Doug Elniski

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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

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.

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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".