Dan Backs
Encyclopedia
Dan Backs is a politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
. He was elected as a Liberal
candidate in the 2004 provincial election
, but was kicked out of the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Taft
, who cited concerns about Backs' ability to work as a member of a team. He sat as an independent
thereafter and, after failing to secure the Progressive Conservative
nomination for his riding, sought re-election in that capacity as well. He finished third in the riding in the 2008 election.
in Calgary, Alberta
. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts
in political science
from the University of Alberta
and a heavy equipment certification from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
. He also studied Spanish
at the Enforex Language Institute in Marbella, Spain
and the Amerispan language school in Antigua Guatemala
, negotiations and creative writing at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Extension, farm electricity and wiring at Fairview College, and newswriting at the George Meany
Institute in Washington, D.C.
.
Backs has worked in farming, construction, and pipelining. He has served as a negotiator for the Alberta Operating Engineers Association, and as secretary-treasurer of the Alberta and Northwest Territories Council of Labour.
. He ran for the Alberta Liberals
in the electoral district of Lesser Slave Lake
but was defeated by Larry Shaben
finishing in last place in the field of four candidates.
He would attempt to gain a seat in the 1986 Edmonton municipal election
, when he ran for Edmonton City Council
as an alderman in Ward 1. He finished third of nine candidates, behind Bruce Campbell
and Helen Paull, both of whom were elected (Edmonton's council is composed of two councillors from each of six wards).
He subsequently sought provincial office in the 2004 election
, when he ran as a Liberal
candidate in Edmonton-Manning. He defeated Progressive Conservative
incumbent Tony Vandermeer
and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
.
After being expelled from the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Taft
, Backs sought the Progressive Conservative nomination in his riding. Also contesting it were Vandermeer, his predecessor and last-time opponent, local homebuilder Peter Sandhu
, and Backs' fellow former Liberal Emerson Mayers. Sandhu won the nomination, and Backs decided to contest the next election as an independent. In this election, he finished third behind Sandhu and New Democrat
Rick Murti.
. Taft attributed the decision to "ongoing friction" between Backs and his colleagues, with Backs expressing surprise and calling the ouster "bizarre". Although Backs had already received the Liberal nomination in Edmonton-Manning for the following election, Taft declared that he would not be running as a Liberal and that the party would find a different candidate.
designed to provide a first collective bargaining agreement after the certification of a union, to prevent the sort of labour conflict that had recently occurred between Lakeside Packers
and the United Food and Commercial Workers
. The bill had not come up for a second reading by the time the 2006 session of the legislature adjourned, and accordingly it died. In 2007, as an independent, Backs sponsored the Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act, a private member's bill designed to reduce the red tape
faced by Alberta business. It was supported by the Liberal
, New Democratic
, and Alberta Alliance caucuses. The Progressive Conservatives
who spoke to the bill expressed a support for the concept of regulatory simplification - which they stated was a major goal of the government - but expressed some concerns with different specific elements of the bill. Ultimately, the bill was referred - with Backs' support - to the legislature's Standing Committee on Government Services, where it remained at the adjournment of the legislature's 2007 session.
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...
. He was elected as a 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...
candidate in the 2004 provincial 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....
, but was kicked out of the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Taft
Kevin Taft
Kevin Taft is a Liberal politician in Alberta, Canada. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008...
, who cited concerns about Backs' ability to work as a member of a team. He sat as an 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...
thereafter and, after failing to secure 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...
nomination for his riding, sought re-election in that capacity as well. He finished third in the riding in the 2008 election.
Early life
Backs was educated at St. Francis High SchoolSaint Francis High School (Calgary)
Saint Francis High School is a liberal arts Roman Catholic high school, and one of the largest in Calgary, serving 1700 students in the communities of northwest Calgary, Alberta....
in Calgary, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. He subsequently earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
and a heavy equipment certification from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and provides technical training and applied education designed to meet the demands of Alberta's industries...
. He also studied Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
at the Enforex Language Institute in Marbella, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the Amerispan language school in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
, negotiations and creative writing at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Extension, farm electricity and wiring at Fairview College, and newswriting at the George Meany
George Meany
William George Meany led labor union federations in the United States. As an officer of the American Federation of Labor, he represented the AFL on the National War Labor Board during World War II....
Institute in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Backs has worked in farming, construction, and pipelining. He has served as a negotiator for the Alberta Operating Engineers Association, and as secretary-treasurer of the Alberta and Northwest Territories Council of Labour.
Electoral record
Backs ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1979 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1979
The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He ran for the Alberta 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...
in the electoral district of Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake (electoral district)
Lesser Slave Lake is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It has existed since 1971.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :...
but was defeated by Larry Shaben
Larry Shaben
Lawrence "Larry" Ralph Shaben was a Canadian politician of Lebanese descent and the first Muslim Cabinet Minister in Canada. He was also one of the first Muslims to be elected to higher office in North America. He held a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1975 to 1989 sitting with...
finishing in last place in the field of four candidates.
He would attempt to gain a seat in the 1986 Edmonton municipal election
Edmonton municipal election, 1986
The 1986 municipal election was held October 20, 1986 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board....
