Wayne Cao
Encyclopedia
Wayne Cao is a Canadian politician and current member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
, where he represents the district of Calgary-Fort
as a Progressive Conservative
. He was first elected in the 1997 provincial election
and has been re-elected four times since. He is perhaps best known as the sponsor of the legislation that led to the enshrining of Alberta
. As of April 2008, he serves as the Legislature's Deputy Speaker
and Chair of Committees. In addition, Mr. Cao serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Education.
(later northern Vietnam). He studied engineering
, mathematics
, and computing science in Saigon and at the University of Auckland
and the University of Waterloo
. After the Vietnam War
, he came to California
as a refugee
- he boarded an American helicopter
just before the fall of Saigon
- and settled in Calgary
in 1976. He worked for Shell Petroleum for twenty-six years before taking early retirement in 1997 to enter politics. During this time, he also lectured at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
.
, when he ran in the riding of Calgary-Fort
as the Progressive Conservative
. He was elected handily, and was re-elected in each of the next three elections. He supported Jim Dinning
in the 2006 P.C. leadership race.
In April 2008, he was elected by his legislator colleagues as the Deputy Speaker
of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
, defeating Len Mitzel and Bridget Pastoor
in a secret ballot.
s. Of these, the only one to pass was 2001's Alberta Official Song Act, which established a contest for the province's official song, with the winner to be selected by an all party committee of the legislature. It passed with the support of members from all parties, although Progressive Conservative
Rob Renner
felt that the province's official song should be something that was already known to most Albertans rather than a new song composed for the occasion, and Liberal
Hugh MacDonald
argued that no official song was necessary, since Alberta already had an "unofficial song", Alberta Bound
(which MacDonald recalled hearing Ian Tyson
sing at the closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics
, although the song, along with Four Strong Winds
, was actually sung at the opening ceremonies by Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot
, the song's composer and singer). The ensuing competition selected Alberta
, composed by Mary Kieftenbeld, as the province's official song. Cao followed this bill with efforts to encourage the translation of Oh Canada into all languages spoken by Canadians; he composed a Vietnamese version and sang it on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
.
Cao also made headlines in 2007 with the School (Canadian History Content) Amendment Act, which would have mandated that 75% of the instructional hours in high school social studies
courses be devoted to Canadian history
. Several MLAs spoke in opposition to the bill, including Liberals
Bill Bonko
(who felt, as a former school trustee, that any percentage should be mandated by local school boards) and Harry Chase
, New Democrat
David Eggen
(who suggested that global history was as or more important than Canadian history), and Progressive Conservative
Education Minister Ron Liepert
(who agreed with Eggen and who extolled the virtues of the recently-implemented existing social studies curriculum). Outside of the legislature, Progressive Conservatives Neil Brown and Len Webber
expressed reservations about the decision being made at the political, rather than local, level. The legislature adjourned before the bill came to a vote.
Cao also sponsored the Employment Standards (Parental Leave) Amendment Act, which would have combined the provisions for adoptive leave and maternity leave and extended them to 27 weeks (Alberta's maternity leave provisions were, at the time, the least generous in the country). He first introduced the bill in 1999, but the legislature adjourned before it reached second reading. He re-introduced it in 2000, when several MLAs, including Liberals Don Massey
, Laurie Blakeman
, Linda Sloan
, and Percy Wickman
and Progressive Conservatives Moe Amery
, Karen Kryczka
, and Mary Anne Jablonski
, spoke in support of the bill on second reading. Only Shiraz Shariff
spoke against, citing concerns that the business community hadn't been sufficiently consulted. The bill passed second reading with 34 votes in favour and four (Gary Friedel
, Richard Magnus
, Barry McFarland
, and Rob Renner
) against. However, the legislature adjourned while the bill was still in committee.
In 2008, Cao sponsored the Alberta Volunteer Service Medal Act, which would have established a medal for exceptional volunteers. It received bipartisan support from Progressive Conservatives Jonathan Denis
, Carl Benito
, Neil Brown, and Greg Weadick
and Liberals Hugh MacDonald
and Darshan Kang
, but was ultimately hoisted
on a motion from Progressive Conservative Fred Horne
. The bill's opponents included Liberal Harry B. Chase
(who felt that the government's role in volunteer recognition should come in the form of support, rather than in the form of after-the-fact recognition) and Progressive Conservatives Richard Marz
(who argued that medals should be restricted to those who had risked their lives), Heather Forsyth
(who was concerned by the level of bureaucracy in the bill), George Rogers
(who suggested that it duplicated existing government programs), Ray Prins
(who was concerned that by singling out individual volunteers it would demean the contributions of those who weren't recognized), and Doug Griffiths
(who echoed Rogers' arguments and also expressed concern that the proposed award would have a built in bias in favour of volunteers with large organizations).
His other private member's bills have included 1997's Highway Traffic Amendment Act, 2002's Environmental Protection and Enhancement (Residential Land Disclosure) Amendment Act, 2003's Financial Summit Act, and 2004's Government Accountability (Identification of Expenditures) Amendment Act, none of which reached second reading.
In addition to his private member's bills, Cao has sponsored a government bill, the Tobacco Tax Amendment Act of 2003. The bill was in response to an increase in the number of Albertans buying tobacco products out of province, after the government imposed taxes on the import of tobacco products to Alberta that saw taxes on such goods more than double. It passed after little debate. Cao also sponsored a successful private bill
in 1998, the Tanya Marie Bryant Adoption Termination Act.
He identifies Confucius
and Winston Churchill
as his political heroes.
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...
, where he represents the district of Calgary-Fort
Calgary Fort
Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city....
as a 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...
. He was first elected in the 1997 provincial 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....
and has been re-elected four times since. He is perhaps best known as the sponsor of the legislation that led to the enshrining of Alberta
Alberta (song)
Alberta is the official provincial song of Alberta, Canada. It was adopted in preparation for the province's centennial celebrations in 2005....
. As of April 2008, he serves as the Legislature's Deputy Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
and Chair of Committees. In addition, Mr. Cao serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Education.
Early life
Cao was born December 7, 1946 in French IndochinaFrench Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
(later northern Vietnam). He studied engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, and computing science in Saigon and at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. After the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he came to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
- he boarded an American helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
just before the fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
- and settled in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1976. He worked for Shell Petroleum for twenty-six years before taking early retirement in 1997 to enter politics. During this time, he also lectured at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
-Academics:SAIT Polytechnic offers two full baccalaureate degrees , four applied degrees, 66 diploma and certificate programs, 32 apprenticeship trades and 1,600 continuing education and corporate training courses....
.
Political career
Cao first sought public 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 he ran in the riding of Calgary-Fort
Calgary Fort
Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city....
as the 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...
. He was elected handily, and was re-elected in each of the next three elections. He supported Jim Dinning
Jim Dinning
Jim Dinning is a Canadian Progressive Conservative politician and businessman. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta , and now serves on the board of directors of a variety of Canadian companies. Dinning ran for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives to replace...
in the 2006 P.C. leadership race.
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
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...
, defeating Len Mitzel and Bridget Pastoor
Bridget Pastoor
Bridget A. Pastoor is a Canadian politician who has been serving as a member of the Alberta legislative assembly since 22 November 2004....
in a secret ballot.
Legislative initiatives
Cao has moved a large number of 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...
s. Of these, the only one to pass was 2001's Alberta Official Song Act, which established a contest for the province's official song, with the winner to be selected by an all party committee of the legislature. It passed with the support of members from all parties, although 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...
Rob Renner
Rob Renner
Robert William Renner is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Medicine Hat as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
felt that the province's official song should be something that was already known to most Albertans rather than a new song composed for the occasion, and 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...
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...
argued that no official song was necessary, since Alberta already had an "unofficial song", Alberta Bound
Don Quixote (album)
Don Quixote is Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot's 8th original album, released in 1972 on the Reprise Records Label. The album reached #42 on the Billboard album chart....
(which MacDonald recalled hearing Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson
Ian Tyson CM, AOE is a Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for his song "Four Strong Winds". He was also one half of the duo Ian & Sylvia.-Career:Tyson was born to British immigrants in Victoria in 1933, and grew up in Duncan B.C...
sing at the closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
, although the song, along with Four Strong Winds
Four Strong Winds
"Four Strong Winds" is a song written by Ian Tyson in the early 1960s. It was first recorded by The Brothers Four in a version that "Bubbled Under" the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1963...
, was actually sung at the opening ceremonies by Tyson and Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
, the song's composer and singer). The ensuing competition selected Alberta
Alberta (song)
Alberta is the official provincial song of Alberta, Canada. It was adopted in preparation for the province's centennial celebrations in 2005....
, composed by Mary Kieftenbeld, as the province's official song. Cao followed this bill with efforts to encourage the translation of Oh Canada into all languages spoken by Canadians; he composed a Vietnamese version and sang it on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
.
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
courses be devoted to Canadian history
History of Canada
The history of Canada covers the period from the arrival of Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago to the present day. Canada has been inhabited for millennia by distinctive groups of Aboriginal peoples, among whom evolved trade networks, spiritual beliefs, and social hierarchies...
. Several MLAs spoke in opposition to the bill, including Liberals
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...
Bill Bonko
Bill Bonko
Bill Bonko is a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He was first elected in the 2004 election as a Liberal in Edmonton Decore, but was defeated in his 2008 re-election bid by Progressive Conservative Janice Sarich....
(who felt, as a former school trustee, that any percentage should be mandated by local school boards) and Harry Chase
Harry B. Chase
Harry B. Chase is a Canadian politician. He is a provincial MLA as a member of the Alberta Liberal Party.-Early life:...
, New Democrat
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 :...
(who suggested that global history was as or more important than Canadian history), and 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...
Education Minister Ron Liepert
Ron Liepert
Ronald Liepert is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-West as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
(who agreed with Eggen and who extolled the virtues of the recently-implemented existing social studies curriculum). Outside of the legislature, Progressive Conservatives Neil Brown and Len Webber
Len Webber
Len Webber is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Foothills as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
expressed reservations about the decision being made at the political, rather than local, level. The legislature adjourned before the bill came to a vote.
Cao also sponsored the Employment Standards (Parental Leave) Amendment Act, which would have combined the provisions for adoptive leave and maternity leave and extended them to 27 weeks (Alberta's maternity leave provisions were, at the time, the least generous in the country). He first introduced the bill in 1999, but the legislature adjourned before it reached second reading. He re-introduced it in 2000, when several MLAs, including Liberals Don Massey
Don Massey
Don Massey is a former municipal and provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1993 until 2004. In that period he also served as Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party in 2004...
, Laurie Blakeman
Laurie Blakeman
Laurie Blakeman is a Canadian politician, who currently represents the electoral district of Edmonton Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
, 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...
, and Percy Wickman
Percy Wickman
Percy Dwight Wickman was a Canadian politician and well-known activist for people with disabilities. He was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario.Wickman served as an alderman on Edmonton City Council from 1977 to 1986...
and Progressive Conservatives Moe Amery
Moe Amery
Moe Amery is a Canadian politician and current member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-East as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
, Karen Kryczka
Karen Kryczka
Karen Kryczka is a former politician from Alberta, Canada.Karen was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1997 Alberta general election. She served as a back bench member for the Progressive Conservatives. In 2001 she was re-elected for a second term...
, and Mary Anne Jablonski
Mary Anne Jablonski
Mary Anne Jablonski is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Red Deer North as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
, spoke in support of the bill on second reading. Only Shiraz Shariff
Shiraz Shariff
-Political career:Shariff was elected to his first term in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in a hotly contested by-election in Calgary McCall on April 20, 1995 defeating Liberal Jeet Shergill and future New Democratic Party president Anne McGrath by just a few hundred votes.He won his second...
spoke against, citing concerns that the business community hadn't been sufficiently consulted. The bill passed second reading with 34 votes in favour and four (Gary Friedel
Gary Friedel
Gary Friedel is a civil servant and former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1993 until 2004.-Political career:...
, Richard Magnus
Richard Magnus
Richard Magnus is a Canadian politician currently living in Alberta, Canada.Magnus served as a municipal alderman for Calgary city council representing Ward 4 from 1989 until his resignation in 1993...
, Barry McFarland
Barry McFarland
Barry McFarland is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Little Bow as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
, and Rob Renner
Rob Renner
Robert William Renner is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Medicine Hat as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
) against. However, the legislature adjourned while the bill was still in committee.
In 2008, Cao sponsored the Alberta Volunteer Service Medal Act, which would have established a medal for exceptional volunteers. It received bipartisan support from Progressive Conservatives Jonathan Denis
Jonathan Denis
Jonathan Denis, QC is a Canadian politician and currently Minister of Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security for the province of Alberta. He represents the constituency of Calgary-Egmont as a Progressive Conservative in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
, Carl Benito
Carl Benito
Carlito Benito is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Mill Woods as a member of the Progressive Conservatives.-Early life:...
, Neil Brown, and Greg Weadick
Greg Weadick
Greg Weadick is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Lethbridge-West as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
and Liberals 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 Darshan Kang
Darshan Kang
Darshan Kang is a current provincial level politician and serves as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary McCall. Prior to his political career he was a welder and a real estate agent.-Political career:...
, but was ultimately hoisted
Hoist (motion)
A hoist motion is used in Canadian legislative bodies to cause a bill not to be read now, but six months hence, or any number of months hence....
on a motion from Progressive Conservative Fred Horne
Fred Horne
Fred Horne is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Rutherford as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
. The bill's opponents included Liberal Harry B. Chase
Harry B. Chase
Harry B. Chase is a Canadian politician. He is a provincial MLA as a member of the Alberta Liberal Party.-Early life:...
