- Jack Flaherty
Jack Flaherty is a politician and former member of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta .Flaherty graduated with a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Physical Education, and a Master's of Education from the
University of Alberta . He worked as a teacher inEdmonton andRed Deer before becoming a consultant for the government's Department of Education. He later became an administrator, acting as associate superintendent of schools in Edmonton and the superintendent of schools inFort McMurray . [ [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_bio&rnumber=76 Legislative Assembly of Alberta ] ]Flaherty first ran for office in the 2004 Alberta provincial election, when he ran for the
Alberta Liberal Party in St. Albert against incumbent Progressive ConservativeMary O'Neill . Flaherty won an upset victory of just over four hundred votes. [http://www.stalbertgazette.com/news/2004/1124/top1.htm]Once in office, Flaherty became the Liberal education critic, in which capacity he has argued that provincially-mandated achievement tests should no longer be given to grade three students, and that the government should put increased focus on diagnostic testing of children at that age. [ [http://www.rewedmonton.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1209 Real Estate Weekly ] ] He has also advocated for a broader range of programs for high school students and better support for vocational programs. [ [http://www.rewedmonton.ca/content_view2?CONTENT_ID=1678 Real Estate Weekly ] ] In March 2007, he sponsored the School (Restrictions on Fees and Fundraising) Amendment Act (Bill 208), which would prohibit schools from charging fees or conducting fund-raising for the support of curricular activities. The bill was defeated in May 2007. [ [http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Albertas+Education+System/Eye+on+Education+in+Alberta/Bills+and+Motions/2007.htm Alberta Teachers' Association - Bills and Motions - 2007 ] ]
In September 2006, Flaherty announced that he would seek re-election during the next provincial election. [ [http://daveberta.blogspot.com/2006/09/st-albert-on-political-scene.html daveberta.ca: st. albert on the political scene ] ] However, he was defeated by the Progressive Conservative candidate, former city councillor
Ken Allred . [cite news |title=St. Albert painted blue |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Election/2008/03/04/4900906-sun.html |publisher=Edmonton Sun |date=March 4, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-04]References
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