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One of Redford's most notable appointments was by the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] of the [[United Nations]] as one of the four International Election Commissioners to administer [[Afghanistan]]'s first parliamentary elections, held in September 2005. Political issues in the elections program within Alberta at that time were under question by the Elections Commissioner. She also served as an adviser to the [[Privy Council Office (Canada)|Privy Council Office]] on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections. {{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Her work has included assignments in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Serbia]], [[Namibia]], [[Uganda]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[Mozambique]] and the [[Philippines]]. Before her most current post, Redford managed a judicial training and legal reform project for the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court in [[Vietnam]].<ref name="leg bio"/>
One of Redford's most notable appointments was by the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] of the [[United Nations]] as one of the four International Election Commissioners to administer [[Afghanistan]]'s first parliamentary elections, held in September 2005. Political issues in the elections program within Alberta at that time were under question by the Elections Commissioner. She also served as an adviser to the [[Privy Council Office (Canada)|Privy Council Office]] on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections. {{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} Her work has included assignments in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Serbia]], [[Namibia]], [[Uganda]], [[Zimbabwe]], [[Mozambique]] and the [[Philippines]]. Before her most current post, Redford managed a judicial training and legal reform project for the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court in [[Vietnam]].<ref name="leg bio"/>

Alison Redford likes donuts and bagels.


==Political career==
==Political career==

Revision as of 21:31, 20 March 2014

The Honourable
Alison Redford
QC MLA
Redford at a 2012 campaign rally
14th Premier of Alberta
In office
October 7, 2011 – March 23, 2014
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant GovernorDonald Ethell
Preceded byEd Stelmach
Succeeded byDave Hancock
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 2, 2011
Preceded byEd Stelmach
Succeeded byDave Hancock
Minister of Justice and
Attorney General of Alberta
In office
March 13, 2008 – February 18, 2011
PremierEd Stelmach
Preceded byRon Stevens
Succeeded byVerlyn Olson
Member of the Alberta Legislative Assembly
for Calgary-Elbow
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 3, 2008
Preceded byCraig Cheffins
Personal details
Born
Alison Merrilla Redford

(1965-03-07) March 7, 1965 (age 59)
Kitimat, British Columbia
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Glen Jermyn
Robert Hawkes 1986-1991
ChildrenSarah (b. 2002)
Alma materUniversity of Saskatchewan
ProfessionLawyer
Signature

Alison Merrilla Redford, Q.C., MLA, (born March 7, 1965) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. She is the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada, having served in this capacity since October 7, 2011.[1] Redford was born in Kitimat, British Columbia and grew up all over Canada and overseas before settling in Calgary as a teenager.

In the 2008 provincial election, Redford was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Calgary-Elbow. She served in the cabinet of Ed Stelmach as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Redford became premier upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, and on April 23, 2012, she led her party to victory in the 2012 provincial election. Redford is the first female premier in the province's history and the eighth woman to serve as a premier in the history of Canada.[2]

On March 19, 2014, Redford announced that she would resign as premier of Alberta effective March 23, 2014. [3] She will be succeeded by deputy premier Dave Hancock on an interim basis.[4]

Early life

Redford was born March 7, 1965, in Kitimat, British Columbia, the daughter of Helen Kay (née Anderson) and Merrill Redford.[5] Her mother was a Scottish immigrant, originally from Glasgow.[6] Redford's family moved to Nova Scotia and Borneo, and to Calgary by the time Redford was 12.[7] She graduated from Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary, and from the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in 1988.[8] She articled for Jim Prentice at the law firm Rooney Prentice.[9]

Throughout the 1990s, Redford worked as a technical adviser on constitutional and legal reform issues in various parts of Africa for the European Union, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Canadian Government and the Government of Australia. Her work in Africa focused on human rights litigation, developing education programs and policy reform with respect to gender issues.[8]

One of Redford's most notable appointments was by the Secretary-General of the United Nations as one of the four International Election Commissioners to administer Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections, held in September 2005. Political issues in the elections program within Alberta at that time were under question by the Elections Commissioner. She also served as an adviser to the Privy Council Office on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections. [citation needed] Her work has included assignments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Philippines. Before her most current post, Redford managed a judicial training and legal reform project for the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court in Vietnam.[8]

Alison Redford likes donuts and bagels.

Political career

Federal politics

In the 1980s Redford served as Senior Policy Advisor to former Prime Minister Joe Clark, who was the Secretary of State for External Affairs. She went on to work in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada from 1988 to 1990, under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.[10] In this capacity, Redford organized a series of national foreign policy consultations facilitating public input on the Government of Canada's White Papers on Foreign Affairs and Defence. In the Canadian Parliament, she was also the Principal Legislative Advisor to the Secretary of State for External Affairs.[11]

In 2004, Redford unsuccessfully challenged Member of Parliament Rob Anders for the federal Conservative nomination in Calgary West.[9][12]

Provincial politics

On March 13, 2008, after being elected MLA for the constituency of Calgary-Elbow, Redford was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General by Premier Ed Stelmach. In addition, she also served as a member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee, the Treasury Board, and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Safety and Services.[8] She resigned from the cabinet in early 2011 to devote herself to her campaign to succeed Stelmach as leader of the governing Progressive Conservative Party.

Premier

Party leadership

See also: Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011

On February 16, 2011, Redford announced she would be a candidate in the Progressive Conservative Association leadership race to succeed Stelmach, who had announced in January he would resign as leader and premier once his successor was chosen.[13] Redford was largely considered an outsider and had the support of only one MLA in her leadership campaign.[14]

In the first round of voting held on September 18, 2011, Redford placed second behind Gary Mar, the perceived frontrunner and the preferred candidate of caucus, with 19 per cent of the vote compared to 41 per cent for Mar. Redford managed to place second largely by signing up outsiders with several campaign promises, particularly reversing a $107-million education cut which gained the support of teachers while upsetting many in the party.[15] With no candidate winning the necessary 50 per cent plus one on the first ballot a second and third round of voting was held on October 2, 2011.[16] After the third round of voting Redford beat Mar, winning 51 per cent of the vote.[17]

Redford was sworn in as Alberta's 14th Premier at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on October 7, 2011.[18][19]

2012 election

Main article: Alberta general election, 2012

On March 26, 2012, Redford met with Lieutenant Governor Don Ethell, who dissolved the current legislature and called an election for April 23, 2012.[20] After the election was called, support for the Wildrose Party supposedly surged past Redford's Progressive Conservatives. Throughout the campaign it was thought by some that the Wildrose, led by Danielle Smith, would win a majority government, ending the PC's 40 year reign.[21][22]

However, on election night, the Progressive Conservatives shocked pollsters and media pundits, by winning a twelfth majority government, taking 61 of the 87 seats in the provincial legislature—a loss of only five seats.[23] The Wildrose Party have accused her of more moderate policies, thought to have attracted some Liberal and NDP supporters, who some pundits believed voted strategically to stop the further right-wing Wildrose, from forming a government.[24][25] Wildrose lost momentum in the final weeks of the campaign, due to Smith's defence of two Wildrose candidates who had made controversial remarks.[26] According to the National Post, two of the Wildrose candidates' extreme views, as well as Smith's refusal to condemn them, cost her a chance of unseating Redford.[27] Ultimately, Wildrose failed get any foothold in the urban areas, winning only two seats in Calgary and being shut out in Edmonton. With this win, Redford became the fourth woman in Canadian history to lead a political party to victory in an election, after Catherine Callbeck in Prince Edward Island, Pat Duncan in Yukon, and Kathy Dunderdale in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Redford campaigning during the 2012 provincial election

As part of the PC campaign platform, Redford expressed her intentions to work with nonprofits, calling for the creation of a new Department of Human Services as a “single point of entry” for non-profits.[28] Premier Alison Red­ford also fulfilled her promise to raise AISH payments by $400 month, from $1,158 to $1,558, and doubling the amount an AISH recipient can make through working before it’s taken off their monthly AISH cheques, from $400 to $800.[29] Redford promised to build, of which some have now opened, 50 new schools, and renovate 70 more over the next four years.[30]

