John Aldag

John Aldag
Aldag in 2016
Member of Parliament
for Cloverdale—Langley City
In office
September 20, 2021 – May 31, 2024
Preceded byTamara Jansen
Succeeded byTamara Jansen
In office
October 19, 2015 – October 21, 2019
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byTamara Jansen
Personal details
Born (1963-04-18) April 18, 1963 (age 61)
Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations		New Democratic
SpouseElaine St. John
Residence(s)Langley, British Columbia, Canada
ProfessionPublic servant, politician

John W. Aldag[1] (born April 18, 1963) is a Canadian politician who represented the riding of Cloverdale—Langley City in the House of Commons of Canada as a Liberal MP from 2015 to 2019 and 2021 to 2024.

He was first elected in the 2015 federal election, and served until his defeat in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[2] In the 2021 federal election he won his seat back over incumbent Conservative Tamara Jansen.[3]

Aldag announced he would resign his seat effective May 27, 2024, to seek the BC New Democratic Party nomination in Langley-Abbotsford in the 2024 British Columbia election.[4] He resigned his seat May 31, 2024 and was officially nominated as the NDP candidate in Langley-Abbotsford on July 20, 2024,[5][6] but lost to BC Conservatives candidate Harman Bhangu in the 2024 British Columbia general election.[7]

Early life and career

Aldag was born in rural Saskatchewan. He earned an MBA from Royal Roads University and had a 32-year career with Parks Canada, including postings in Whitehorse, Lake Louise, Yoho, Waterloo and Langley, where he was the administrator of Fort Langley National Historic Site before his entry into politics.[8] Aldag took an unpaid leave from Parks Canada in December 2013 to begin campaigning for election to office, which he ultimately won with nearly 46% of the vote.[2] He resigned his position upon being confirmed as the elected candidate by Elections Canada on October 26, 2015.

Aldag and his wife, Elaine St. John, a doctor, have two daughters and one son, and had lived in Langley for a decade at the time of his election to the House of Commons.[8][9]

Politics

Aldag was elected in the 2015 election as a Member of Parliament for Cloverdale—Langley City. In the 42nd Canadian Parliament, he was appointed to two parliamentary committees; the Environment and Sustainable Development committee[10] and the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, an issue in which he consulted extensively with his constituents.[11] The issue of Physician-Assisted Dying touched him, causing him to be a proponent of families having conversations about their wishes in these situations.[11] He was later named as well to the House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform. Aldag introduced Private Member's Bill C-374 which, if adopted, would provide a seat on the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for First Nations, Inuit and Métis representation.[12] The federal by-election to replace him was scheduled for December 16, 2024 and was won by Jansen.[13]

Electoral record

2024 British Columbia general election: Langley-Abbotsford (provincial electoral district)
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Harman Bhangu 14,045 55.8% +48.2
New Democratic John Aldag 8,436 33.5% -1.7
Green Melissa Snazell 1,394 5.5% -6.0
Independent Karen Long 1,081 4.3%
Libertarian Alex Joehl 192 0.8%
Total valid votes 25,767 –
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[14]
2021 Canadian federal election: Cloverdale—Langley City
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal John Aldag 20,877 39.21 +3.99 $111,123.12
Conservative Tamara Jansen 19,223 36.10 -1.63 $85,561.60
New Democratic Rajesh Jayaprakash 10,587 19.88 +0.94 $13,177.92
People's Ian Kennedy 2,563 4.81 +3.14 $0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,250 99.06 – $116,950.48
Total rejected ballots 508 0.94 +0.20
Turnout 53,758 60.85 -3.70
Eligible voters 88,348
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.81
Source: Elections Canada[15][16]
2019 Canadian federal election: Cloverdale—Langley City
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Tamara Jansen 20,936 37.73 +2.96 $70,620.42
Liberal John Aldag 19,542 35.22 -10.31 $105,884.21
New Democratic Rae Banwarie 10,508 18.94 +3.29 $15,133
Green Caelum Nutbrown 3,572 6.44 +2.38 none listed
People's Ian Kennedy 930 1.68 - $464
Total valid votes/expense limit 55,488 99.26
Total rejected ballots 415 0.74 +0.40
Turnout 55,903 64.55 -4.85
Eligible voters 86,610
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +6.63
Source: Elections Canada[17][18]
2015 Canadian federal election: Cloverdale—Langley City
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal John Aldag 24,617 45.52 +33.72 $48,139.65
Conservative Dean Drysdale 18,800 34.77 -22.60 $164,422.49
New Democratic Rebecca Smith 8,463 15.65 -9.02 $12,325.60
Green Scott Anderson 2,195 4.06 -0.56 $5,846.04
Total valid votes/expense limit 54,075 99.66   $209,882.99
Total rejected ballots 186 0.34 –
Turnout 54,261 69.40 –
Eligible voters 78,189
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +28.16
Source: Elections Canada[19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ "Search for Contributions".
  2. ^ a b Election 2015: Aldag claims new riding for Liberals Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, The Langley Times, October 20, 2015.
  3. ^ Jordan, Marlin (September 24, 2021). "John Aldag officially elected in Cloverdale-Langley City". Peace Arch News. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  4. ^ Claxton, Matthew (May 17, 2024). "Liberal MP Aldag resigns to run for provincial NDP nomination". The Abbotsford News. Black Press Media. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Profile".
  6. ^ "Former MP John Aldag to run with in Langley-Abbotsford".
  7. ^ "B.C. Votes 2024". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Kersey, Karen (January 9, 2016). "New MP, Doc's daughter spread prairie roots". www.gulllakeadvance.com. Gull Lake Advance. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "Aldag puts name forward for Liberals in new federal riding – Langley Times". Langley Times. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  10. ^ Anderson, Samantha (September 26, 2018). "Cloverdale-Langley City MP elected chair of environment, sustainable development committee". Langley Times, Black Press Group Ltd. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Holmes, Tracy (March 3, 2016). "Legislators face death head on". Peace Arch News. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ^ Anderson, Samantha (October 25, 2017). "Cloverdale-Langley City MP introduces bill to include Indigenous representatives on heritage board". Langley Times, Black Press Group Ltd. Retrieved December 26, 2018.
  13. ^ "Federal byelection called in B.C.'s Cloverdale-Langley City riding". CBC News. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  14. ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/10779025/bc-election-2024-results-langley-abbotsford//
  15. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. November 29, 2024.
  17. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  18. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  19. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Cloverdale—Langley City, 30 September 2015
  20. ^ Official Voting Results - Cloverdale—Langley City
  21. ^ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.