Moe Amery

Moe Amery (né Amiri; September 20, 1954) is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, who represented the constituency of Calgary-East as a Progressive Conservative.

Moe Amery
MLA for Calgary-East
In office
June 15, 1993  May 5, 2015
Preceded byNew district
Succeeded byRobyn Luff
Personal details
Born (1954-09-20) September 20, 1954
Lebanon
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse(s)Mary
Children5 (including Mickey Amery)
ResidenceCalgary, Alberta
Occupationrealtor

Early life

Amery was born Moe Amiri (he changed his name sometime between 1989 and 1993)[1] in Lebanon on September 20, 1954, and came to Canada in 1974.[2] He studied at the University of Alberta from 1975 until 1977, after which time he relocated to Calgary to become a realtor until his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1993.[2]

Provincial Politics

Electoral record

Amery's first two bids for elected office were unsuccessful; he sought provincial election in Calgary-Forest Lawn in the 1986 and 1989 elections, but was defeated both times, finishing second to New Democrat Barry Pashak each time.[3] He was more successful in 1993, when he more than doubled Pashak's vote count in the newly formed Calgary-East.[3] He was handily re-elected in each of the 1997, 2001, 2004, and 2008 elections.[3]

Legislative initiatives

In 1994, Amery introduced two different bills called the Maintenance Enforcement Amendment Act.[4] The first, a private member's bill, would have made it impossible for individuals in arrears on child support payments to register their vehicles or renew their drivers' licenses. The second, a government bill, included the objectives of the first, but also took other measures, including ending a provision by which money held in a joint bank account could not be drawn upon to satisfy child support payments owed by one of the account-holders.[5] The government bill passed with the support of the Progressive Conservatives and some Liberals, including Sine Chadi and Michael Henry.[5][6] Other Liberals - including Gary Dickson, Debby Carlson, Bettie Hewes, Mike Percy, Percy Wickman, Ken Nicol, Nicholas Taylor, and Colleen Soetaert - opposed the bill on the grounds that it didn't go far enough in taking measures to recover payments, promoted animosity in an already adversarial process, and was written with insufficient consultation with the recently privatized registries centres.[5][6][7] After the government bill passed, the private member's bill was ruled redundant by Speaker Stanley Schumacher.[8]

Amery has introduced a number of private member's bills designed to extend primary education to include kindergarten, requiring school boards to provide it and making attendance compulsory. The first two of these - both called the School Amendment Act, sponsored in 1995 and 1997 - failed to reach second reading before the legislature adjourned.[9][10] Amery's third attempt, the School (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Act, was defeated on second reading.[11] Liberals were unanimous in their support of the bill, pointing to similar bills that had previously been sponsored by Liberal MLAs Grant Mitchell and Michael Henry.[12][13][14][15] Several of Amery's Progressive Conservative Colleagues, including Mary O'Neill,[12][13] Albert Klapstein,[14] and Wayne Cao,[14] also lent their support.[15] However, the bill was defeated on second reading with a majority of the P.C. caucus voting against.[15] Victor Doerksen, the only Conservative to speak in opposition to the bill, expressed concern that instituting mandatory attendance at the kindergarten level constituted an infringement on parental autonomy.[13] New Democrat Raj Pannu, the only member of his caucus present for the vote, also opposed the bill, on the grounds that it would allow private groups to provide kindergarten with the approval of the Minister of Learning.[13][15]

In 1996, Amery sponsored the Wildlife Amendment Act,[16] a government bill that created a scientific committee to make recommendations on the designation of endangered and threatened species, expanded fish and wildlife agents' abilities to check for infractions of firearms regulations by hunters, and downloaded several government powers that had previously resided with the Lieutenant Governor by Order in Council to the Minister of Environmental Protection.[17] Some Liberals, including Duco Van Binsbergen and Bruce Collingwood, raised concerns that the bill didn't go far enough,[18][19] but it was passed into law.[16]