Post 2012 election Premiership

Promises made to postsecondary education during her campaign, however, were not kept, which angered several unions that had supported her leadership campaign. In spring 2013, under Redford's leadership the Progressive Conservatives tabled their first Alberta budget since reelection. The government failed to honour its 2012 provincial election promises to continue to increase post-secondary education at a rate of 2%. Instead the budget was cut by 7.2%.[31] A 9.2% shortfall. Lukaszuk, as Redford's newly appointed Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education,[32] presided over these controversial cuts and layoffs at Alberta's colleges and universities. On October 9, 2013, following 900 academic staff and faculty job losses across the province, Lukazuk announced $142.5 million had come available to construct a new Engineering building at University of Calgary.[33] This figure was a controversial amount, close to the $147 million needed to reverse cuts 8 months before. The decision was also at odds with Lukaszuk's written assurances to university administrators on July 3, 2013 that he would advocate to reverse the budget cuts if additional dollars became available: "Look guys, you’re not happy, I’m not happy with this budget. But this is the reality ... The moment I have any extra dollars I can access, I’ll be the first on on my knees before the treasury board advocating for you to get your dollars. But in the meantime, get your financial houses in order," he said.[34] To date Redford's government has not honoured the promise. [35]

Redford received praise for her work during the 2013 Calgary floods.[17]

Controversy and resignation

In 2013, Redford attended the Funeral of Nelson Mandela, representing her province, and as part of her personal history with Nelson Mandela, whom she worked with and for in the fight against Apartheid.[36] This incurred controversy when it was revealed the Alberta government covered the approximately $45,000 cost for her trip, including roughly $10,000 for a privately chartered flight to return to Alberta from South Africa for a swearing-in of the new Alberta Cabinet.[37] Redford's travel further elicited disapproval from Albertans when it was revealed that Redford's then 12-year-old daughter and a friend had accompanied her several times on official government planes.[38] In mid-March 2014, Redford repaid the costs of the Mandela funeral trip and apologized.[39]

The fallout over the Mandela funeral trip led to further scrutiny, with subsequent revelations of Redford's jet-setting expenses to promote the province and questionable spending, while her government was making public service cuts.[40] This led to charges that she was abusing her political power with a culture of entitlement[41] and soon she was lampooned as '"Princess Alison" or "Alison Earhart" — the chief pilot of WasteJet, the lone occupant of Redforce One'.[42] Critics also pointed out that Redford's staffers (some of whom came from Ontario, as she was a "Red Tory") had high salaries, including her chief of staff who earned more than that of the Canadian Prime Minister or U.S. President.[43][44][45][46] Despite winning the party leadership and general election thanks to a coalition of unions of progressives, she dissapointed many of them by not fulfilling the promises and moving to the right. Yet she angered fiscal convervatives as the province accumulated debt of $8.7-billion (the Canadian Taxpayers Federation projected that it would reach $17-billion by 2016).[47]

The Progressive Conservatives' popularity dropped below that of the opposition Wildrose Party in polls, with Redford's personal approval rating sitting at 18 per cent (the first sitting Alberta premier since Don Getty to have an approval rating below 20 per cent) and party support at 19 per cent, versus 46 per cent for Wildrose.[48] Backbencher Len Webber quit the Progressive Conservative caucus to sit as an Independent, saying that Redford was a "bully". Steve Robson, president of the PC association in the northeast Edmonton, described Redford as an "arrogant" leader who does not listen to her caucus and called on her to resign.[49][50] During the weekend of March 15-16, 2014, Redford met the PC party executive in a closed-door meeting, where she would be given an unspecified "work plan" to follow. However Redford faced a caucus revolt, as 10 MLA met on March 16 to debate whether to leave the PC party and sit as Independents. On March 17, associate minister for electricity Donna Kennedy-Glans left the PC caucus.[51] Later that week, riding association presidents were preparing non-confidence motions in Redford's leadership.[52]

On March 19, 2014, Redford announced she would resign as premier of Alberta, effective March 23, 2014.[3] She will be succeeded by deputy premier Dave Hancock, who will become interim party leader and premier until a permanent successor is chosen.[53]

Personal life

Redford has been an active member of many community boards, including the Lycee Louis Pasteur Society, the Heritage Park Foundation and the Calgary Winter Club. She previously served on the Board of the Lakeview Community Association and the Alberta Human Rights Education Advisory Board.[citation needed]

She was married to Robert Hawkes, son of former Calgary West MP Jim Hawkes, between 1985 and 1991. They met while working for former MLA (and later Alberta PC leadership contestant and Senator) Ron Ghitter. Redford remains friends with her ex-husband and in 2011 he led her transition team when she became premier.[9]

