Brian Mason
Encyclopedia
Brian Mason is a Canadian politician
and leader of the Alberta New Democrats (NDP). Mason was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood in a 2001 byelection, and his career in politics spans more than 20 years.
Mason first became politically active in the mid-1970s while studying political science
at the University of Alberta
. He served as executive director of the Federation of Alberta Students from 1977-79. Upon leaving university Mason began working as bus driver with the Edmonton Transit System
.
He re-entered politics in 1989 with a dynamic campaign running for Edmonton
city council in Ward 3. Mason's campaign came on the heels of a legal challenge he mounted against a provincial law forbidding municipal employees from running as candidates in a civic election unless they resigned their position with the city.
The legal challenge was unsuccessful, however Mason was elected city councilor for Ward 3 in October 1989.
Shortly after the election the law Mason challenged was repealed, and municipal workers in Edmonton are today allowed to run for civic office without resigning their positions.
Mason remained on city council until 2000, following the mid-term resignation of then-leader of the Alberta's New Democrat Opposition Pam Barrett
, MLA Edmonton Highlands. Mason ran for the NDP in the ensuing by-election
and easily held the Legislative Assembly seat. He was re-elected in the provincial election
of March 12, 2001.
Mason was appointed the role of interim party leader for the NDP following the resignation of then leader Raj Pannu
in July 2004. He became the official leader of Alberta's NDP on September 18, 2004, following a vote at the party convention.
Mason held his seat during the provincial election in 2004
. The caucus also welcomed the return of former leaders Pannu and Ray Martin
, along with newcomer David Eggen
. In the provincial election in 2008 Mason again retained his seat, and was joined in the caucus by newly elected NDP MLA Rachel Notley
from Edmonton-Strathcona, the seat held previously by Pannu.
During his tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
, Mason's has become the outspoken champion of issues such as protecting public health care and long-term care
, defending senior citizens, diversifying Alberta's economy, refining more bitumen in the province, denouncing PC electricity deregulation, boosting education funding and lowering high automobile insurance rates.
In recent years Mason has hosted various community meetings around the province of Alberta.
In 2009 Mason hosted a Round Table forum to discuss provincial budget concerns with a wide cross-section of Albertans. In 2009 and 2010 Mason hosted two provincial tours, each visiting several Alberta communities.
The first tour took place in September 2009. The NDP held public extensive with Albertans focusing on health care concerns, and resulted in the publication of the What People Want report, which included more than 35 recommendations for health care reforms that would protect public services, and improve the general health of Albertans.
The second tour took place in May 2010. Again the NDP help public consultations, this time inviting Albertans to discuss concerns over the future of Alberta's energy economy and environment, over the erosion of public health services including long-term care
.
Mason has lived in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood for over 20 years. He and his wife Karin have two sons, Peter and Alex.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and leader of the Alberta New Democrats (NDP). Mason was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood in a 2001 byelection, and his career in politics spans more than 20 years.
Mason first became politically active in the mid-1970s while studying political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
. He served as executive director of the Federation of Alberta Students from 1977-79. Upon leaving university Mason began working as bus driver with the Edmonton Transit System
Edmonton Transit System
The Edmonton Transit System, also called ETS, is the public transit service owned and operated by the city of Edmonton, Alberta. It operates Edmonton's bus and light rail systems.-Service:...
.
He re-entered politics in 1989 with a dynamic campaign running for Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
city council in Ward 3. Mason's campaign came on the heels of a legal challenge he mounted against a provincial law forbidding municipal employees from running as candidates in a civic election unless they resigned their position with the city.
The legal challenge was unsuccessful, however Mason was elected city councilor for Ward 3 in October 1989.
Shortly after the election the law Mason challenged was repealed, and municipal workers in Edmonton are today allowed to run for civic office without resigning their positions.
Mason remained on city council until 2000, following the mid-term resignation of then-leader of the Alberta's New Democrat Opposition Pam Barrett
Pam Barrett
Pam Barrett was a politician who left politics in February 2000, after having a life-changing near-death experience.-Early political career:...
, MLA Edmonton Highlands. Mason ran for the NDP in the ensuing by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
and easily held the Legislative Assembly seat. He was re-elected in the provincial election
Alberta general election, 2001
The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
of March 12, 2001.
