Bill Rompkey

William Hubert Rompkey PC (May 13, 1936 – March 21, 2017) was a Canadian educator who served as member of Parliament from 1972 to 1995 and a senator from 1995 to 2011.

The Honourable Bill Rompkey PC
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
In office January 15, 2004 – February 5, 2006
Prime Minister	Paul Martin
Leader	Jack Austin
Preceded by	Fernand Robichaud
Succeeded by	Gerald Comeau
Government Whip in the Senate
In office September 7, 2001 – January 14, 2004
Prime Minister	Jean Chrétien Paul Martin
Leader	Sharon Carstairs Jack Austin
Preceded by	Léonce Mercier
Succeeded by	Rose-Marie Losier-Cool
Canadian Cabinet Minister of State (Mines) In office June 30, 1984 – September 16, 1984 Prime Minister John Turner Minister Gerald Regan Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Robert Layton Minister of State (Transport) In office June 30, 1984 – September 16, 1984 Prime Minister John Turner Minister Lloyd Axworthy Preceded by Robert Howie (1980) Succeeded by Benoît Bouchard Minister of National Revenue In office March 3, 1980 – September 29, 1982 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau Preceded by Walter Baker Succeeded by Pierre Bussières
Parliamentary constituencies Canadian Senator from Newfoundland and Labrador In office September 21, 1995 – May 13, 2011 Nominated by Jean Chrétien Appointed by Roméo LeBlanc Preceded by Jack Marshall Succeeded by Norman Doyle (2012) Member of Parliament for Labrador (Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador; 1972–1988) In office October 30, 1972 – September 20, 1995 Preceded by Ambrose Peddle Succeeded by Lawrence D. O'Brien (1996)
Personal details
Born	William Hubert Rompkey (1936-05-13)May 13, 1936 Belleoram, Dominion of Newfoundland
Died	March 21, 2017(2017-03-21) (aged 80) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Carolyn Pike ​ (m. 1963)​
Children	Hilary Rompkey Peter Rompkey
Alma mater	Bishop Feild College Memorial University (BA, 1957), MA, LLD (Hon.), University of London University of Toronto
Occupation	Canadian Senator
Profession	Educator
Cabinet	Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (2004–2006) Government Whip in the Senate (2001–2004) Minister of State (Mines) (1984) Minister of State (Small business and Tourism) (1982–1983) Minister of National Revenue (1980–1982)
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Royal Canadian Navy
Rank	Lieutenant (Reserve)

Early life and education

Rompkey was born in Belleoram, Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. He attended Bishop Feild College in St. John's. In 1953, after he left Bishop Feild College, Rompkey entered Memorial University, where he graduated with a BA, a diploma in education, and an MA. Rompkey continued his studies at the University of London, England, where he received the Academic Diploma in Education.

Career as an educator

After Rompkey returned from his studies in London, he started his career as an educator. Rompkey taught school at Upper Island Cove and in St. John's. In 1963, he married fellow Memorial University graduate Carolyn Pike, and then, lured by Tony Paddon, Rompkey took an appointment as principal of the Yale Amalgamated School in North West River. Rompkey later became the first Superintendent of Education with the Labrador East Integrated School Board, a position he held until 1971. In January 1972, Rompkey was studying for his Ph.D. in Adult Education at the University of Toronto when he won the nomination to represent the Grand Falls-White Bay-Labrador riding for the Liberal Party.

Parliamentary career

The House of Commons

Rompkey was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 federal election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Grand Falls—White Bay—Labrador, the first of seven consecutive election victories. He defeated Progressive Conservative incumbent Ambrose Peddle to win the seat. In 1980, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau elevated Rompkey to the Canadian Cabinet as Minister of National Revenue. In 1982, he was moved to the position of Minister of State for Small Businesses and Tourism becoming Minister of State for Mines in 1984. He was Minister of State for Transport in the short-lived Cabinet of John Turner until the government's defeat in the 1984 election.

Senate

In 1995, Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, on the advice of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, appointed Rompkey to the Senate of Canada. In 2001, he became Government Whip in the Senate and was deputy leader of the government in the Senate until the Conservatives took power in February 2006 as a result of a federal election. He reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 on May 13, 2011.

External links

• Bill Rompkey – Parliament of Canada biography
• Biography from Memorial University