(who felt that the government's role in volunteer recognition should come in the form of support, rather than in the form of after-the-fact recognition) and Progressive Conservatives Richard Marz
Richard Marz
Richard Marz is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
(who argued that medals should be restricted to those who had risked their lives), Heather Forsyth
Heather Forsyth
Heather Forsyth is a Canadian politician and current member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Fish Creek as a Wildrose Alliance representative. She was a Progressive Conservative until she crossed the floor on January 4, 2010.-Early life:Forsyth was...
(who was concerned by the level of bureaucracy in the bill), George Rogers
George Rogers (Canadian politician)
George A. Rogers is a politician from Leduc, Alberta. After serving on city council from 1992 to 1998, he was mayor of Leduc from 1998 to 2004. He is currently the MLA for the riding of Leduc-Beaumont-Devon.-Early life:...
(who suggested that it duplicated existing government programs), Ray Prins
Ray Prins
Ray Prins is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Lacombe-Ponoka as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
(who was concerned that by singling out individual volunteers it would demean the contributions of those who weren't recognized), and Doug Griffiths
Doug Griffiths
Douglas "Doug" Griffiths is a Canadian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Battle River-Wainwright as a Progressive Conservative...
(who echoed Rogers' arguments and also expressed concern that the proposed award would have a built in bias in favour of volunteers with large organizations).
His other private member's bills have included 1997's Highway Traffic Amendment Act, 2002's Environmental Protection and Enhancement (Residential Land Disclosure) Amendment Act, 2003's Financial Summit Act, and 2004's Government Accountability (Identification of Expenditures) Amendment Act, none of which reached second reading.
In addition to his private member's bills, Cao has sponsored a government bill, the Tobacco Tax Amendment Act of 2003. The bill was in response to an increase in the number of Albertans buying tobacco products out of province, after the government imposed taxes on the import of tobacco products to Alberta that saw taxes on such goods more than double. It passed after little debate. Cao also sponsored a successful 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...
in 1998, the Tanya Marie Bryant Adoption Termination Act.
Personal life
Cao is married to Kim Hoang. The pair has three sons: William (a lawyer), Winston (an engineer), and Willis (a scientist). They also have one handsome grandson.He identifies Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
as his political heroes.
Election results
| 2008 Alberta general election results ( Calgary-Fort Calgary Fort Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city.... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 31.0% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Wayne Cao | 4,119 | 49.8% |
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... |
Carole Oliver | 1,766 | 21.4% |
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... |
Julie Hrdlicka | 1,178 | 14.3% |
Wildrose Alliance | Travis Chase | 714 | 8.6% |
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... |
J. Mark Taylor | 489 | 5.9% | |||||||||||||
| 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 ( Calgary-Fort Calgary Fort Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city.... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 33.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Wayne Cao | 4,139 | 53.9% |
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... |
Gerry Hart | 1,786 | 23.3% |
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... |
Elizabeth Thomas | 584 | 7.6% |
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... |
Travis Chase | 524 | 6.8% |
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... |
Tyler Charkie | 439 | 5.7% |
Separation Separation Party of Alberta The Separation Party of Alberta is a political party that advocates the secession of Alberta from Canada. Its leader is Bruce Hutton.-History:... |
Leo Ollenberger | 211 | 2.7% | |||||||||
| 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 ( Calgary-Fort Calgary Fort Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city.... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 43.1% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Wayne Cao | 6,740 | 68.6% |
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... |
Brian Huskins | 2,004 | 20.4% |
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... |
Vinay Dey | 501 | 5.1% |
Social Credit Social Credit Party of Alberta The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values.... |
Raymond (Chick) Hurst | 160 | 1.6% |
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... |
Michael Alvarez-Toye | 121 | 1.2% |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Metro Peter Demchynski | 102 | 1.0% |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Brian Slater | 100 | 1.0% |
Alberta First Alberta First Party The Alberta First Party was a right-wing political party that operated in Alberta, Canada from 1999 until 2003. It was founded by former members of the Social Credit Party of Alberta. The party was registered with Elections Alberta on November 2, 1999... |
Wyatt McIntyre | 99 | 1.0% | |
| 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 ( Calgary-Fort Calgary Fort Calgary Fort is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada.The Electoral District is named after historical Fort Calgary.The district lies in the Central SE of the city.... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 41.4% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Wayne Cao | 4,410 | 48.8% |
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... |
Shirley-Anne Reuben | 2,817 | 31.2% |
Social Credit Social Credit Party of Alberta The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values.... |
Raymond (Chick) Hurst | 916 | 10.1% |
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... |
Vinay Dey | 891 | 9.9% | |||||||||||||||||