MLA Rachel Notley; Edmonton-Strathcona

Father God, we thank You for MLA Rachel Notley and the role she has in our Legislature.  We pray for plans and strategies as she sits on committees and meets with people in the community.  Thank You for the experience she has gained through years of serving and is an asset to her leadership.  God we pray You would bless her richly, today.

Rachel Notley grew up in Fairview, Alberta, and is the daughter of former Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley and his wife Sandy.

Having grown up in a passionate political family that believed in the importance of building a fairer, more inclusive society, Rachel was naturally drawn to work to make her home province better, and first ran for election for the Alberta New Democrats in Edmonton-Strathcona in 2008. She was re-elected in 2012.

As the New Democrat critic for Human Services, Environment, Advanced Education and Justice, much of Rachel’s work has focused on issues such as improving the lives of children in government care, protecting our water and our land, and human rights advocacy.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alberta, and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. She has worked for a variety of labour unions in both Alberta and British Columbia and served as a ministerial advisor to British Columbia's Attorney General in the 1990s. Rachel’s work during her legal career focused on labour law, workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues.

Rachel lives in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona neighbourhood, along with her husband Lou and their two children Ethan and Sophie.

Honourable Diana McQueen; Drayton Valley-Devon

Dear Lord, we ask that You would be with MLA Diana McQueen in the choices and decisions she needs to make on a daily bases and that they would be the best for the people of Drayton Valley – Devon.  Thank You Lord that You help her with difficult situations and we pray that You keep her and her family safe and healthy.   Amen.

Minister of Energy

Diana McQueen was elected to her second term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Drayton Valley-Devon on April 23, 2012. On December 13, 2013, Mrs. McQueen was sworn-in as Minister of Energy. She previously served as Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD).

Mrs. McQueen´s work this term has focused on integrated resource management. Under her leadership, ESRD has taken decisive action on a number of issues important to Albertans in 2012, including:

• Implementing Alberta´s first regional plan under the Land-use Framework, the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan;
• Partnering with the federal government to begin implementation of a new comprehensive environmental monitoring program in the oil sands region;
• Working to strengthen Alberta´s relationship with Asia to facilitate trade of forest products and share best practices and learnings; and,
• Spearheading the creation of a single regulatory system for all oil and gas developments in Alberta.

Prior to her election, Mrs. McQueen served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and the Minister of Environment. Outside the legislature, she is active in her community, and has served as a school board chair and trustee, and as the mayor of Drayton Valley.

Honourable Ric McIver; Calgary-Hays

Dear Lord, we lift up Hon. Ric McIver praying that you would guide him to do what is right for the people of Calgary. May he be filled with compassion and be aware of the people’s needs. We ask that you keep directing him to do great things. We pray that he will clearly see the issues that need to be addressed and that his efforts will bring about positive changes. We also ask that you will keep him and his family members healthy and safe. In the Name of Jesus, Amen

Minister of Infrastructure

Ric McIver was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Hays on April 23, 2012. On December 13, 2013, he was sworn in as Minister of Infrastructure and is a member of the Treasury Board committee.

Previously, Mr. McIver served as Minister of Transportation and was the first person in this post to be selected from one of Alberta’s major cities.

Ric previously served the residents of Calgary-Hays as the alderman on Calgary city council for ward 12 from 2001 to 2010, a span of three terms. In that time he served on the board of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Calgary Police Commission and the Metropolitan Calgary Foundation. He also served as chair of the Calgary Housing Company.

Ric became an Albertan on July 26, 1981. He has worked in the food industry in many different roles, including national sales manager and sales and marketing manager of different organizations. He has also owned and operated a food distribution and marketing wholesale business.

Ric is married to Christine, the founder and CEO of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. Between them they have four children and two grandchildren, all living in Calgary.

MLA Everett McDonald; Grande Prairie-Smoky

Dear Lord, thank you for MLA Mr. Everett McDonald and we ask that you would continue to lead and guide him. We pray that he would be a strength, support and encouragement to our premier. We pray that you would give him all that’s needed to complete the tasks before him. Bless his family with good health and give him direction in all his future endeavors. In Jesus Name, Amen

Everett McDonald was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie-Smoky on April 23, 2012.

In addition to his duties as an MLA, he also serves on the following committees:

• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices (deputy chair)
• Standing Committee on Alberta's Economic Future
• Special Standing Committee on Members´ Service
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee

Mr. McDonald was recently appointed as chair of the MLA implementation team working on the review and implementation of the retail market review recommendations to strengthen Alberta´s retail electricity market.

He previously served as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing, the Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee and the Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee.

Mr. McDonald was born and raised in Grande Prairie and is a third-generation farmer; he has been farming in the same district of the county that his grandfather homesteaded in 1911.

First elected to the County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Council in 1992, Mr. McDonald served in various capacities during his tenure, including as chair of numerous commissions and boards and as deputy reeve. He then served as reeve from 2004 until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Mr. McDonald was the chairman of the Crystal Creek Conservation Society and also represented the county on various provincial committees, including the Alberta Growth Summit and the provincial Mountain Pine Beetle Advisory Committee. In addition, he was also a founding board member of Aquatera, a municipally owned utility corporation, the first of its kind in the province.

Golf, fishing, hockey and curling are some of Mr. McDonald´s favourite pastimes. He and his wife, Tina, have four children and are also the proud grandparents of two grandsons.

MLA Bruce McAllister; Chestermere-Rocky View

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for MLA Mr. Bruce McAllister and for his part in governing Alberta in the region of Chestermere - Rockyview. We pray that you would help him to be a strong leader in our province always speaking up for what is right and true. We want to as well pray for him and his family that they would be happy and healthy. In Your Name Father God we pray, Amen

Bruce McAllister was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Chestermere-Rocky View on April 23, 2012. He is the Official Opposition Education and Advanced Education critic.

In addition to his duties as an MLA Mr. McAllister serves on the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

He previously served on the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.

Mr. McAllister was born Fredericton, New Brunswick, and has called Alberta home for the majority of his life. After completing a diploma in broadcast journalism from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, he began a 20-year career in journalism that took him to Halifax, Winnipeg, Medicine Hat and Calgary. Most recently Mr. McAllister anchored Global TV Calgary’s morning show.

An active member of his community, Mr. McAllister has worked as a spokesperson and master of ceremonies in support of countless community causes. Sports, literacy and seniors’ events are especially important to him.

Mr. McAllister lives in Chestermere with his wife, Lisa, and their three children. He enjoys spending time with his family as well as playing hockey, golf and reading.

March 18, 2013

MLA Brian Mason; Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood

Dear Lord, today we pray for MLA Mr. Brian Mason that you would give him wisdom and clarity of thought to make the best decisions for the constituency of Edmonton - Highlands – Norwood. Thank you for the service he provides for us and we pray that you would help him in the day to day tasks to be free of stress. Bless him and his family. Amen

ND Opposition Leader

Brian Mason was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood in a 2000 by-election. He was re-elected in the provincial general election of March 12, 2001, and was subsequently appointed House Leader of the New Democrat caucus and critic responsible for human resources, finance and agriculture.

Mr. Mason was appointed to the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services on May 28, 2012.

On September 18, 2004, Mr. Mason became leader of the New Democrats. Mr. Mason was elected to his third term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood on November 22, 2004, his fourth term on March 3, 2008, and his fifth term on April 23, 2012.

Previously, he has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Members’ Service Committee, the Standing Committee on Resources and Environment, Standing Committee on Government Services and the Standing Committee on the Economy.

