Earl Dreeshen MP (born July 9, 1953) is a Canadian politician, serving as a Member of Parliament with the Conservative Party since 2008.

Earl Dreeshen
Earl Dreeshen in 2016
Member of Parliament
for Red Deer—Mountain View
Red Deer (2008-2015)
Assumed office
October 14, 2008
Preceded byBob Mills
Personal details
Born (1953-07-09) July 9, 1953 (age 71)
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Political partyConservative
RelationsDevin Dreeshen (son)
ResidenceRed Deer County[1]
ProfessionFarmer

Political career

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Dreeshen was initially elected to represent the electoral district of Red Deer in the 2008 Canadian federal election, and re-elected with an increased majority in 2011. Red Deer was split almost in half ahead of the 2015 election, and Dreeshen opted to run in Red Deer—Mountain View—essentially the southern half of his old riding.

Abortion

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Dreeshen opposes abortion. Dreeshen supported a motion to examine whether a fetus is a human being, which was defeated in the House of Commons in a vote of 203 to 91.[2][3]

Dreeshen voted in support of Bill C-233 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion), which making it a criminal offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[4]

Conversion therapy

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On June 22, 2021, Dreeshen was one of 63 MPs to vote against Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), which was passed by majority vote, making certain aspects of conversion therapy a crime, including "causing a child to undergo conversion therapy."[5]

Personal life

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Prior to becoming an MP he was a farmer and a physics and math teacher. He and his wife still manage their family farm. His son Devin Dreeshen is the MLA for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, the current Alberta Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors (as of September 7, 2024), and a former Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.[6]

Electoral record

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2019 Canadian federal election: Red Deer—Mountain View
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Earl Dreeshen 54,765 80.2 +5.87 $94,327.90
New Democratic Logan Garbanewski 4,946 7.3 -1.11 none listed
Liberal Gary Tremblay 3,795 5.6 -7.83 $2,038.71
People's Paul Mitchell 2,637 3.9 - $15,053.69
Green Conner Borlé 2,026 3.0 +0.39 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 68,169 100.0
Total rejected ballots 278
Turnout 68,447 76.8
Eligible voters 89,098
Conservative hold Swing +3.49
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
2015 Canadian federal election: Red Deer-Mountain View
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Earl Dreeshen 46,245 74.3 -5.07
Liberal Chandra Lescia Kastern 8,356 13.4 +9.86
New Democratic Paul Harris 5,233 8.4 -3.51
Green Simon Oleny 1,621 2.6 -2.44
Libertarian James Walper 445 0.7
Pirate Scott Milne 312 0.5
Total valid votes/Expense limit 62,212 100.0     $223,075.30
Total rejected ballots 135
Turnout 62,347 71.8
Eligible voters 86,737
Conservative hold Swing -7.47
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2011 Canadian federal election: Red Deer
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Earl Dreeshen 37,959 75.93 +2.70 $63,247
New Democratic Stuart Somerville 7,566 15.13 +4.03 $1
Green Mason Sisson 2,551 5.10 -4.24
Liberal Andrew Lineker 1,918 3.84 -2.47 $3,784
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,994 100.00
Total rejected ballots 119 0.24 -0.02
Turnout 50,113 54.01 +4.14
Eligible voters 92,792
2008 Canadian federal election: Red Deer
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Earl Dreeshen 33,226 73.23 -2.51 $53,804
New Democratic Stuart Somerville 5,040 11.10 +1.17 $1,774
Green Evan Bedford 4,239 9.34 +4.18
Liberal Garfield Marks 2,863 6.31 -2.84 $7,450
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,368 100.00 $92,848
Total rejected ballots 118 0.26 +0.04
Turnout 45,486 49.87 -14.86

References

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  1. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Advocate Staff (October 10, 2012). "MP backed fetus bid, says constituents agree". Red Deer Advocate. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Kirkup, Kristy (September 27, 2012). "Abortion motion defeated: How did Alberta MPs vote?". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  4. ^ House of Commons (June 2, 2021). "2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  5. ^ House of Commons (June 22, 2021). "3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Devin Dreeshen biography". Alberta.ca. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020.
  7. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Red Deer—Mountain View, 30 September 2015
  10. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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