Diane Ablonczy
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Diane Ablonczy(Pronounced A-Blonc-Zee) (born May 6, 1949) is a conservative Canadian politician. She was born in Peoria, Illinois, United States. Ablonczy is a Member of Canada's House of Commons. Ablonczy is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada (since 2003), and a former member of the Canadian Alliance (2000-2003) and the Reform Party (1993-2000). She has been in the House of Commons since 1993, and currently represents the riding of Calgary-Nose Hill (since 1997) and has represented Calgary North (1993-1997). She is official opposition's Chief Citizenship and Immigration Critic. She holds teaching and law degrees from the University of Calgary. She is a former official opposition critic of Human Resources Development and of Health. She is a former teacher, grain farm manager, and lawyer. She is married to Ron Sauer, has one daughter, four step-children and two grandsons.
Ablonczy was a member of the Western Canada Concept in the early 1980s.
In 2002, Ablonczy was a candidate in the Canadian Alliance leadership election, placing third.
On November 18, 2002, Ablonczy posed a question in the Canadian House of Commons concerning Maher Arar. Arar has dual Canadian and Syrian citizenship, and had been deported by the United States of America to Syria as a terror suspect. Although some media sources had already raised questions about this situation, Ablonczy supported his deportation, and asked why the Canadian government had to rely on America to pick up on "his terrorist links" and "his al-Qaeda links".[1] (http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/2/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/026_2002-11-18/ques026-E.htm)
Arar was imprisoned for over a year in Syria, and since his release has indicated that he was tortured by Syrian authorities (with at least tacit American knowledge and approval). No evidence has emerged linking him to a terrorist organization. Ablonczy has not apologized for her remarks.
| Preceded by: Al Johnson | Member of Parliament for Calgary North 1993-1997 | Succeeded by: The electoral district was abolished in 1996. |
| Preceded by: The electoral district was established in 1996. | Member of Parliament for Calgary—Nose Hill 1997- | Succeeded by: Incumbent External links
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