Tracy Allard

The Honourable
Tracy Allard
Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs
In office
August 25, 2020 – January 4, 2021
PremierJason Kenney
Preceded byKaycee Madu
Succeeded byRic McIver
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Grande Prairie
In office
April 16, 2019 – May 29, 2023
Preceded byRiding re-established
Succeeded byNolan Dyck
Personal details
Born1970 or 1971 (age 54–55)[1]
Political partyUnited Conservative Party
Residence(s)Grande Prairie, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of British Columbia (BComm)

Tracy Allard ECA (born 1971) is a Canadian politician who represented Grande Prairie in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 2019 to 2023. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), she was minister of municipal affairs from August 2020 to January 2021.

Early life

Tracy Allard attended the University of British Columbia completing a Bachelor of Commerce and a certificate in disability management. She and her husband Serge own and operate two Tim Hortons franchises, located in Grande Prairie, Alberta.[2]

Political career

Allard was selected as the United Conservative candidate in Grande Prairie. She won the seat 2019 Alberta general election,[3] with the UCP also forming government.

In November 2019, Allard was appointed as chairwoman of the Northern Alberta Development Council.[4]

In March 2020, Allard was one of seven people named to a panel of Joint Working Group on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls which will work on recommendations for Alberta's action plan regarding the issue.[5]

Allard was appointed as Minister of Municipal Affairs on August 25, 2020, and the former Minister Kaycee Madu was appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.[6]

On October 21, 2020, Allard tested positive for COVID-19.[7]

COVID-19 Controversy

Travel Scandal

In December 2020, Allard took a family vacation to Hawaii despite federal and provincial government advice to avoid non-essential travel and the border between Canada and the United States being closed.[8] Premier Jason Kenney originally defended Allard stating that such travel was important to protect the travel industry, including Calgary-based Westjet.[9] On January 4, 2021, Allard resigned as Minister of Municipal Affairs over the matter.[10]

Vaccination Campaign

In September 2021, Allard sent a newsletter to her constituents that encouraged the government to support "natural immunity" which was criticized by the opposition Alberta New Democratic Party.[11]

Electoral history

2019 Alberta general election: Grande Prairie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
United Conservative 12,713 63.02 +7.95
New Democratic Todd Russell 4,361 21.62 -12.34
Alberta Party Grant Berg 2,516 12.47 +3.95
Freedom Conservative Bernard Hancock 392 1.94 –
Alberta Independence Ray Robertson 126 0.62 –
Independent Rony Rajput 66 0.33 –
Total 20,174 98.94 –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 217 1.06 –
Turnout 20,391 64.17 –
Eligible electors 31,775 –
United Conservative notional hold Swing +10.15
Source(s)
Source: "63 - Grande Prairie, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

References

  1. ^ Nicole Bergot Updated: April 15, 2019. "Riding profile: Grande Prairie". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2019-04-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "About Tracy". ucpcaucus.ca. United Conservative Party. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Tracy Allard projected to win Grande Prairie riding". My Grande Prairie Now. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  4. ^ Keller, Emily. "Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard appointed chair of the Northern Alberta Development Council". EverythingGP | Grande Prairie, Peace Region | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Real Estate. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  5. ^ Galbraith, Curtis. "Allard named to provincial MMIWG panel". EverythingGP | Grande Prairie, Peace Region | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Real Estate. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  6. ^ Penner, Shaun. "Tracy Allard appointed Alberta's Minister of Municipal Affairs". EverythingGP | Grande Prairie, Peace Region | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Real Estate. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. ^ Johnson, Lisa (October 22, 2020). "Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard test positive for COVID-19; Premier Jason Kenney and others self-isolating". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. ^ Johnston, Janice; von Scheel, Elise (December 31, 2020). "Alberta municipal affairs minister took Hawaii vacation, sources say". CBC News. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Allard resigns as Alberta municipal affairs minister, Kenney's chief of staff steps down amid controversy over international travel". edmontonjournal. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  10. ^ Bellefontaine, Michelle (January 4, 2021). "Alberta cabinet minister, premier's chief of staff resign over holiday travel, other MLAs demoted". CBC News. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Penner, Shaun. "NDP calls for Allard's resignation, citing 'undermining' of vaccination campaign". EverythingGP. Retrieved 2021-10-01.