Committee duties

Amery has sat on numerous committees since being elected. In addition to his regular responsibilities as an MLA, he has served as chair of the Environmental Protection Advisory Committee and co-chair of the Secondary Suites Committee as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing, the Standing Committee on Private Bills, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the Standing Committee on Government Services, the Standing Policy Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Standing Policy Committee on Energy and Sustainable Development, and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Community Services in addition to serving as a member of the International Governance Office Advisory Committee, the Glenbow-Museum Advisory Committee, the MLA Committee To Review Low-income Programs, and the MLA Implementation Team on the Future Selection of RHA Members. He was also the MLA representative on the City of Calgary's 2005 World Fair bid. Currently, Amery serves as a member of the Standing Committee on the Economy, the Standing Committee on Private Bills, and the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.[2]

Political views

Amery has broken with his party on several occasions regarding issues that mattered to his constituents. In March 2006 he was critical of the Ralph Klein government for insufficiently funding school maintenance after the roof of a school in his riding collapsed.[20] In 2007 and during the 2008 election campaign, he advocated rent controls to deal with the tight housing market in urban Alberta, although the position of the Ed Stelmach government was that they would be unhelpful.[21]

Passport incident

In 2002, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began investigating whether Amery acted as guarantor for the passport application of a constituent who he had not known for the required two years.[22] He was charged with doing so in 2004.[22] The case went to trial in March 2005, when Amery alleged that, by telling him not to use character references from his colleagues, P.C. whip Denis Ducharme undermined "Amery's ability to make full answer and defence".[23] The charges were ultimately stayed.[21]

Federal Politics

In December 2017, Amery announced that he would challenge sitting Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai for the nomination in Calgary Forest Lawn.[24]

Personal life

Amery is married to Mary, and the couple has five children: Mickey, Lila, Leena, Laura, and Malaak. Mickey was elected as the Member of the Alberta Legislature in the 2018 election in the riding of Calgary-Cross.[2] He has been involved in his community, including the community associations in Calgary-East.[2] He identifies Winston Churchill as his political hero.[25]

Election results

1986 Alberta general election: Calgary-Forest Lawn
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticBarry Pashak2,49235.86%24.57%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amiri2,41034.68%-39.45%
LiberalGene Czaprowski1,11115.99%13.59%
IndependentMikey Graham2713.90%
RepresentativeDouglas Williams2373.41%
IndependentGerald K. Lee2243.22%
IndependentDorothy Bohdan1091.57%
IndependentJim Othen670.96%
CommunistBruce Potter280.40%-0.02%
Total 6,949
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 26
Eligible electors / Turnout 22,61430.84%-19.91%
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing -30.83%
Source(s)
Source: "Calgary-Forest Lawn Official Results 1986 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1989 Alberta general election: Calgary-Forest Lawn
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticBarry Pashak3,99444.14%8.28%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amiri3,17735.11%0.43%
LiberalGene Czaprowski1,58417.50%1.52%
IndependentJim Othen2943.25%2.29%
Total 9,049
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 25
Eligible electors / Turnout 23,96837.86%7.02%
New Democratic hold Swing 3.92%
Source(s)
Source: "Calgary-Forest Lawn Official Results 1989 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
1993 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery5,50354.48%
New DemocraticBarry Pashak2,30622.83%
LiberalDale Muti1,68916.72%
Social CreditLera Shirley3663.62%
IndependentAlain Horchower2372.35%
Total 10,101
Rejected, spoiled and declined 34
Eligible electors / Turnout 20,638 49.11%
Source: "Calgary-East Official Results 1993 Alberta general election". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
1997 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery4,85760.19%5.71%
LiberalKelly McDonnell1,99024.66%7.94%
Social CreditRaymond Hurst6137.60%3.98%
New DemocraticMarg Elliot6097.55%−15.28%
Total 8,069
Rejected, spoiled and declined 56
Eligible electors / Turnout 21,214 38.30%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 6.83%
Source: "1997 General Election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
2001 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery6,03870.82%10.63%
LiberalBrendan Dunphy2,01023.58%−1.08%
New DemocraticGiorgio Cattabeni3283.85%−3.70%
Social CreditAlan Schoonover1091.28%−2.70%
CommunistJason Devine410.47%
Total 8,526
Rejected, spoiled and declined 75
Eligible electors / Turnout 20,509 41.94%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 5.86%
Source: "Calgary-East Official Results 2001 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
2004 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery4,48453.82%−17.00%
LiberalBill Harvey2,35728.29%4.71%
Alberta AllianceBrad Berard6067.27%
New DemocraticPaul Vargis4645.57%1.72%
GreenRich Michelenko3654.38%
CommunistBonnie Devine560.67%0.20%
Total 8,332
Rejected, spoiled and declined 102
Eligible electors / Turnout 22,759 37.06%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −10.86%
Source: "Calgary-East Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
2008 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery4,58353.85%0.03%
LiberalBill Harvey2,43328.59%0.30%
Wildrose AllianceMike McCraken6818.00%0.73%
New DemocraticChristopher Dovey4254.99%0.58%
GreenRoss Cameron3333.91%−0.47%
CommunistBonnie Devine550.66%−0.01%
Total 8,510
Rejected, spoiled and declined 72
Eligible electors / Turnout 28,616 29.99%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 0.17%
Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 190–193.
2012 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery5,92945.59%−8.26%
WildroseJesse Minhas4,99538.41%+30.41%
New DemocraticRobyn Luff1,1358.73%+3.74%
LiberalAli Abdulbaki7806.00%−22.59%
CommunistBonnie Devine1661.28%+0.62%
Total 13,005
2015 Alberta general election: Calgary-East
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticRobyn Luff5,50639.2
Progressive ConservativeMoe Amery3,97128.3
WildroseAli Waissi3,63325.9
LiberalNaser Al-Kukhun8065.7
CommunistBonnie Devine1381.0
Total valid votes 14,054
Rejected, spoiled and declined 133
Turnout 14,18741.0
Eligible voters 34,585
Source: Elections Alberta[26]