Before his election to the Alberta Legislature, Mr. Mason served as city of Edmonton councillor for ward 3. He was first elected in October 1989 and won three subsequent civic elections. As a member of city council for 11 years Mr. Mason gained a reputation as a tough and effective voice for his constituents. During this time Mr. Mason chaired the non-profit Housing Board and served on the Taxi Commission, Library board and Northlands board.

Following his political science studies at the University of Alberta, he became politically active, serving as the executive director of the Alberta Federation of Students from 1977 to 1979.

Mr. Mason has lived in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood for over 20 years with his wife, Karin, and their two sons, Peter and Alex.

June 6, 2012

Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk: Edmonton-Castle Downs

Dear Lord, we pray for MLA Hon. Thomas Lukaszuk that you would give him the strength he needs for the day to day tasks before him. We also ask that you would give him the wisdom and knowledge needed to make important decisions for those he serves in his community and for those decisions that will make our province prosper. We pray that you would bless him and watch over him. In Jesus Name, Amen

Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour

Thomas Lukaszuk was elected to his fourth term as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Edmonton-Castle Downs on April 23, 2012. On May 8, 2012, he was sworn in as Deputy Premier and on February 4, 2013, he assumed additional responsibilities as Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education.

In addition to the above responsibilities, Mr. Lukaszuk serves as chair of the government´s Operations and Policy Cabinet Committee and the Public Sector Resources Committee. He is also the executive vice-chair of the Alberta Economic Development Authority and Ministerial Liaison to the Canadian Forces.

Previously Mr. Lukaszuk served as Minister of Education, Political Minister for Edmonton, Minister of Employment and Immigration and parliamentary assistant for Municipal Affairs.

Over the course of his elected service Mr. Lukaszuk has served on a wide range of legislative and government committees. The areas of work have ranged from accountability, access to information and ethics in government to support for low-income and disabled Albertans, tourism marketing and human rights.

In particular, he has been a member of:

• Standing Committee on Law and Regulations
• Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing
• Standing Committee on Private Bills
• Standing Committee on Legislative Offices
• Standing Committee on Community Services
• Select Special Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act Review Committee
• Select Special Chief Electoral Officer Search Committee
• Select Special Health Information Act Review Committee
• Select Special Ethics Commissioner Search Committee
• Select Special Auditor General Search Committee
• Special Standing Committee on Members´ Services
• Standing Policy Committee on Health and Community Living
• MLA Committee to Review Low-income Programs, chair

MLA Stakeholder Consultation Committee on Key Design Features; Low-income Review Implementation, chair

• MLA Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Review Committee, chair
• MLA Corrections Review Committee
• Select Special Conflicts of Interest Act Review Committee
• Provincial Offences Procedure Review Steering Committee, chair
• Strategic Tourism Marketing Council
• Alberta Foreign Offices Review Committee
• Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund Advisory Committee, chair
• Northlands Park Board
• Task Force on the Teachers´ Unfunded Pension Liability
• Edmonton Salutes Committee
• Government of Alberta Liaison to Consular Corps

Born April 5, 1969, in Poland and raised in north Edmonton, Mr. Lukaszuk graduated with a bachelor´s degree in education from the University of Alberta and taught in Edmonton schools before starting Injured Workers Advocates Inc. (IWA), a firm designed to assist injured workers with work-related injury claims. Before becoming an MLA, he served on the Social Care Facilities Review Committee, the Citizens´ Appeal Panel (chair), and the Alberta Lotteries Review Committee. He conducted reviews of Alberta daycares, foster homes, group homes and homeless shelters.

Mr. Lukaszuk has a history of involvement with community groups. He coached soccer through the Edmonton Northwood Community League, has been a Scout leader and is a strong supporter of ABC Head Start. He is a past president of the Youth Friendship Society and a Knight of Columbus. He has been decorated with the Order of St. John investiture, the Queen´s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Queen´s Golden Jubilee Medal for his community service and the Alberta Centennial Medal for his contributions to the province.

In his free time Mr. Lukaszuk enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with his young family.

February 25, 2013