, when he ran for Edmonton City Council
Edmonton City Council
The Edmonton City Council is the governing body of the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors. Until 2010, Edmonton was divided in six wards with two councillors representing citizens in each ward...
as an alderman in Ward 1. He finished third of nine candidates, behind Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell (Alberta politician)
Bruce Campbell was a Canadian politician, commercial contractor, carpenter, and Rotarian. He was born in Cadomin, Alberta, and resided in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for most of his life....
and Helen Paull, both of whom were elected (Edmonton's council is composed of two councillors from each of six wards).
He subsequently sought provincial office in the 2004 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....
, when he ran as a 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...
candidate in Edmonton-Manning. He defeated 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...
incumbent Tony Vandermeer
Tony Vandermeer
Tony Vandermeer is a politician from Alberta, Canada, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Vandermeer first ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1997 Alberta general election when he lost to Liberal Ed Gibbons...
and was elected to 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...
.
After being expelled from the Liberal caucus by leader Kevin Taft
Kevin Taft
Kevin Taft is a Liberal politician in Alberta, Canada. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008...
, Backs sought the Progressive Conservative nomination in his riding. Also contesting it were Vandermeer, his predecessor and last-time opponent, local homebuilder Peter Sandhu
Peter Sandhu
Peter Sandhu is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Manning as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:...
, and Backs' fellow former Liberal Emerson Mayers. Sandhu won the nomination, and Backs decided to contest the next election as an independent. In this election, he finished third behind Sandhu and 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...
Rick Murti.
Ouster from caucus
In November 2006, Backs was expelled from the Liberal caucus by party leader Kevin TaftKevin Taft
Kevin Taft is a Liberal politician in Alberta, Canada. He was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, from 2004 to 2008...
. Taft attributed the decision to "ongoing friction" between Backs and his colleagues, with Backs expressing surprise and calling the ouster "bizarre". Although Backs had already received the Liberal nomination in Edmonton-Manning for the following election, Taft declared that he would not be running as a Liberal and that the party would find a different candidate.
Legislative initiatives
In 2006, while still a Liberal, Backs sponsored the Labour Relations Code (First Collective Agreement) Amendment Act, a 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...
designed to provide a first collective bargaining agreement after the certification of a union, to prevent the sort of labour conflict that had recently occurred between Lakeside Packers
Lakeside Packers
Lakeside Packers is a beef producer based in Brooks, Alberta. They are the operating company of Lakeside Farm Industries, Ltd. and are a subsidiary of XL Foods, a Canadian company. However, For more information see "Press Release" by XL Foods CFO, Patrick S...
and the United Food and Commercial Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada in many industries, including agriculture, health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile, G4S Security, chemical...
. The bill had not come up for a second reading by the time the 2006 session of the legislature adjourned, and accordingly it died. In 2007, as an independent, Backs sponsored the Regulatory Accountability and Transparency Act, a private member's bill designed to reduce the red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
faced by Alberta business. It was supported by the 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...
, New Democratic
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...
, and Alberta Alliance caucuses. The Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
who spoke to the bill expressed a support for the concept of regulatory simplification - which they stated was a major goal of the government - but expressed some concerns with different specific elements of the bill. Ultimately, the bill was referred - with Backs' support - to the legislature's Standing Committee on Government Services, where it remained at the adjournment of the legislature's 2007 session.
Election results
| 2008 Alberta general election results (Edmonton-Manning) | font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 39.8% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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... |
Peter Sandhu Peter Sandhu Peter Sandhu is a Canadian politician and current Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Manning as a Progressive Conservative.-Early life:... |
4,109 | 35.2% |
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... |
Rick Murti | 2,302 | 20.6% |
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... |
Dan Backs | 2,275 | 20.1% |
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... |
Sandeep Dhir | 2,261 | 19.5% |
Wildrose Alliance Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta The Wildrose Party, formerly Wildrose Alliance Party, is a conservative provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. It includes free market conservative, libertarian and socially conservative factions and was formed in 2008 following a merger of the Wildrose Party of Alberta and the Alberta... |
Phil Gamache | 287 | 2.6% |
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... |
Odette Boily | 234 | 2.1% | |
| 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 (Edmonton-Manning) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 44.3% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
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... |
Dan Backs | 3,873 | 35.9% |
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... |
Tony Vandermeer Tony Vandermeer Tony Vandermeer is a politician from Alberta, Canada, and member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Vandermeer first ran for the Progressive Conservatives in the 1997 Alberta general election when he lost to Liberal Ed Gibbons... |
3,646 | 33.8% |
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... |
Laurie Lang | 2,371 | 22.0% |
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... |
Mike Pietramala | 515 | 4.8% |
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... |
Ross Adshead | 240 | 2.2% |
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.... |
Sean Tisdall | 130 | 1.2% | |
| 1986 Edmonton municipal election Edmonton municipal election, 1986 The 1986 municipal election was held October 20, 1986 to elect a mayor and twelve aldermen to sit on Edmonton City Council, nine trustees to sit on the public school board, and seven trustees to sit on the separate school board.... results (Ward 1) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Candidate | Votes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bruce Campbell Bruce Campbell (Alberta politician) Bruce Campbell was a Canadian politician, commercial contractor, carpenter, and Rotarian. He was born in Cadomin, Alberta, and resided in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, for most of his life.... |
10,929 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Helen Paull | 10,074 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dan Backs | 6,545 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paul Norris | 5,038 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walter Coombs | 2,320 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Ludwig | 2,104 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mary Hislop-Perraton | 864 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roxanne Herbert | 712 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Francis Dryden | 490 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||