Ricardo López

Ricardo López Bello (February 13, 1937 – January 27, 2024) was a Canadian politician who was a member of the House of Commons of Canada, 1984-1993. He was a businessman by trade.

López was born in Cabrui, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain and represented the Quebec riding of Châteauguay. He was first elected in the 1984 federal election and re-elected in 1988, therefore becoming a member in the 33rd and 34th Canadian Parliaments. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. He did not serve in the cabinet under PC prime ministers Brian Mulroney or Kim Campbell. His main claim to fame in the House of Commons was that when he rose to address the assembly, both English and French interpreters would immediately start to try to decipher his speech due to his thick accent.

He played a role in inflaming opinions during the Oka crisis.

López left federal politics after he lost his seat in 1993 to Maurice Godin of the Bloc Québécois. He was also defeated at the same riding in the 2000 federal election, this time a candidate for the Canadian Alliance.

López died on January 27, 2024, at the age of 86.

Electoral history