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Janis Irwin

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Janis Irwin
MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Assumed office
April 16, 2019
Preceded byBrian Mason
Personal details
Born (1984-09-09) September 9, 1984 (age 39)
Barrhead, Alberta
Political partyAlberta NDP
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
University of Calgary
OccupationTeacher, civil servant

Janis Irwin (born 1984) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 2019 Alberta general election.[1] She represents the electoral district of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood as a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.[2]

A teacher prior to her election, Irwin is openly lesbian, and is the only LGBTQ MLA in the Alberta legislature.[1] She previously ran as the federal New Democratic Party candidate for Edmonton Griesbach in the 2015 Canadian federal election.

Shortly after her election, Irwin won $100,000 in a lottery after finding a ticket bought in March in her wallet.[2]

Personal life

Irwin grew up in Barrhead, Alberta.[3] Prior to being elected, Irwin was a high school social studies teacher in Bawlf, Alberta and served as vice-principal in Forestburg, Alberta.[4][5][6][7] Irwin came out in her late 20s.[8] In 2010, Irwin moved back to Edmonton to start working with Alberta Education, focusing on curriculum.[9]

Provincial politics

Since being elected as a member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Irwin has been an advocate against conversion therapy by citing the harmful organization Journey Canada with its ties to this practice.[10] Another issue Irwin has been strongly advocating on is the legal protections of gay-straight alliances (GSAs) in the education system in Alberta.[11][12]

Irwin serves on the Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future and the Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members' Public Bills.[13]

Irwin previously was a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund and the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.[13]

Irwin is the Official Opposition Deputy Whip and Critic of LGBTQ2S+ and Women's Issues.[13]

In the Legislature, Irwin confessed humorously to having a "gay agenda", which she described as consisting of her drinking coffee, going to work, mowing her lawn, and cleaning her house just like heterosexual people do.[11] Irwin has joked that she is the only "ML-gay" in the legislature, which does not mean she needs to speak on all gay-related issues.[8]

Electoral history

2015 federal election

2015 Canadian federal election: Edmonton Griesbach
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Kerry Diotte 19,157 39.96 –12.55 $93,048.30
New Democratic Janis Irwin 16,309 34.02 –3.45 $150,799.22
Liberal Brian Gold 10,397 21.69 +15.11 $14,575.14
Green Heather Workman 1,129 2.35 –1.08 $1,404.61
Libertarian Maryna Goncharenko 415 0.87 – $150.44
Marijuana Linda Northcott 279 0.58 – –
Rhinoceros Bun Bun Thompson 144 0.30 – –
Marxist–Leninist Mary Joyce 112 0.23 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 47,942 99.40   $214,842.90
Total rejected ballots 289 0.60 –
Turnout 48,231 59.35 –
Eligible voters 81,265
Conservative hold Swing –4.55
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]


2019 general election[16]

2019 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Janis Irwin 9,998 63.45% -14.66%
United Conservative Leila Houle 4,015 25.48% 6.92%
Alberta Party Tish Prouse 1,057 6.71% –
Green Taz Bouchier 243 1.54% –
Alberta Independence Joe Hankins 226 1.43% –
Alberta Advantage Chris Poplatek 116 0.74% –
Communist Alex S. Boykowich 103 0.65% –
Total 15,758 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 70 88 8
Eligible electors / turnout 30,596 51.76% 8.12%
New Democratic hold Swing -14.06%
Source(s)
Source: "34 - Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). 2019 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer. Volume II (PDF) (Report). Vol. 2. Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta. pp. 132–135. ISBN 978-1-988620-12-1. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

References

  1. ^ a b Jason Markusoff (April 18, 2019). "Why Jason Kenney's workaholic style may not work when he's premier". Maclean's. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Alex Antoneshyn (April 24, 2019). "Edmonton MLA-elect wins seat, then $100K in lottery". CTV News Edmonton. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 27, 2019. p. 1294.
  5. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 19, 2019. p. 1056.
  6. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 18, 2019. p. 941.
  7. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 24, 2019. p. 1156.
  9. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019. p. 710.
  10. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 25, 2019. p. 1171.
  11. ^ a b "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 24, 2019. p. 1157.
  12. ^ "Alberta Hansard" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. June 11, 2019. p. 710.
  13. ^ a b c "Janis Irwin Bio". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. October 8, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. 29 February 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  15. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  16. ^ "Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood 2019 election result".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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