Ron Liepert

Ron Liepert
MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Calgary Signal Hill
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by new district
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary West
In office
November 22, 2004 – April 23, 2012
Preceded by Karen Kryczka
Succeeded by Ken Hughes
Personal details
Born (1949-10-08) October 8, 1949
Saltcoats, Saskatchewan
Political party Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, Conservative Party of Canada
Spouse(s) Linda
Children 2
Residence Calgary, Alberta
Occupation consultant
Website http://ronliepert.ca

Ronald Liepert (born October 8, 1949) is a Canadian politician and the current Member of Parliament for Calgary Signal Hill. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-West as a Progressive Conservative, from 2004 to 2012. On April 12, 2014, Liepert won the federal Conservative nomination in Calgary Signal Hill, defeating incumbent Rob Anders.[1]

Early life

Liepert was born in Saltcoats, Saskatchewan in 1949.[2] He grew up on the farm and attended a small rural school. He left high school in the middle of grade 11 at the age of 17.[3] He moved to Calgary where he took a job with Rosco Steel. For three years Liepert returned to the family farm to help with the crop, but he became disillusioned with farming and he settled into Calgary, Alberta year round. He was working at Burns Foods in 1971 when he decided to enroll in the Columbia School of Broadcasting. In 1972 Liepert, married and with an infant daughter, joined CHAB (AM) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In the mid-1970s he took a position with CFCW (AM) radio in Camrose, Alberta, and from there he moved to the ITV network (later rebranded to CITV-TV) in Edmonton, Alberta near the end of the 70s.[3]

From 1980 to 1985, Liepert held the position of Press Secretary to Premier Peter Lougheed. Following that responsibility, he moved to the ministry of Alberta Economic Development as the Trade Director of Western U.S. Operations where he remained until 1991. That year, he moved to the private sector to work for Telus where he was involved in both the purchase of Ed Tel and the BCTel merger in addition to the rebranding of AGT to Telus. From 2000 to 2004, Liepart owned his own public relations/communications consulting company and operated a childcare centre in Calgary's core.

Political career

Liepert accepted the position of Press Secretary in 1980 when the offer was made by Premier Lougheed. He was at the Premier’s side during the energy negotiations of the early 1980s and at the Constitutional Accord of 1982. He also took part in a number of federal-provincial conferences. He remained Press Secretary until 1985. Following that role, from 1986 to 1991, he held the position of Trade Director of Western U.S. Operations for Alberta Economic Development.

Liepert first ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the electoral district of Edmonton-Highlands-Beverly in the 1993 Alberta general election. He finished third in the five way race behind winning candidate Alice Hanson and incumbent John McInnis.[4]

After spending some time in the private sector with Telus and a period self-employment doing public relations/communications consulting and owning a childcare centre, Liepert desired to return to the political life. He first sought public office in the 2004 provincial election in the constituency of Calgary-West. In that election, Liepert received 52% of the vote. During his first two years as an MLA, he served as the chair of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Committee, a co-chair for the Film Advisory Council, and was a Local Authority Elections Act special committee review team member.

Following the 2006 leadership race for the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, newly elected Premier Ed Stelmach appointed Liepert as the Minister of Education. During his tenure as Education Minister, he also served as a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee on Community Services. In the 2008 provincial election, Liepert was reelected with 48% of the vote and appointed by the Premier as the Minister of Health and Wellness. In addition to his ministerial responsibilities, Liepert also currently serves as a member of the Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Committee.

Alberta Minister of Health and Wellness

As the Health Minister Liepert dismantled the nine health regions of Alberta in favour of an Alberta Health Services "super" Board. In existence for five months and running a $1.3 billion deficit, they voted themselves, with Liepert's approval, a 25% raise.[5]

He faced criticism over the handling of the flu immunization campaign for the 2009 flu pandemic.[6][7]

Alberta Minister of Energy

On January 15, 2010, Liepert was sworn in as Minister of Energy.[8]

Federal campaign

On April 12, 2014, Liepert won the federal Conservative nomination in Calgary Signal Hill, defeating incumbent Rob Anders.[1]

On September 21, 2015, Liepert drew criticism from the left wing Broadbent Institution newsletter Press Progress for his position on civil liberties and Bill C-51. During an all-candidates debate, he stated, "I know there's a whole group of people...who talk about civil liberties and about the freedom of having the right to pretty much choose to do what you like. Folks, that's not the country we live in... I'm fully in favour of Bill C-51."[9]

On October 19, 2015, Liepert was elected MP for Calgary Signal Hill winning with more than 60% of the vote.

Personal life

Liepert is married to Linda. The couple has two adult children. He enjoys golfing and served as a board member at the Pinebrook Golf Club in Calgary. Liepert has coordinated various charitable affairs, such as celebrity sport dinners and several fundraising campaigns and benefits. He also volunteers his time at a variety of other community events.[8]

Electoral record

Federal

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeRon Liepert 37,858 60.55 –4.38 –
LiberalKerry Cundal 19,108 30.56 +15.12 –
New DemocraticKhalis Ahmed 3,128 5.01 –5.57 –
GreenTaryn Knorren 1,586 2.54 –6.24 –
LibertarianTim Moen 679 1.09 – –
Christian HeritageJesse Rau 160 0.25 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 62,519100.0   $220,624.93
Total rejected ballots 189––
Turnout 62,708––
Eligible voters 84,765
Conservative hold Swing –9.75
Source: Elections Canada[10][11]

Provincial

2008 Alberta general election results[12] Turnout 39.78% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeRon Liepert 8,428 47.97% -4.11%
LiberalBeth Gignac 5,693 32.41% 0.39%
Wildrose AllianceBob Babcock 2,273 12.94% 5.55%
Green James Kohut 773 4.40% -1.06%
New DemocraticChantelle Dubois 401 2.28% -0.77%
Total 17,568
Rejected, spoiled and declined 58
Eligible electors / Turnout 44,306 %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -2.25%
2004 Alberta general election results[13] Turnout 42.38% Swing
Affiliation Candidate Votes % Party Personal
Progressive ConservativeRon Liepert 6,969 52.08% -21.07%
LiberalDerek Smith 4,284 32.02% 12.35%
Alberta AllianceJohn Keyes 989 7.39%
Green James Kohut 731 5.46% *
New DemocraticChantelle Dubois 408 3.05% -4.13%
Total 13,381
Rejected, spoiled and declined 70
Eligible electors / Turnout 31,736 %
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -16.71%
Alberta Provincial Government of Alison Redford
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Iris Evans Minister of Finance
October 12, 2011–May 8, 2012		 Doug Horner
Alberta Provincial Government of Ed Stelmach
Cabinet Posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Mel Knight Minister of Energy
January 15, 2010–October 12, 2011		 Ted Morton
Dave Hancock Minister of Health and Wellness
March 12, 2008–January 15, 2010		 Gene Zwozdesky
Gene Zwozdesky Minister of Education
December 15, 2006–March 12, 2008		 Dave Hancock

References

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