Screenshot from albertandp.ca/where-is-stephan.

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

stephan still not commenting

Alberta NDP launch petition to let residents voice displeasure with vacationing MLA-elect

Jun 23, 2023 | 2:05 PM

Alberta’s Opposition NDP is taking a controversy involving Red Deer-South MLA-elect Jason Stephan one step further.

Stephan, elected May 29 with 13,469 votes to the 9,976 received by NDP candidate Michelle Baer, was peculiarly absent this week from the swearing-in ceremony for the United Conservative caucus.

In a statement on June 21, the UCP caucus said Stephan was on a pre-planned vacation out-of-province, and that he wouldn’t miss any legislative duties. They did not specify the exact nature of the trip.

The Legislative Assembly doesn’t return until Oct. 30, and the NDP said on Wednesday that Stephan can’t perform his duties as MLA until officially being sworn in.

On Friday, the NDP launched a petition, which they say, “gives Albertans the opportunity to voice their unhappiness with Stephan, who also chose to abandon his constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic, travelling internationally after telling Albertans to stay home and cancel any Christmas plans.”

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They are referring to this story, which featured Stephan returning to his office in January 2021 to find angry ‘Welcome Home’ signs with fake cacti and palm trees.

“Red Deer needs representation more than their MLA needs a four-month vacation,” said Alberta NDP Edmonton-Mill Woods MLA Christina Gray on Friday.

“Since he’s clearly not interested in listening to his constituents, we will be giving the people of Red Deer-South — and all Albertans for that matter — a chance to sign our petition and send a message to Stephan for failing to show up for work.”

“Other Albertans only get paid when they actually show up to work,” Gray added.

“If Jason Stephan wasn’t interested in doing the job of MLA, he had months to take his name off the ballot. Instead he chose to continue cashing his paycheque, while leaving the people of Red Deer South with no representative, advocate, or support in the Legislature. This is unacceptable.”

The petition can be found at albertandp.ca/where-is-stephan.

rdnewsNOW reached out to Stephan’s office on Wednesday, leaving a voicemail which was never returned. We called again Friday and a spokesperson referred us to the original statement from caucus.