Redford lives in Calgary with her husband Glen Jermyn, a lawyer with the federal Department of Justice, and daughter Sarah.[8][54]

Election results

Template:Alberta provincial election, 2012/Electoral District/Calgary-Elbow

Template:Alberta provincial election, 2008/Electoral District/Calgary-Elbow

References

  1. ^ "Premier Alison Redford: quick facts". Edmonton Journal. October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  2. ^ McCan, Sean (October 2, 2011). "Meet your new premier". Calgary Sun. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Cryderman, Kelly (March 19, 2014). "Alberta Premier Redford to resign, effective Sunday". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Martin, Sandra (March 31, 2012). "Alison Redford: A leader on the brink". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  6. ^ http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/calgaryherald/obituary.aspx?pid=154013125
  7. ^ "PROFILE: Alison Redford, Alberta premier". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Redford's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography".
  9. ^ a b c "Alison Redford: A leader on the brink". Globe and Mail. Canada. March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  10. ^ Schwartz, Daniel. "PROFILE: Alison Redford, Alberta premier". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "Premier Biography". Government of Alberta. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  12. ^ Rennie, Steve (November 18, 2011). "Premier cool on past link with PM". Herald News. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  13. ^ "Justice minister Redford joins PC leadership race". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. February 16, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  14. ^ [2]
  15. ^ [3]
  16. ^ "Mar leads as Alberta PCs head to 2nd ballot". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 18, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  17. ^ McLean, Tanara (October 1, 2011). "Redford wins leadership race". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
  18. ^ Fong, Petti (October 2, 2011). "Alison Redford new leader of Alberta's PC party". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  19. ^ "Alison Redford sworn in as Alberta Premier". CBC News. October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  20. ^ "UPDATED: Alberta election called for April 23". Global Edmonton. March 26, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  21. ^ "Wildrose poised for majority in Alberta: poll". Globe and Mail. April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  22. ^ Grenier, Éric (April 16, 2012). "Wildrose on track for majority with a week to go in Alberta". Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  23. ^ "Albertans elect Tory majority government". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  24. ^ "Smith blames controversial remarks, strategic voting for Alberta loss". Globe and Mail. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  25. ^ "Albertans elect Tory majority government". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 23, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  26. ^ Graveland, Bill. "Alberta Election 2012: Danielle Smith Defends Controversial Candidates Ron Leech And Allan Hunsperger".
  27. ^ "Social issues sank Wildrose during campaign, experts say". April 24, 2012.
  28. ^ "Alison Redford Promises Changes to Benefit the Nonprofit Sector". Retrieved September 26, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ "Locals happy to see $400 increase to AISH". Retrieved September 26, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "PC Leader Redford promises 50 new schools". Retrieved September 26, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ http://daveberta.ca/2013/03/universities-students-and-staff-push-back-against-post-secondary-budget-cuts/
  32. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvO1L5wHOmY
  33. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/u-of-c-engineering-school-gets-142-5m-for-expansion-1.1931621
  34. ^ http://thegatewayonline.ca/article/view/lukaszuk_says_financial_review_was_cancelled_due_to_u_of_a_compliance
  35. ^ [4]
  36. ^ CTV News Network, "Memorial of Nelson Mandela", airdate 10 December 2013 circa 4:30am EST
  37. ^ Redford calls $45K Mandela memorial travel costs disappointing Alberta premier says she wouldn't have gone to South Africa had she known how expensive it would be http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/redford-calls-45k-mandela-memorial-travel-costs-disappointing-1.2524467 February 5 2014
  38. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/premier-to-repay-some-expenses-but-defiant-over-45k-airfare-1.2559248
  39. ^ [5]
  40. ^ [6]
  41. ^ [7]
  42. ^ [8]
  43. ^ [9]
  44. ^ [10]
  45. ^ [11]
  46. ^ [12]
  47. ^ [13]
  48. ^ [14]
  49. ^ http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/alison-redford-resigns-as-premier-of-alberta-1.1737226
  50. ^ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/03/19/alison_redford_resigns_as_alberta_premier.html
  51. ^ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/03/19/alison_redford_resigns_as_alberta_premier.html
  52. ^ [15]
  53. ^ [16]
  54. ^ "Alison Redford". Alison Redford.ca. Alison Redford. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
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