Evan Berger (politician)

For the Australian former footballer, see Evan Berger.

The Honourable
Evan Berger
MLA for Livingstone-Macleod
In office
2008–2012
Preceded byDavid Coutts
Succeeded byPat Stier
Personal details
Born (1960-04-02) April 2, 1960 (age 64)
High River, Alberta, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseLaurie
ChildrenTalia, Brita, and Joel
ResidenceNanton, Alberta

Evan Berger ECA (born April 2, 1960) is a Canadian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He represented the constituency of Livingstone-Macleod as a Progressive Conservative from 2008 to 2012.

Early life

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Berger was born April 2, 1960, in High River. He was raised on a mixed ranch farm in the foothills southwest of Nanton, Alberta. After high school, Berger entered the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, but left to pursue a land purchase opportunity. He has been involved in the agriculture industry since.

Political life

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Berger won his seat in the 2008 provincial election with 64 per cent of the vote in the constituency of Livingstone-Macleod. He currently serves as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development and sits on the Cabinet Policy Committee on Resources and the Environment. Berger chaired the Land-use Framework MLA Committee. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Resource and Environment; the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing; and the First Nations/Metis/Inuit Workforce Action Plan MLA Committee.

Prior to becoming an MLA, Berger spent nearly 16 years in municipal politics, as a member of council in the municipal district of Willow Creek. During his council terms, he served as reeve for nine years and spent six years as chair of the Municipal Planning Commission and the Agricultural Service Board.

By a vote margin of less than 1,200 votes, Mr. Berger was defeated by Wildrose candidate Pat Stier in April, 2012. Alberta Premier Alison Redford appointed Berger to a position paying approximately $150,000 per year a few months after his defeat. He remained a member of the PC Party and ran again for his old seat during the 2015 election. During the campaign, Premier Jim Prentice appeared alongside Berger during his campaign. Berger once again lost to Stier on election day.

Personal life

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Berger lives in Nanton with his wife, Laurie, and their three children: Talia, Brita and Joel. He is still actively involved in agriculture, but has cut back on his workload by letting go of rented land and paring down his cow herd.[1]

Electoral results

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2015 Alberta general election: Livingstone-Macleod
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Wildrose Pat Stier 7,362 39.89% -8.17%
Progressive Conservative Evan P. Berger 6,404 34.69% -6.68%
New Democratic Aileen Burke 4,228 22.91% 17.62%
Liberal Alida Hess 464 2.51% -0.83%
Total 18,458
Rejected, spoiled and declined 55 14 29
Eligible electors / turnout 32,991 56.16% -4.31%
Wildrose hold Swing -0.74%
Source(s)
Source: "71 - Livingstone-Macleod, 2015 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
2012 Alberta general election: Livingstone-Macleod
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Wildrose Pat Stier 8,577 48.05% 37.55%
Progressive Conservative Evan P. Berger 7,385 41.37% -22.81%
New Democratic Matthew Halton 944 5.29% 0.23%
Liberal Alex MacDonald 597 3.34% -12.96%
Evergreen Larry Ashmore 346 1.94%
Total 17,849
Rejected, spoiled and declined 66 9 44
Eligible electors / turnout 29,644 60.46% 22.12%
Wildrose gain from Progressive Conservative Swing -20.60%
Source(s)
Source: "71 - Livingstone-Macleod, 2012 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
2008 Alberta general election: Livingstone-Macleod
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Evan P. Berger 6,037 64.18% 13.17%
Liberal Mike Judd 1,534 16.31% -4.15%
Wildrose John W. McLeod 988 10.50%
New Democratic Phil Burpee 476 5.06% -1.23%
Green Bryan Hunt 371 3.94% 0.03%
Total 9,406
Rejected, spoiled and declined 48 7 3
Eligible electors / turnout 24,682 38.34% -6.51%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 8.66%
Source(s)
Source: "67 - Livingstone-Macleod, 2008 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

References

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