Derek Fildebrandt

Derek Fildebrandt
Headshot of Derek Fildebrandt, MLA
MLA for Strathmore-Brooks
Assumed office
2015
Preceded by Jason Hale
Chairman, Alberta Public Accounts Committee
Assumed office
2015
Personal details
Born (1985-10-18) October 18, 1985
Ottawa, Ontario
Political party Wildrose Party
Residence Calgary, Alberta
Occupation fiscal policy analyst, advocacy
Portfolio Shadow Finance Minister
Religion Christian

Derek Alexander Gerhard Fildebrandt (born October 18, 1985) is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Strathmore-Brooks and the Wildrose Party Shadow Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislative Assembly.[1] He was the Alberta Director and National Research Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation from 2009 to 2014,[2][3] and is considered a staunch fiscal conservative.[4]

Fildebrandt has lived in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Iowa.[5]

Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)

National Research Director

In 2009, Fildebrandt was hired as the National Research Director (NRD) of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. As NRD, Fildebrandt published studies on public sector and politician pension reform,[6] federal debt and expenditure reduction programs, and federal balanced budget plans.

Fildebrandt's main accomplishment as NRD was a campaign to reform MP and Senator pensions that was ultimately successful.[7]

Alberta Director

In 2012, Fildebrandt was promoted to the post of Alberta Director.[8] In that role, Fildebrandt became a well known and vocal critic of former Alberta Premier Alison Redford's fiscal policies[9] and corruption.[10]

Fildebrandt regularly used Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation to obtain and release documents that were often damaging to the PC government.[11] On several occasions, Fildebrandt released sole-sourced contracts from the Progressive Conservative government to businesses closely related to the party as part of a campaign to reform public-sector procurement and accountability legislation.[12]

In December 2012, Fildebrandt released the expense claims of a majority of cabinet ministers,[13] resulting in the firing of one minister and an overhaul of expense policies. Fildebrandt helped the PC government draft new expense disclosure policies for MLAs and public sector employees, dubbing the new process the "gold-standard" for other jurisdictions to follow.[14]

Fildebrandt campaigned for a so-called 'sunshine list' that would disclose all government employee salaries, severance payments and pension eligibilities. Controversy ensued in October 2013 when the Redford government refused to disclose to the severance payment of $130,000 made to her former Chief of Staff, Stephen Carter in an FOI request made by Fildebrandt.[15] The controversy was used by the CTF to successfully campaign for a government sunshine list months later.[16]

In February 2014, Fildebrandt released the CTF's balanced budget plan calling for $2.4 billion in spending cuts to business subsidies and the bureaucracy. In May 2014 he spoke out about buyout payments to political appointees.[17]

Fildebrandt was a conservative critic of former PC Premier Jim Prentice, calling him a “tax and spend liberal.”[18]

During the Alberta PC leadership race, Fildebrandt filed Freedom of Information requests for Jim Prentice's federal expense records, releasing them in September 2014. This came after controversy about alleged irregularities in the destruction of the records.[19]

Fildebrandt was credited by the Calgary Sun with playing a significant role in the downfall of former Alberta Premier, Alison Redford and former Alberta Finance Minister, Doug Horner.[20]

Fildebrandt's term as Alberta Director of the CTF ended in November 2014.[20][21]

Alberta politics

Several political blogs in Alberta reported that former Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith was aggressively working to recruit Fildebrandt to run under the Wildrose banner in the expected 2015 General Election.[22][23]

Following the defection of Danielle Smith to the Progressive Conservatives, Fildebrandt was named by the Calgary Sun as a potential candidate for the Wildrose Party leadership.[24] Fildebrandt considered seeking the leadership,[25] but opted instead to support Brian Jean.

2015 Election

On January 26, 2015, Fildebrandt announced that he would seek the Wildrose nomination in Strathmore-Brooks.[26] He was acclaimed as the candidate on February 6, 2015.

During the 2015 General Election, Fildebrandt played a prominent role in the Wildrose campaign. In response to PC challenges to the Wildrose’s budget plan, Fildebrandt challenged Finance Minister Robin Campbell to a debate, which Campbell refused.[27]

On May 5, 2015, Fildebrandt was elected as the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks by a huge margin over his PC opponent, one of the largest margins for any opposition MLA in the province.[28]

MLA

On May 11, 2015 Fildebrandt was appointed Shadow Finance Minister in the Wildrose Official Opposition Cabinet.

As the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, Fildebrandt has advocated for healthcare and seniors care infrastructure in his constituency, successfully securing an upgrade to the Strathmore Emergency Room and assisting in the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) Grant for the Bassano Seniors Care Project.[29][30]

Fildebrandt is one of the most outspoken opposition MLAs, regularly attacking the NDP for tax increases, deficit spending[31] and its relationship with public sector unions.[32]

May 27 to 31 Suspension

On May 27, 2016 a constituent from Brooks posted a transphobic comment to Fildebrandt's Facebook page. Fildebrandt responded to the comment "proud to have constituents like you." When Fildebrandt was made aware that his response appeared to endorse the constituent's comments, Fildebrandt Tweeted: "After re-reading original comment posted on my page, I entirely misread it. 100% against my views.".[33] Wildrose Leader Brian Jean however suspended Fildebrandt that evening for an indefinite period of time.

