Parliamentary Relatives: The Kramp Family
Numerous children have been elected to serve in the same riding as a parent in Canadian parliaments; but Daryl Kramp and his daughter Shelby Kramp-
Neuman hold a unique distinction. Kramp-Neuman was elected to serve as Member of Parliament for Hastings— Lennox and Addington – a riding once held federally by her father – at the same time as the elder Kramp was serving as Member of Provincial
Parliament for the same riding.
Born in Kirkland Lake to Edward and Gertrude Kramp on June 14, 1947, Kramp moved to the Madoc area where he worked as an investigator for the Ontario Provincial Police for five years, and operated several small businesses (a bakery, sports store and the popular Two Loons restaurant).
Kramp’s political career began at the municipal level, serving as a municipal councillor and Deputy Reeve. After two unsuccessful attempts to win the riding of Hastings—Frontenac— Lennox and Addington for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, Kramp won Prince Edward—Hastings for the new Conservative Party of Canada in 2004. Re-elected three times, Kramp served as vice-chair of Government Operations and Estimates, vice-chair of Public Accounts, and chair of Public Safety and National Security.
Defeated in a close contest in 2015, Kramp opted to run provincially in 2018. Elected as a Progressive Conservative MPP in Hastings—Lennox and Addington, in addition to chairing the Select Committee on Emergency Management Oversight and the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Kramp was the caucus chair for his entire term in office (2018-2022)
In 2021, one of Kramp’s daughters joined him as an elected representative of Hastings—Lennox and Addington when Shelby Kramp-Neuman was elected as a Conservative MP.
Born in Hastings County, Kramp-Neuman, graduated from the University of Ottawa, where she studied Communications and Political Science. Before beginning her tenure as an MP, she spent time as a parliamentary assistant to Jim Prentice, worked for Senator Consiglio Dinino, was employed by Global Affairs Canada, worked as a teacher for the Hastings & Prince Edward District
School Board and at Loyalist College, and spent 12 years as a financial advisor for Sun Life Financial.
Like her father, Kram p-Neu m a n also has a long history in local municipal politics, serving 15 years on the Centre Hastings Municipal Council, including four years as Deputy Mayor.
Although father and daughter held parliamentary office in the same riding simultaneously for less than a year, the Kramp legacy in the area was built over decades of public service. Following his death on February 8, 2024, local press lauded Daryl Kramp as a well-respected and beloved figure in the community.
A few weeks later, Shelby Kramp-Neuman took the opportunity to pay tribute to her father in the House of Commons, a place he loved. “He loved the role. He loved the rush, the responsibility and the privilege to represent. He loved the history, the relationships, the potential and the people,” she told her colleagues.
On election night earlier this year, Kramp-Neuman gathered her supporters in the same room where her father had celebrated his final election victory. Upon learning that she had been re-elected MP for Hastings— Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, she told the crowd that she had brought the necktie Neuman wore on election night in 2018 with her and that “he’s here with us.”
Will Stos
Editor, Canadian Parliamentary Review