#devin dreeshen

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen is resigning from cabinet to focus on addressing problems related to alcohol, CBC News has learned.

"This morning, I offered Premier Jason Kenney my resignation as minister of agriculture and forestry, and he has accepted," reads a statement from the minister provided to CBC News.

"I accept that my personal conduct with regards to alcohol has become an issue for the government as a whole. I deeply regret that this is the case but have decided that it is best for both myself and the province to resign my position and focus on my personal health and wellness."

Multiple United Conservative government staff have told CBC News that Dreeshen was known to frequently drink in the legislature, a routine that sometimes involved locking his office doors while the alcohol was being consumed, they said.

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Mr. Dreeshen: In saying that, though, one thing that is still disappointing is that the members opposite do take this opportunity to actually attack other aspects of our government. I wish they would focus on the importance of irrigation and Bill 54 itself.

Mr. Schmidt: I’m pleased to rise and offer a few comments on Bill 54, and I will say straight up that I will disappoint the minister of agriculture and not stick to the points that he’s urged us to.

Mr. Dreeshen: Again, on the matter of perspective, when you’re mentioning how the budget cuts are somehow irresponsible, I just find that laughable, to be frank. There’s $2 billion that we as a province are spending to . . .

Mr. Dach: Public servants aren’t laughing, Minister.

Mr. Dreeshen: Two billion dollars that we are . . .

Mr. Schmidt: You’re throwing out this number of $36 million . . .

Mr. Dreeshen: Because that’s what we’re spending on research.

Mr. Schmidt: That’s fine. I’m just understanding: where does it show up in the actual estimates? Because you haven’t made that clear in any of your statements, all we have to do is piece together here from the estimates where that’s coming from. I’m asking for a clear answer, and I’m still waiting for you to give one.

Mr. Dreeshen: My father was a math teacher, and we will do the math that adds up to $36 million, and we’ll be able to provide that to you.

Mr. Schmidt: Give me an idea of what the measurements for success in livestock and crop research are.

Mr. Dreeshen: Again, I would hearken back to the previous questioner when it came to value-added. The goals that . . .

Mr. Schmidt: I’m not the previous questioner, Mr. Dreeshen. I want to know: what are the livestock and crop research measurements for success?

Mr. Dreeshen: When it comes to how we are going to create a new way of looking at value-added, when it comes to ag research and value-added products in the agriculture sector, we are developing those goals of how we can actually produce more here in the province of Alberta and not be drawers of water and hewers of wood.

Mr. Schmidt: So you don’t have measurements for success right now? Is that what you’re saying? You’re developing those. Is that correct?

Mr. Dreeshen: For future years we want to be able to have lofty targets and goals in which we can actually increase economic activity and jobs in the province of Alberta.

Mr. Schmidt: So is it fair to say, then, that you are making these cuts without really having any capacity to measure whether or not it’s going to have any impact on the ground?

Mr. Dreeshen: That would be not fair.

Mr. Dreeshen: Just to comment on the Deputy Premier's comment about my by-election in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, yes, it is true that I got over 80 per cent of the vote and the NDP did get less than 10 per cent of the vote in that by-election. I think her point was that not over 50 per cent of everyone in the riding actually voted and that the turnout was low. Again, I would like to remind her that it was the Premier that called that by-election during the middle of summer. It was the heart of July and it...

It’s a blistering Sunday afternoon in July and supporters of Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party (UCP) are gathered around a smoking barbeque in a Sylvan Lake, Alberta parking lot. They’re all sporting dark blue caps with the UCP logo embroidered in white along the front, quickly amassing around a boyish-looking man for the chance at a handshake and a brief “thanks for your support.”

That man is Devin Dreeshen, 30, and is one of three candidates campaigning towards the July 12 by-election for the now open MLA position in the Innisfail/Sylvan Lake region, following a sexual assault case that forced the previous MLA to step down. He’s easy to spot in his on-brand “Conservative Blue” polo, khaki shorts and door-knocking shoes. Between serving up hot dogs, kissing babies and hating taxes, he’s your typical Conservative poster child.

In a section of his website called “My experience” the son of the Red Deer Conservative MP Earl Dreeshen describes himself as a “fifth-generation local farm owner, volunteer, and long-time conservative party activist” and talks up his experience advising former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and other political gigs.

But nowhere on his webpage does he mention he was a MAGA-hat wearing Donald Trump campaigner in 2016.