Richard Dykstra
| Rick Dykstra | |
|---|---|
| President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | |
|
In office March 10, 2016 – January 28, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Richard Ciano |
| Succeeded by | Jag Badwal |
| Member of Parliament for St. Catharines |
|
|
In office January 23, 2006 – October 19, 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | Walt Lastewka |
| Succeeded by | Chris Bittle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Richard Dykstra April 10, 1966 Grimsby, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party |
Prog. Conservative (ON) Conservative (federal) |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy Dykstra |
| Residence | St. Catharines, Ontario |
| Education |
Brock University York University |
| Profession | Businessman, public affairs executive |
Richard "Rick" Dykstra (born April 10, 1966) is a Canadian politician. He served as president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario from 2016 to 2018. He also served as the MP for the Ontario riding of St. Catharines from 2006 to 2015. He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2006 federal election. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2011 but was defeated by Liberal candidate Chris Bittle in the 2015 federal election.
Dykstra was born in Grimsby, Ontario. Dykstra's parents, born in the Netherlands, emigrated to Montreal in 1951 and moved to the area around Halifax a year later, where they started an agricultural company. Dykstra has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Brock University, and a Master's Certificate in Project Management from York University. He served for twelve years as president of Dykstra Landscaping, a family business.
His brother, Larry Dykstra, was a Niagara Regional Councillor from 1994 to 1997.
Dykstra served on the St. Catharines City Council from 1991 to 1997, representing St. Patrick's ward. In 1992, he encouraged the provincial government of Bob Rae to lower its gas tax to combat cross-border shopping, which was adversely affecting Ontario businesses.
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