mark Dejewski | 230 | 0.43 | – | $0.00 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 53,542 | 99.42 | -0.13 | $111,217.22 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 313 | 0.58 | +0.13 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 53,855 | 65.89 | -4.76 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 81,735 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | -10.66 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election: Calgary Heritage :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Bob Benzen | 40,817 | 70.72 | -0.76 | $75,391.36 |
| | Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 8,057 | 13.96 | -7.76 | $6,153.00 |
| | New Democratic | Holly Heffernan | 5,278 | 9.14 | +6.25 | $143.81 |
| | Green | Allie Tulick | 2,027 | 3.51 | +1.73 | none listed |
| | People's | Stephanie Hoeppner | 1,123 | 1.95 | - | none listed |
| | Independent | Hunter Mills | 228 | 0.40 | - | none listed |
| | Christian Heritage | Larry R. Heather | 185 | 0.32 | -1.10 | $4,539.49 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 57,715 | 99.55 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 260 | 0.45 | +0.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 57,975 | 70.65 | +37.19 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 82,059 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +3.50 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vteCanadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Calgary Heritage Resignation of Stephen Harper :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Bob Benzen | 19,383 | 71.47 | +7.71 |
| | Liberal | Scott Forsyth | 5,889 | 21.72 | −4.25 |
| | New Democratic | Khalis Ahmed | 785 | 2.89 | −4.39 |
| | Green | Taryn Knorren | 484 | 1.78 | −0.35 |
| | Christian Heritage | Jeff Willerton | 385 | 1.42 | |
| | Libertarian | Darcy Gerow | 114 | 0.42 | −0.00 |
| | National Advancement | Stephen J. Garvey | 76 | 0.28 | |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 27,116 | 99.71 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 78 | 0.29 | −0.10 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,194 | 33.46 | −39.16 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 81,270 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +5.98 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||