Raymond John Funk (born 13 February 1948) was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of Canada from Saskatchewan. He represented Prince Albert—Churchill River and was a member of the New Democratic Party. Funk won his seat in the 1988 election. He easily defeated Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate J.J. Cennon with 17,915 votes (almost 9,000 more than Cennon).

Funk was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. As a politician, Funk was heavily involved in peace issues. Funk addressed the United Nations in 1990 on East Timor. He was only the second Canadian MP to do so.[1] In 1993, Funk tabled C-414, a bill that would have established a "Peace Fund" for taxpayers who did not want their money going to the military.[2] The bill "died on the order paper" when the House of Commons was dissolved two days before debate was set to begin on the bill.[3]

Funk made an unsuccessful run in 1997 to return to the House of Commons. Funk came in second in the new riding of Prince Albert. He received 10,418 votes (31.7%), 2,090 votes behind Reform Party candidate Derek Konrad. He ran again in Churchill River in the 2000 election. He was again unsuccessful, coming in third with 5,141 votes. Liberal Rick Laliberte won the seat.

In 2001, Funk supported Buckley Belanger in his unsuccessful run to lead the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.[4] He also endorsed Bill Blaikie the NDP leadership election in 2003. Funk now is a managing partner of the Spruce River Research Farm near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.[5] In 2005, he was a recipient of the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.

Electoral record

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1997 Canadian federal election: Prince Albert
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Reform Derrek Konrad 12,508 38.1 $55,562
New Democratic Ray Funk 10,418 31.7 $59,376
Liberal Gordon Kirkby 6,965 21.2 $37,643
Progressive Conservative Brian Fripp 2,702 8.2 $13,911
Canadian Action John Hrapchak 275 0.8
Total valid votes 32,868 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 107 0.3
Turnout 32,975 64.5
1993 Canadian federal election: Prince Albert—Churchill River
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal Gordon Kirkby 11,589
New Democratic Ray Funk 9,031
Reform J. Paul Meagher 5,694
Independent Rick V. Laliberte 1,499
Progressive Conservative Joyce Middlebrook 1,412
National Brian Baker 442
Canada Party Donald Kavanagh 125
Independent Richard Arthur Potratz 79

References

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  1. ^ "Peace Magazine v07n1p20: The Genocide Generation in East Timor". peacemagazine.org. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  2. ^ PERC (17 August 2012). "PERC". Perc.ca. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  3. ^ "Conscientious Objection To Military Taxes - MC Canada". Mennonitechurch.ca. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Buckley Belanger: Leading Saskatchewan into the Future". 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Welcome to the Saskatchewan Forest Centre". 12 March 2007. Archived from the original on 12 March 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
The electoral district was created in 1987.
Member of Parliament for Prince Albert—Churchill River
1988–1993
Succeeded by