(Legislative Assembly of Alberta)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

won't miss any duties, party says

MLA-elect Jason Stephan misses swearing-in ceremony due to pre-planned vacation

Jun 21, 2023 | 12:34 PM

On Tuesday, 47 United Conservative MLAs were sworn in so that they could officially take their seats in the Alberta Legislature.

However, there were technically 49 UCP MLAs elected in the May 29 provincial election, including Jason Stephan in Red Deer-South.

Stephan was noticeably absent from the ceremony, and his name is nowhere to be found on the official Legislative Assembly seating chart, seen below.

(assembly.ab.ca)

rdnewsNOW reached out to his constituency office, but didn’t hear back. He also hasn’t posted anything on social media.

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But the UCP caucus did provide a statement, which explains Stephan’s whereabouts.

“MLA Stephan is on a previously planned trip out-of-province with family,” says Tim Gerwing, Communications Director, UCP caucus.

“He will be sworn in before the Legislature sits again in the fall. Being sworn in allows an MLA to take his or her seat in the chamber. MLA Stephan will not miss any of his legislative duties because of this trip.”

Gerwing did not specify the exact nature of the trip.

The house is currently adjourned until the Speech from the Throne on October 30.

An hour after publishing our story early Wednesday afternoon, the Opposition NDP released a statement on the matter involving Stephan.

“Barring an emergency situation, it is incumbent upon all MLA-elects to be sworn-in and begin the work of representing their constituents as soon as possible. MLAs cannot begin this work before they are officially sworn-in. The fact that Jason Stephan chose to be travelling outside the province rather than fulfilling his duties to the people of Red Deer is extremely disrespectful, not just to his constituents but all Albertans,” says Christina Gray, NDP House Leader.

“This week, our party swore in 36 MLAs but had two MLA-elects removed from our swearing-in ceremony due to circumstances beyond their control, as the UCP pursued judicial recounts. Knowing how this short delay negatively impacted them, I am deeply troubled that the MLA-elect for Red Deer-South would so casually defer his responsibilities. Furthermore, Jason Stephan is not a rookie. He knows the process for swearing-in. Choosing to leave your constituents without representation is a shameful display of contempt for the Albertans who voted for him.

“The people of Red Deer deserve better,” Gray added.

As mentioned, there were 49 UCP MLAs elected, though that number was effectively 48, as Jennifer Johnson, the party’s original candidate in Lacombe-Ponoka, had been dismissed from the party’s ranks mid-campaign.

She remained listed as UCP on the ballot, however, and won the riding in a landslide.

Johnson was sworn in as MLA this week too, now officially listed as an Independent.

Johnson’s removal from caucus came after offensive remarks of hers from last year came to light during the election campaign.

She later apologized, with Premier Danielle Smith going on to say that Johnson has “a lot of work to do” to find her way back into the party’s caucus.