Political Career
In 1988, Hart was elected to municipal government and served two terms as a Trustee. In 1989, he joined a new national political movement, the Reform Party of Canada, which became the Canadian Alliance in 2000.
Hart was first elected 1993 to represent the riding of Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, British Columbia, in the Canadian parliament. He was re-elected in 1997 in the new riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla.
In 1998, as a member of Canada’s official opposition, he was elected by his peers as the Vice Chairman of the House Standing Committee of Defense and Veterans’ Affairs. As well, Hart was appointed as Chief Opposition Critic for a number of senior portfolios including Defense, Veterans’ Affairs, and Justice. He also served as an executive member on the Canada/Japan and NATO Parliamentary Associations.
In March 1996 Hart accused Jean-Marc Jacob, Member of Parliament for Charlesbourg, of sedition for a 1995 communique sent by him (Jacob) to members of the Armed Forces in Quebec concerning the October 30, 1995 separation referendum in that province. The Speaker ruled the matter prima facie, Mr. Hart moved a motion, which after debate was amended, and the House referred the matter to committee for study. See debates, March 12, 1996, pp. 557–67; March 13, 1996, pp. 648–74; March 14, 1996, pp. 680–703; March 18, 1996,pp 854–9. On June 18, 1996 the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented its Twenty-Ninth Report which found that although Mr. Jacobs actions were ill advised, there was no contempt of the House. See Journals June 18, 1996, pp. 565–6; June 20, 1996, pp. 592–3 (House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Robert Marleau and Camille Montpetit ISBN 2-89461-378-4)
The communique urged Canadian Armed Forces personnel, along with equipment and military hardware to immediately join the new Quebec Armed Forces the day after a "yes" vote in the referendum. The referendum failed to win a majority.
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