Laurie Blakeman
Encyclopedia
Laurie Blakeman is a Canadian
politician, who currently represents the electoral district
of Edmonton Centre
in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
. She is a member of the Alberta Liberal Party
, and was first elected in the 1997 election
.
in fine arts in acting and a certificate in public administration from the University of Alberta
. Before entering politics, she worked for the Alberta Advisory Council on Women's Issues, the Phoenix Theatre and Theatre Network, the Medical Council of Canada, and the Alberta Snowmobile Association.
, when she ran as a Liberal
candidate in Edmonton Centre
to replace retiring Liberal MLA Michael Henry. She was elected, finishing more than a thousand votes ahead of the second place finisher, Progressive Conservative
Don Weideman. This gap narrowed when Weideman challenged her re-election bid in the 2001 election
, but grew to more than three thousand votes in 2004
. The 2008 election would bring a new Progressive Conservative Opponent, in Bill Donahue, but a similar result, as Blakeman handily retained her seat in an election in which half of incumbent Liberal MLAs lost theirs.
that never reached second reading. In 1998, she brought forward the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, another private member's bill, which would have expanded the province's anti-discrimination legislation to include sexual orientation
as a basis on which discrimination was prohibited (later the same year, the Supreme Court of Canada
, in Vriend v. Alberta
, ruled Alberta's failure to include this to be in contravention of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms); it too failed to advance to second reading.
In 1999, Blakeman sponsored the Consumers Insurance Company Act, a private bill
designed to create a new insurance company, in compliance with the law that new insurance companies could only be created by acts of the legislature. However, the bill faced some opposition from Blakeman's Liberal colleagues, including Linda Sloan
, Hugh MacDonald
, and Gary Dickson
, who expressed concern that the bill might be a step towards privatized medicine. The bill passed.
In 2007, Blakeman sponsored the Healthy Futures Act, which would have required major policy and funding decisions to undergo "health impact assessments", which would look at their impacts on Albertans' health through social and environmental impacts. Blakeman's Liberal colleagues supported the bill, as did the New Democrats
(although NDP MLA Ray Martin
expressed concern that the bill only required assessment, rather than action, on potential adverse health impacts) and several Progressive Conservatives. Even so, it was defeated through majority opposition of the Progressive Conservatives, many of whom expressed the view that the bill would add nothing meaningful that did not already exist under the existing regulatory framework, while, in the words of PC MLA Dave Rodney
, "effectively bring[ing] the decision-
making apparatus of the government and this Assembly to a grinding halt."
announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party
following its defeat in the 2008 election, Blakeman was one of four MLAs to express interest in running in the ensuing election to replace him. However, in August she announced that she would not do so, citing the cost of a candidacy.
Official Opposition House Leader
Critic for Environment
Critic for Sustainable Resource Development
Critic for Culture and Community Spirit
Ben Henderson
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, who currently represents the electoral district
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Edmonton Centre
Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:...
in 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...
. She is a member of the Alberta Liberal Party
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...
, and was first elected in the 1997 election
Alberta general election, 1997
The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
.
Early life
She graduated with a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in fine arts in acting and a certificate in public administration from 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...
. Before entering politics, she worked for the Alberta Advisory Council on Women's Issues, the Phoenix Theatre and Theatre Network, the Medical Council of Canada, and the Alberta Snowmobile Association.
Electoral record
Blakeman first sought political office in the 1997 provincial electionAlberta general election, 1997
The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, when she ran as a 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...
candidate in Edmonton Centre
Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:...
to replace retiring Liberal MLA Michael Henry. She was elected, finishing more than a thousand votes ahead of the second place finisher, 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...
Don Weideman. This gap narrowed when Weideman challenged her re-election bid in the 2001 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....
, but grew to more than three thousand votes 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 2008 election would bring a new Progressive Conservative Opponent, in Bill Donahue, but a similar result, as Blakeman handily retained her seat in an election in which half of incumbent Liberal MLAs lost theirs.
Legislative initiatives
In 1997, Blakeman sponsored the Domestic Abuse Act, a private member's billPrivate Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
that never reached second reading. In 1998, she brought forward the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, another private member's bill, which would have expanded the province's anti-discrimination legislation to include sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
as a basis on which discrimination was prohibited (later the same year, the Supreme Court of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeals in the Canadian justice system. The court grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts, and its decisions...
, in Vriend v. Alberta
Vriend v. Alberta
Vriend v. Alberta [1998] 1 S.C.R. 493 is an important Supreme Court of Canada case that determined that a legislative omission can be the subject of a Charter violation...
, ruled Alberta's failure to include this to be in contravention of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms); it too failed to advance to second reading.
In 1999, Blakeman sponsored the Consumers Insurance Company Act, a private bill
Private bill
A private bill is a proposal for a law that would apply to a particular individual or group of individuals, or corporate entity. If enacted, it becomes a private Act . This is unlike public bills which apply to everyone within their jurisdiction...
designed to create a new insurance company, in compliance with the law that new insurance companies could only be created by acts of the legislature. However, the bill faced some opposition from Blakeman's Liberal colleagues, including Linda Sloan
Linda Sloan
Linda Sloan is a Canadian politician and current municipal councillor in Edmonton, Alberta.Sloan graduated from the Foothills Hospital School of Nursing in 1982 and began work as a registered nurse...