Mason was appointed the role of interim party leader for the NDP following the resignation of then leader Raj Pannu
Raj Pannu
Raj Pannu is a Canadian educator and politician, who led the Alberta New Democratic Party from 2000 to 2004.Pannu was born in Punjab, India completing an undergraduate degree before immigrating to Canada in 1962...
in July 2004. He became the official leader of Alberta's NDP on September 18, 2004, following a vote at the party convention.
Mason held his seat during the provincial election in 2004
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. The caucus also welcomed the return of former leaders Pannu and Ray Martin
Ray Martin
Ray Martin may refer to:*Ray Martin , English association football player*Ray Martin , Australian rules footballer*Ray Martin , United Kingdom...
, along with newcomer David Eggen
David Eggen
David Eggen is a Canadian politician. He is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the riding of Edmonton-Calder.- Educator :...
. In the provincial election in 2008 Mason again retained his seat, and was joined in the caucus by newly elected NDP MLA Rachel Notley
Rachel Notley
Rachel Notley is a Canadian lawyer and politician, currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Notley's legal career has focused on labour law, with a specialty in workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues...
from Edmonton-Strathcona, the seat held previously by Pannu.
During his tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
, Mason's has become the outspoken champion of issues such as protecting public health care and long-term care
Long-term care
Long-term care is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical need of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time....
, defending senior citizens, diversifying Alberta's economy, refining more bitumen in the province, denouncing PC electricity deregulation, boosting education funding and lowering high automobile insurance rates.
In recent years Mason has hosted various community meetings around the province of Alberta.
In 2009 Mason hosted a Round Table forum to discuss provincial budget concerns with a wide cross-section of Albertans. In 2009 and 2010 Mason hosted two provincial tours, each visiting several Alberta communities.
The first tour took place in September 2009. The NDP held public extensive with Albertans focusing on health care concerns, and resulted in the publication of the What People Want report, which included more than 35 recommendations for health care reforms that would protect public services, and improve the general health of Albertans.
The second tour took place in May 2010. Again the NDP help public consultations, this time inviting Albertans to discuss concerns over the future of Alberta's energy economy and environment, over the erosion of public health services including long-term care
Long-term care
Long-term care is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and non-medical need of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time....
.
Mason has lived in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood for over 20 years. He and his wife Karin have two sons, Peter and Alex.
2004 general election
| 2004 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 2004 The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results |
Turnout 42.74% | Swing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | Party | Personal |
NDP Alberta New Democratic Party The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation... |
Brian Mason | 6,054 | 62.62% | * |
Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... |
Terry Martinuk | 2,208 | 22.84% | * |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Jason Manzevich | 1,035 | 10.71% | * |
Alberta Alliance Alberta Alliance Party The Alberta Alliance was a right wing provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Many of its members were former supporters of the now-defunct Canadian Alliance federal political party and its predecessor, the Reform Party of Canada. Members also joined from such other provincial fringe parties... |
Ray Loyer | 305 | 3.15% | * |
Independent | Dale Ferris | 66 | 0.68% | * | ||||||
| Total | 9,668 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rejected, Spoiled and Declined | 91 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20,681 Eligible Electors |
NDP pickup new district | Swing N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 general election
| 2008 Alberta general election results | Turnout 32.54% | Swing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | Party | Personal |
NDP Alberta New Democratic Party The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation... |
Brian Mason | 4,754 | 50.95% | -11.67% |
Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... |
Andrew Beniuk Andrew Beniuk Andrew George Beniuk is a former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a Member of the Alberta Legislature from 1993 until 1997 and has since tried to regain his seat twice since being defeated.-Political career:... |
2,978 | 31.92% | 9.08% | * |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Brad Smith | 1,132 | 12.13% | 1.42% | * |
Wildrose Alliance Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta The Wildrose Party, formerly Wildrose Alliance Party, is a conservative provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. It includes free market conservative, libertarian and socially conservative factions and was formed in 2008 following a merger of the Wildrose Party of Alberta and the Alberta... |
Travis Loewen | 245 | 2.63% | -0.52 | * |
Green Green Party of Alberta The Green Party of Alberta, also known as the Alberta Greens, was a provincial political party in the province of Alberta, Canada.The Alberta Greens were formed in 1986 and received official party status on April 6, 1990... |
Mohamad Maie | 221 | 2.37% | * | |||
| Total | 9,330 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rejected, Spoiled and Declined | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28,795 Eligible Electors |
NDP hold | Swing -10.38% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||