Robert Fischer (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Butch" Fischer is a former long serving provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1982 until 2001 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. He was investigated for a conflict of interest in 2001 that led to his resignation. During his time in office he served a couple different cabinet portfolio's under the Ralph Klein government.
in the 1982 Alberta general election
. He won a comfortable plurality defeating Bill Veitch from the Western Canada Concept
and three other candidates to hold the Wainwright
provincial electoral district for the governing Progressive Conservative party.
He ran for his second term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election
. He won a greater percent of the popular vote but a slightly reduced plurality. He still defeated the other three candidates comfortably. Fischer faced off for the second time against Liberal candidate Joe Vermette and New Democrat Willy Kelch in the 1989 Alberta general election
. He would win his third term easily despite his total popular vote slipping for the second straight election.
Fischer would stand for re-election to his fourth term in office in the 1993 general election
. He would fend off three other candidates in the race and for the first time in three elections Fischer saw his popular vote increase.
Premier Ralph Klein appointed Fischer to the Executive Council of Alberta
for the first time on September 15, 1994. He would become the new Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services. On May 31, 1996 he was shuffled to the Minister of Transportation and Utilities portfolio. He would have ministerial advantage for running for his fifth term in office in the 1997 Alberta general election
. His personal popularity continued to climb and he almost won his district with a landslide.
After the election Fischer would not return to cabinet. He would run for his final term in office in the 2001 Alberta general election
. Despite not having a cabinet portfolio he won the election, seeing Jerry Barber from the Alberta First Party
finish second. He resigned his seat on December 31, 2001 after being investigated for a breach of ethics regarding a private business deal.
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a member of 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...
from 1982 until 2001 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. He was investigated for a conflict of interest in 2001 that led to his resignation. During his time in office he served a couple different cabinet portfolio's under the Ralph Klein government.
Political career
Fischer ran for a seat to the Legislative Assembly of AlbertaLegislative 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...
in the 1982 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1982
The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won a comfortable plurality defeating Bill Veitch from the Western Canada Concept
Western Canada Concept
The Western Canada Concept was a Western Canadian political party founded in 1980 to promote the separation of the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and the Yukon and Northwest Territories from Canada in order to create a new nation.The party argued that Western...
and three other candidates to hold the Wainwright
Wainwright (provincial electoral district)
Wainwright was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. The district was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.-1957 liquor plebiscite:...
provincial electoral district for the governing Progressive Conservative party.
He ran for his second term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1986
The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won a greater percent of the popular vote but a slightly reduced plurality. He still defeated the other three candidates comfortably. Fischer faced off for the second time against Liberal candidate Joe Vermette and New Democrat Willy Kelch in the 1989 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1989
The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He would win his third term easily despite his total popular vote slipping for the second straight election.
Fischer would stand for re-election to his fourth term in office in the 1993 general election
Alberta general election, 1993
The Alberta general election of 1993 was the twenty-third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 15, 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
. He would fend off three other candidates in the race and for the first time in three elections Fischer saw his popular vote increase.
Premier Ralph Klein appointed Fischer to the Executive Council of Alberta
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
for the first time on September 15, 1994. He would become the new Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services. On May 31, 1996 he was shuffled to the Minister of Transportation and Utilities portfolio. He would have ministerial advantage for running for his fifth term in office in the 1997 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1997
The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. His personal popularity continued to climb and he almost won his district with a landslide.
After the election Fischer would not return to cabinet. He would run for his final term in office in the 2001 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 2001
The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Despite not having a cabinet portfolio he won the election, seeing Jerry Barber from the Alberta First Party
Alberta First Party
The Alberta First Party was a right-wing political party that operated in Alberta, Canada from 1999 until 2003. It was founded by former members of the Social Credit Party of Alberta. The party was registered with Elections Alberta on November 2, 1999...
finish second. He resigned his seat on December 31, 2001 after being investigated for a breach of ethics regarding a private business deal.