Heather Klimchuk

Heather Klimchuk

Klimchuk at the 2014 Tour of Alberta
MLA for Edmonton-Glenora
In office
March 3, 2008 – May 5, 2015
Preceded by Bruce Miller
Succeeded by Sarah Hoffman
Personal details
Born (1958-08-10) August 10, 1958
Calgary, Alberta
Political party Progressive Conservative
Occupation Politician

Heather Klimchuk (born August 10, 1958) is a Canadian politician who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Glenora as a Progressive Conservative, from 2008 to 2015. She was Minister of Human Services from 2014 until she lost her seat in the 2015 provincial election.

Political career

Before running and being elected in the 2008 Alberta General Election, Klimchuk also ran the 2001 and 2004 election campaigns of former Edmonton-Glenora MLA Drew Hutton.[1]

Klimchuk was narrowly elected as MLA for Edmonton-Glenora in the 2008 election over Alberta Liberal Party incumbent Bruce Miller by 96 votes, less than 1% of votes cast. In the 2011 PC leadership election Klimchuk supported Gary Mar,[2] who was ultimately defeated by Alison Redford. Klimchuk was re-elected by a more comfortable margin on April 23, 2012 and was named Minister of Human Services on September 15, 2014 in the first cabinet of Jim Prentice.[3] She has previously served as Minister of Culture and Community Services and Minister of Service Alberta.[4]

Klimchuk is considered to be part of the progressive or Red Tory wing of the PC Party.[5]

Personal life

Klimchuk has a long family history with the PC Party. Her father worked on Premier Peter Lougheed's first electoral campaign and was a classmate of Joe Clark's at law school.[5] Klimchuk's public service experience prior to serving as a Member of the Legislature includes working as a researcher and writer for both Premier Lougheed and Premier Don Getty. Klimchuk also assisted with the initiation of the Alberta Seniors´ information phone line.

Klimchuk holds a bachelor of arts (special) from the University of Alberta in political science. Klimchuk and her husband, Wade, have two children: Kyrsten and Keifer.[3]

Election results

Alberta general election, 2008: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeHeather Klimchuk 4,604 39.90% 11.22%
LiberalBruce Miller 4,508 39.07% 3.94%
New DemocraticArlene Chapman 1,743 15.11% −15.81%
GreenPeter Johnston 408 3.54% 1.47%
Wildrose AllianceElden Van Hauwaert 275 2.38% 0.04%
Total 11,538
Rejected, spoiled and declined 58
Eligible electors / Turnout 29,821 38.89%
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing 7.58%
Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 294–297. 
Alberta general election, 2012: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeHeather Klimchuk 6,176 38.20 –1.7%
New DemocraticRay Martin 4,141 25.61 10.5%
WildroseDon Koziak 2,732 16.90 13.36%
LiberalBruce Miller 1,668 10.32% –28.75%
Alberta PartySue Huff 1,451 8.97
Alberta general election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
New DemocraticSarah Hoffman 12,403 68.5
Progressive ConservativeHeather Klimchuk 3,137 17.3
WildroseDon Koziak 1,381 7.6
LiberalKaren Sevcik 542 3.0
Alberta PartyChris Vilcsak 445 2.5
GreenDavid Parker 199 1.1

References

  1. ↑ http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/columnists/story.html?id=7ec926b2-bff0-46e4-afdd-b6cb93342dc3&p=2
  2. ↑ http://daveberta.ca/2011/07/mla-support-in-the-alberta-pc-leadership-contest-july-14-2011/
  3. 1 2 "Legislative Assembly of Alberta".
  4. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/Heather.Klimchuk/info
  5. 1 2 http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/columnists/story.html?id=7ec926b2-bff0-46e4-afdd-b6cb93342dc3&p=1


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