, Hugh MacDonald
Hugh MacDonald (politician)
Hugh MacDonald is a Canadian politician, who currently represents the electoral district of Edmonton-Gold Bar in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He is a member of the Alberta Liberal Party. On Sept...
, and Gary Dickson
Gary Dickson
Robert Gary Dickson is a lawyer and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and the first Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner....
, who expressed concern that the bill might be a step towards privatized medicine. The bill passed.
In 2007, Blakeman sponsored the Healthy Futures Act, which would have required major policy and funding decisions to undergo "health impact assessments", which would look at their impacts on Albertans' health through social and environmental impacts. Blakeman's Liberal colleagues supported the bill, as did the New Democrats
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...
(although NDP MLA Ray Martin
Ray Martin (politician)
Raymond Martin is a politician in Alberta, Canada and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Born in 1941 in Delia, Alberta, Martin attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity...
expressed concern that the bill only required assessment, rather than action, on potential adverse health impacts) and several Progressive Conservatives. Even so, it was defeated through majority opposition of the Progressive Conservatives, many of whom expressed the view that the bill would add nothing meaningful that did not already exist under the existing regulatory framework, while, in the words of PC MLA Dave Rodney
Dave Rodney
Dave Rodney is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Lougheed as a Progressive Conservative. He was first elected in the 2004 provincial election and reelected in 2008...
, "effectively bring
making apparatus of the government and this Assembly to a grinding halt."
Leadership aspirations
After Kevin TaftKevin Taft
Kevin Taft is a Liberal politician in Alberta, Canada. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008...
announced his intention to resign the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party
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...
following its defeat in the 2008 election, Blakeman was one of four MLAs to express interest in running in the ensuing election to replace him. However, in August she announced that she would not do so, citing the cost of a candidacy.
Critic Portfolios
Personal life
Blakeman is married to Edmonton city councillorEdmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
Ben Henderson
Ben Henderson (politician)
Ben Henderson is a member of the Edmonton City Council, currently representing Ward 8.He was a candidate in the 2001 municipal election and 2004 municipal election and gained his seat on City Council in the 2007 municipal election, following Michael Phair's retirement.He is married to Edmonton...
.
Election results
| 2008 Alberta general election results (Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 38.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Laurie Blakeman | 4,918 | 44.0% |
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... |
Bill Donahue | 3,285 | 29.4% |
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... |
Deron Bilous | 2,244 | 20.1% |
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... |
David Parker David J. Parker David James Parker is a politician from Alberta, Canada. He is the former leader of the Green Party of Alberta from 1996 to 2001. He has also been a perennial candidate running in federal and provincial elections.-Political career:... |
476 | 4.3% |
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... |
James Iverson | 205 | 1.8% |
Alberta Party Alberta Party The Alberta Party Political Association, more commonly known as the Alberta Party, is a political party in the province of Alberta, Canada... |
Margaret Saunter | 51 | 0.5% | |
| 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 (Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 49.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Laurie Blakeman | 6,203 | 57.1% |
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... |
Don Weideman | 2,622 | 24.1% |
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... |
Mary Elizabeth Archer | 1,319 | 12.1% |
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... |
David Parker David J. Parker David James Parker is a politician from Alberta, Canada. He is the former leader of the Green Party of Alberta from 1996 to 2001. He has also been a perennial candidate running in federal and provincial elections.-Political career:... |
333 | 3.1% |
Alberta Alliance | Tony Caterina Tony Caterina Tony Caterina is a business man and municipal politician from Alberta, Canada. He currently serves a member of Edmonton City Council from 2007 to present.-Early life:... |
280 | 2.6% |
Social Credit | Linda Clements | 112 | 1.0% | |
| 2001 Alberta general 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.... results (Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 51.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Laurie Blakeman | 5,095 | 44.0% |
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... |
Don Weideman | 4,446 | 38.4% |
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... |
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 :... |
1,959 | 16.9% |
Communist Communist Party (Alberta) Communist Party – Alberta is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. It is a provincial branch of the Communist Party of Canada.-History:... |
Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin Naomi Rankin is the current leader of the Communist Party of Alberta in Alberta, Canada.She has been leader of the Communist Party since 1992 and has run in every provincial and federal election in Alberta since 1982, for the Communist Party or the Communist Party of Canada... |
76 | 0.7% | |||||||||
| 1997 Alberta general election Alberta general election, 1997 The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... results (Edmonton Centre Edmonton Centre (provincial electoral district) Edmonton Centre is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :-Provincial General Election results:-Senate nominee election district results:... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 51.9% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Laurie Blakeman | 4,769 | 43.9% |
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... |
Don Weideman | 3,634 | 33.5% |
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... |
Jenn Smith | 1,845 | 17.0% |
Social Credit | Alan Cruikshank | 420 | 3.9% |
Forum Forum Party of Alberta The Forum Party of Alberta was a political party in the Province of Alberta, Canada. The party was created on March 2, 1995.It later became the Equity Party, which held its founding convention in May 2000... |
Emil van der Poorten | 98 | 0.9% |
Natural Law Natural Law Party of Canada The Natural Law Party of Canada was the Canadian branch of the international Natural Law Party founded in 1992 by a group of educators, business leaders, and lawyers who practiced Transcendental Meditation.... |
Richard Johnsen | 83 | 0.8% | |