References

  1. "Politics1 Canada:Moe Amery". Archived from the original on 2008-01-19. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. "Amery's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography". Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved 2014-09-15.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Alberta's past election results". Retrieved 2008-03-06.
  4. "Bill Status Report for the 23rd Legislature - 2nd Session (1994)" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  5. "Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 22: Maintenance Enforcement Amendment Act, 1994" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. April 19, 1994. p. 1308.
  6. "Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 22 Maintenance Enforcement Amendment Act, 1994" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. May 11, 1994. p. 1907.
  7. "Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 22: Maintenance Enforcement Amendment Act, 1994" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. May 4, 1994. p. 1724.
  8. "Oral Question Period – Speaker's Ruling: Deleting Item from Order Paper" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. October 26, 1994. p. 2601.
  9. "Bill Status Report for the 23rd Legislature - 3rd Session (1995)" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  10. "Bill Status Report for the 24th Legislature - 1st Session (1997)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  11. "Bill Status Report for the 24th Legislature - 3rd Session (1999)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  12. "Public Bills and Orders Other than Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 205: School (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Act, 1999" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. April 13, 1999. p. 960.
  13. "Public Bills and Orders Other than Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 205: School (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Act, 1999" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. April 20, 1999. p. 1116.
  14. "Public Bills and Orders Other than Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 205: School (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Act, 1999" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. April 21, 1999. p. 1175.
  15. "Public Bills and Orders Other than Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 205: School (Early Childhood Services) Amendment Act, 1999" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. April 27, 1999. p. 1279.
  16. "Bill Status Report for the 23rd Legislature - 3rd Session (1996)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  17. "Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 42: Wildlife Amendment Act, 1996" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. May 14, 1996. p. 1842.
  18. "Government Bills and Orders, Second Reading – Bill 42: Wildlife Amendment Act, 1996" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. May 14, 1996. p. 1851.
  19. "Government Bills and Orders, Second and Third Readings – Bill 42: Wildlife Amendment Act, 1996" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Legislative Assembly of Alberta. May 22, 1996. pp. 2061, 2090.
  20. Fekete, Jason (March 27, 2006). "Klein faces murky future: Premier's party ready to vote on his record". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  21. Myers, Sean (March 4, 2008). "Amery hails PC mandate". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  22. "Alberta MLA denies committing passport offence". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 5, 2004. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  23. "Alberta politician alleges political meddling in court case". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. March 31, 2005. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  24. "Former PC MLA Amery takes on Obhrai in battle for federal Conservative nomination". 20 December 2017.
  25. "Calgary candidate profiles, Alberta election 2008". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  26. "2015 Provincial General Election Results". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
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