Steve West (politician)

Steven "Steve" C. West (born May 21, 1943, London, Ontario, Canada) is a business man, and a former veterinary doctor, teacher, farmer and former provincial level politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1986 to 2001. He served numerous portfolios in the cabinet for the Alberta government during his political career.

Early life

Stephen C. West was born in London, Ontario on May 21, 1943.

He west to post secondary school at the Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute, and earned his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College. After college West moved to Vermilion and founded the West Veterinary Clinic. He operated his clinic for fifteen years and became a farmer in the area. In addition to his practice he also taught Animal Science Technology at Lakeland College.

Political career

West was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1986 Alberta general election. He easily won a two race over New Democrat candidate Mervin Stephenson in the electoral district of Vermilion-Viking.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1986&Constit=Vermilion-Viking|title=Vermilion-Viking results 1986 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage Foundation|accessdate=2008-04-14] He was re-elected to his second term in the 1989 Alberta general election winning a three way race with a slightly reduced plurality over the last election.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1989&Constit=Vermilion-Viking|title=Vermilion-Viking results 1989 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage Foundation|accessdate=2008-04-14]

West was appointed to his first cabinet portfolio under the government of Don Getty. He served as Minister of Recreation and Parks from April, 1989 to February, 1992. He became Solicitor General in a cabinet shuffle and held that post until Ralph Klein became Premier in December 1992. Under the Ralph Klein government, West was appointed as Minister of Municipal Affairs. He held that post until December 1994.cite web|url=http://www.lloydminster.net/West.htm|title=Honorable Steven West|publisher=Lloydminster and District Centennial Commemorative Association Inc. |accessdate=2008-04-14]

Vermilion-Viking was abolished due to redistribution in 1993, West ran for his third term in the new electoral district of Vermilion-Lloydminster. The race was a rerun of the 1989 Vermilion-Viking election as both the challenging candidates for the New Democrats and Liberals faced West for the second time. The race was hotly contested as Liberal candidate Greg Michaud quadrupled his popular vote. Despite the strong showing by the Liberal candidate West won the new district by increasing his popular vote.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1989&Constit=Vermilion-Lloydminster|title=Vermilion-Lloydminster results 1993 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage Foundation|accessdate=2008-04-14]

West was moved to the Transportation and Utilities porfolio in December, 1994, he served that post until May, 1996, when he was appointed Minister of Economics Development and Tourism. West was re­-elected to his fourth and final term as MLA in the 1997 Alberta general election. He won the electoral district in a landslide with his largest percentage and plurality of his political career.cite web|url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/database/maps_choice.asp?Year=1997&Constit=Vermilion-Lloydminster|title=Vermilion-Lloydminster results 1997 general election|publisher=Alberta Heritage Foundation|accessdate=2008-04-14] After the election he was appointed Minister of Energy on March 26, 1997. The last post he served in cabinet was as Minister of Finance.

References

External links

* [http://www.assembly.ab.ca/legislaturecentennial/pdf/membersBooklet.pdf Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing]