Robert Fischer (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert "Butch" Fischer is a former long serving provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served in the Alberta Legislature from 1982 until he was investigated for a conflict of interest resigning his seat in 2001.

[edit] Political career

Fischer was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1982 Alberta general election. He won a comfortable plurality defeating Bill Veitch from the Western Canada Concept and three other candidates to hold the Wainwright provincial electoral district. He won his second term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election with a greater percent of the popular vote but a slightly reduced plurality. Upon election to his third term in the 1989 Alberta general election his total vote slipped again as he defeated two other candidates.^[1]

Fischer would stand for re-election to his fourth term in office in the 1993 Alberta general election. He would fend off strong challenges by both Liberal candidate Evangeline Forcier and Social Credit candidate Dale Trefz. For the first time in three elections Fischer's popular vote went up. He would continue his upward increase in popularity winning in a near landslide in the 1997 Alberta general election.^[2] He would run for his final term in office in the 2001 Alberta general election winning the largest plurality of his career in a landslide victory that saw Jerry Barber from the Alberta First Party finish a distant second.^[3]

Fischer served as Minister of Public Works, Supply and Services, Minister of Transportation and Utilities and Member of Treasury Board during his 19 years in the Legislature. He resigned his seat on December 31, 2001 after being investigated for a breach of ethics regarding a private business deal.^[4]