Diane Ablonczy Canadian Member of Parliament Date of Birth: 06.05.1949 Country: Canada

1. Early Life and Education
2. Career in Law and Politics
3. Reform Party and Canadian Alliance Involvement
4. Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party Member
5. Career in the House of Commons

Early Life and Education

Diana Ablonczy was born in Peoria, Illinois, in 1949 and was the eldest of six children in her family. A year later, the family moved to Three Hills, Alberta, and Ablonczy grew up in various towns across the province. She graduated from high school in Lac La Biche in 1967 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary in 1973.

Career in Law and Politics

Ablonczy practiced law in Calgary from 1981 to 1991, while also raising her daughter and foster children. She entered the political arena in 1982, briefly with the Western Canada Concept Party and later with the Alberta Provincial Rights Association.

Reform Party and Canadian Alliance Involvement

In 1987, Ablonczy joined the Reform Association of Canada and became a founding member of the Reform Party of Canada later that year. She served as the party's first chairperson, holding the position for two terms. As chairperson, she was involved in developing the party's organizational, management, and communications structures, serving as a senior party spokesperson, and encouraging party membership growth. In 1991, she left her law practice to become special assistant to Reform Party leader Preston Manning, handling communications and strategic planning.

In the 1993 federal election, Ablonczy was elected as Reform Party Member of Parliament (MP) for the federal electoral district of Calgary North. She continued to be active in party affairs in the following years, serving on the Reform Party Strategic Planning Committee and chairing the Reform Party Task Force on Social Reform.

Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party Member

Ablonczy supported the United Alternative process to create a new right-wing federal party in 1998 and 1999. As co-chair of the UA's Political Strategy Committee, she helped develop the initial comprehensive plan and conducted nationwide public consultations. The resulting Policy Declaration was adopted by party members as the official platform at the Canadian Alliance founding convention on March 25, 2000. The Reform Party was dissolved, and the Canadian Alliance was created in its place. Ablonczy was re-elected as an MP for the new party in the 2000 federal election.

In 2001, Ablonczy ran for the leadership of the Canadian Alliance, campaigning on a promise to "bring together the Canadian Alliance, the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and other interested partners into an effective, united opposition before the next election." She placed third, receiving 3.8% of the vote. In late 2003, the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the new Conservative Party of Canada.

Career in the House of Commons

In 2011, Ablonczy was appointed Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs). She had previously served as Minister of State (Seniors), Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Since her election in 1993, Ablonczy has held various positions in the House of Commons, including critic for citizenship and immigration, health, and human resources development. She has been an outspoken advocate for issues such as Canadian sovereignty, immigration reform, and fiscal responsibility.