The suspension was broadly viewed as extremely harsh and unjust by the public, with a Calgary Sun poll of nearly 5,000 Albertans found 70% opposed to the suspension, and only 29% in support.[34] Large numbers of Wildrose members were upset at the move and threatened to cancel donations and even membership in the party if the suspension wasn't immediately lifted.[35] Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid called Fildebrandt the "Wildrose Martyr in the wilderness."[36]

By Tuesday May 31, Fildebrandt was fully reinstated into the Wildrose Caucus and committed to hire a social media manager.[37]

Electoral history

2015 general election

Alberta general election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%
WildroseDerek Fildebrandt 8,657 52.6%
Progressive ConservativeMolly Douglass 4,449 27.0%
New DemocraticLynn MacWilliam 2,463 15.0%
GreenMike Worthington 321 1.9%
Alberta PartyEinar Davison 307 1.9%
LiberalAli Abdulbaki 200 1.2%
Alberta FirstGlen Dundas 72 0.4%

References

  1. ↑ . Alberta Legislative Assembly http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_bio&rnumber=83&leg=29. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ http://medicinehatnews.com/alberta-election/meet-the-candidates/2015/04/07/derek-fildebrandt-wildrose-strathmore-brooks/
  3. ↑ "From left, Derek Fildebrandt of Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Rob Anderson, Wildrose MLA, and Kent Hehr, Liberal MLA, sign pledges to scrap the government’s opaque budget reporting model, in front of the CTF’s debt clock in Calgary.". Stuart Gradon, Calgary Herald July 13, 2014
  4. ↑ Fildebr, Derek; t; MLA; Strathmore-Brooks. "Fildebrandt: Alberta NDP budget takes us from bad to worse". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  5. ↑ http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Derek-Fildebrandt/1170490220
  6. ↑ "Ex-MPs have hands out to collect fat pensions". By Daniel Proussalidis, Toronto Sun.
  7. ↑ "CTF Report on MP Pensions" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Calgary ‘overstepped’ its role when it spent $21,000 studying prostitution laws abroad, taxpayer federation says". National Post.
  9. ↑ "Speech to Premier's Economic Summit | fildebrandt.ca". fildebrandt.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  10. ↑ "Alberta Premier Alison Redford leaves mixed legacy behind". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  11. ↑ "Beware politicians who want to restrict the flow of information | fildebrandt.ca". fildebrandt.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  12. ↑ "Fallout continues over cost of interim gym". Calgary. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  13. ↑ "Canadian Taxpayers Federation calls out Alberta MLAs in 'naughty list' for lavish spending". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  14. ↑ "AB: CTF Applauds Launch of Expense Disclosure Website". www.taxpayer.com. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  15. ↑ Kornik, Caley Ramsay and Slav. "Former Redford Chief of Staff admits to six-figure severance for six months work". Global News. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  16. ↑ Fildebrandt, ,Derek. "Fildebrandt: Sunshine list is long overdue for Alberta taxpayers". www.calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Taxpayers Federation probes pricey payouts". By Catherine Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun
  18. ↑ "Former taxpayers watchdog announces bid for Wildrose nomination". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  19. ↑ "Three thousand pages of Jim Prentice’s expense records released after earlier reports they were destroyed". National Post.
  20. 1 2 Patrone, Marc. "Derek Fildebrandt takes his leave from Canadian Taxpayers Federation with pride, few regrets". Sun News.
  21. ↑ "CTF Alberta director calls it quits". News Talk 770 (CHQR) November 07, 2014
  22. ↑ Alberta Diary http://albertadiary.ca/2014/11/said-to-be-sought-as-candidate-by-wildrose-party-tax-watchdog-spokespersons-intentions-are-for-the-moment-unclear.html. Retrieved December 25, 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ Cournoyer, Dave. "LOOK WHO'S RUNNING IN 2016: ALBERTA ELECTION NOMINATIONS". Daveberta.ca. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  24. ↑ Patrone, Marc (December 22, 2014). "Reporter". Sun News Network. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Calgary Sun".
  26. ↑ "Derek Fildebrandt seeks Wildrose nomination in Strathmore-Brooks". Calgary Sun. Calgary Sun.
  27. ↑ "Alberta Election Week Three" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "Fildebrandt to be next Strathmore-Brooks MLA". Strathmore Standard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  29. ↑ Jody. "NDP promises Hospital upgrades". strathmoretimes.com. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  30. ↑ "The Brooks Bulletin". brooksbulletin.com. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  31. ↑ nurun.com. "Fildebrandt and Notley spar over carbon tax". Strathmore Standard. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  32. ↑ "Alberta's adviser on public sector wages is former AUPE negotiator". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  33. ↑ [After re-reading original comment posted on my page, I entirely misread it. 100% against my views. "Wildrose MLA Derek Fildebrandt suspended after 'unacceptable' comment on social media"] Check |url= value (help). CBC Calgary.
  34. ↑ "Should Derek Fildebrandt have been suspended from the Wildrose caucus?". Calgary Sun.
  35. ↑ Farooqui, Salmaan. "Fildebrandt finds support on social media from Wildrose members and public". Calgary Sun.
  36. ↑ Braid, Don. "Fildebrandt, the new Wildrose martyr in the wilderness".
  37. ↑ "Wildrose lifts suspension of MLA Derek Fildebrandt". CBC Calgary.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/8/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.