Arthur Johnston (politician)

Arthur Johnston
Member of Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-Hays
In office
November 22, 2004 – April 23, 2012
Preceded byNew district
Succeeded byRic McIver
Personal details
Born (1947-08-03) August 3, 1947 (age 77)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseShirley
ChildrenEd, Eric, Don and Darcy
Residence(s)Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Occupationpolice officer

Arthur "Art" Johnston (born August 3, 1947) is a Canadian politician. Johnston was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Calgary-Hays as a Progressive Conservative.

Early life

Johnston was born August 3, 1947, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1970, he began a career with the Canadian Forces, eventually earning two United Nations service medals and NATO Service Medal. He held the rank of sergeant when he left the Forces 11 years later. In 1979 he attended the University of New Brunswick before starting a 25-year career with the Calgary Police Service (CPS). In 2003, Johnston retired from the CPS as a patrol sergeant. During his service he was awarded the 12 year Police Service Medal and the 20 year Police Exemplary Medal.[citation needed]

Political career

Johnston first sought public office in the 2001 Calgary municipal election as alderman for Ward 12. Defeat in the aldermanic race did not deter him from later seeking election provincially in the constituency of Calgary-Hays in 2004. In that election, he was the successful candidate and received 64% of the vote.

Since his election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Johnston has been involved with various committees. During his first term in office, he held the position of chair for the Social Care Facilities Review Committee, the Special Constable Review Committee, and the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Committee while also sitting as a member on a number of other committees. He also helped develop several bills including: Correction Amendment Act, 2007, Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, Peace Officer Act, and Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2007.

In the 2008 provincial election Johnston was reelected with 54% of the vote. He was chair of both the Cabinet Policy Committee on Community Services and the Social Care Facilities Review Committee, and a member of the Standing Committee on the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, the Legislative Review Committee, and the Standing Committee on Community Services.

Personal life

Johnston is currently married and has four sons. In addition to reading and playing badminton, Johnston enjoys hockey, is a member of the Fish Creek Recreational Hockey League, and is a two-time gold medal recipient in the Charles Schulz hockey tournament in Santa Rosa, California. An active volunteer, he has served as director of both the Shawnessy Community Association and the Calgary-Shaw Progressive Conservative Association and volunteered for various community events. Johnston was awarded the Centennial Medal for his community contributions.[1]

Election results

2008 Alberta general election results ( Calgary-Hays ) Turnout 39.1%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Arthur Johnston 6,959 54%
Liberal Bill Kurtze 3,582 28%
Green Bruce Keely 564 4%
  NDP Tyler Kinch 367 3%
Wildrose Alliance Devin Cassidy 1,364 11%
2004 Alberta general election results ( Calgary-Hays ) Turnout 34.9%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
  Progressive Conservative Arthur Johnston 5,523 63.8%
Liberal Sharon Howe 1,926 22.2%
Alberta Alliance Robert Wawrzynowski 534 6.2%
  NDP Rachell Wienfeld 298 3.4%
Green Bernie Amell 378 4.4%

References

  1. ^ "Johnston's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography".