Doug Elniski is a Canadian politician and was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Edmonton-Calder as a Progressive Conservative.

Doug Elniski
MLA for Edmonton-Calder
In office
2008–2012
Preceded byDavid Eggen
Succeeded byDavid Eggen
Personal details
Born1960 or 1961 (age 63–64)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta
Occupationindustrial safety professional

Early life

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Elniski was born in Edmonton circa 1961.[1][2] Prior to being elected, Elniski worked in a variety of fields, including safety management, resource management, construction, adult education, and business consulting. He is the CEO and owner of a residential and land development/rehabilitation company. Elniski is a former volunteer firefighter.

Political career

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Elniski's win in Edmonton-Calder represented a gain for the Progressive Conservatives. He won the constituency from first-term NDP MLA David Eggen, in a very tight race edging Eggen out by 178 votes.[3] Elniski is the fourth MLA to represent Edmonton-Calder, a working class riding, in the last four election cycles.

Elniski would retire from politics prior to the 2012 Alberta general election.[4]

Political Controversy

In June 2009, Elniski's political career hit a bump in the road when imprudent comments he had posted on the internet site Twitter made national headlines.[5][6] Opposition parties referred to his online posts regarding women as sexist and offensive.[7]

Elniski was lucky not to draw the ire of Premier Ed Stelmach who was already trying to quell controversy over ignorant comments made by other party MLAs.[8]

2008 general election

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2008 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Calder
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Doug Elniski 4,557 40.86% 7.83%
New Democratic David Eggen 4,356 39.05% 3.05%
Liberal Jim Kane 1,839 16.49% -9.94%
Green Michael Brown 402 3.60%
Total 11,154
Rejected, spoiled and declined 39
Eligible electors / turnout 27,420 40.82% -8.17%
Progressive Conservative gain from New Democratic Swing -0.59%
Source(s)
Source: "Edmonton-Calder Official Results 2008 Alberta general election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Personal life

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Despite being 6'7" and the tallest member of the Alberta Legislature, Elniski used to drive a Daimler AG Smart GmbH, or smart car.[9] He has recently traded it in for a full-sized truck.

References

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  1. ^ "Calder". Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  2. ^ "Speech from the Throne, February 4, 2010". Archived from the original on 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  3. ^ "Alberta Votes 2008: Edmonton-Calder". Edmonton Journal. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-05-15. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
  4. ^ Parrish, Julia (January 18, 2012). "Edmonton-Calder MLA will not seek re-election". CTV Edmonton. CTV News. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  5. ^ O'Neill, Katherine (June 23, 2009). "Another Alberta MLA in hot water". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  6. ^ Thomson, Graham (June 25, 2009). "Doug Elniski puts the twit in Twitter". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  7. ^ "Tory MLA draws fire for offensive Twitter posts". Calgary Herald. June 23, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
  8. ^ https://calgaryherald.com/news/Twittering+disciplined/1727057/story.html[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Elniski's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography".