John Reil

John Reil (born 1949) is a former Canadian provincial level politician. He served as leader of the Alberta First Party.

Political career

Reil ran as a candidate for the Social Credit Party of Alberta in the 1997 Alberta general election. He ran in the electoral district of St. Albert and was defeated by Mary O'Neill who picked up the district for the Progressive Conservatives over incumbent Len Bracko.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1997&Constit=St._Albert|title=St. Albert official results 1997 Alberta general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|accessdate=2008-03-18] Reil had been serving as the Social Credit party President until he left in 1999 along with Leader Randy Thorsteinson and helped to found the Alberta First Party.cite book|title=Canadian Annual Review of Politics and Public Affairs 1999|publisher=University of Toronto Press | pages=235 |isbn=0802039014 | first=David |last=Mutimer] This move came after the Socreds restricted involvement of Mormons in running the party.cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/1999/04/21/ab_mormon990421.html|title=Alberta party caps Mormon participation|publisher=CBC News|date=November 10, 2000|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Reil served as Alberta First's founding President until he was elected as the leader for the party at a convention held on January 22, 2000.cite news |title=Reil chosen to lead Alberta First Party |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/01/22/albertalead.html |publisher=CBC News |date= 2000-01-22|accessdate=2008-03-17 ] In June of that year he contested a by-election held after Pam Barrett resigned after her near-death experience in the dentist chair.cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/05/15/highhby000515.html | title=Highlands voters go to the polls June 12|date=May 15, 2000 | publisher=CBC News |accessdate=2008-03-17] Reil managed to take 3% of the popular vote, but was soundly defeated by new NDP leader Brian Mason.cite web|url=http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/742.htm#april2002 | title=Edmonton-Highlands By-election Results|publisher=Elections Alberta|accessdate=2008-03-17] Reil contested the 2001 Alberta general election in the electoral district of Cardston-Taber-Warner. He finished second with a respectable showing to Broyce Jacobs.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=2001&Constit=Cardston-Taber-Warner|title=Cardston-Taber-Warner official results 2001 Alberta general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Reil left the Alberta First Party and ran for the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party in 2004.cite web|url=http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Quick+Links/Publications/ATA+News/Volume+38/Number+13/In+the+News/Meet+the+Liberal+leadership+candidates.htm|title= Meet the Liberal leadership candidates | publisher=Alberta Teachers Association | accessdate=2008-03-17] He was defeated in a three way race by Kevin Taft.

References