Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer removed from UCP cabinet
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As a result of a cabinet shuffle by Premier Jason Kenney on July 8, Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer was removed from her seat as Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women.
Aheer was one of two ministers dropped from cabinet, alongside Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter.
The former minister has served on the UCP cabinet for the past two years. She was first elected to serve as the regional MLA in 2015.
In a release, the local UCP Constituency Board thanked Aheer for her “tireless work advocating for her constituents,” and service in cabinet.
“MLA Aheer has distinguished herself as Chestermere-Strathmore’s voice in the provincial legislature, serving our citizens with integrity and compassion.”
Jurisdiction over Aheer’s former ministry will now be split and overseen by three people.
Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr has been instated as Minister of Culture, Muhammad Yaseen, Calgary-North MLA will serve as Associate Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Calgary-Glenmore MLA, Whitney Issik has been assumed the station of Associate Minister for the Status of Women.
MLA Aheer, declining to speak with media, issued a statement on July 14 regarding her change in position from cabinet.
“I want to thank the Premier for the privilege of serving the people of Alberta; there is no greater privilege than serving the interests of the people who elected me to govern,” she said in a statement. “I am humbled and full of gratitude and pride for the many accomplishments in our ministry and I wish the new ministers great success as they begin their work.”
Prior to the shuffle, Aheer was one of two ministers, also including Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services, who criticized the Premier in early June after images began circulating of a dinner held between himself and three other ministers on the patio of a government building.
Aheer published a public apology on Facebook, June 5, to address the premiers, and her fellow minister’s actions.
“I am confused and, like you, extremely hurt, and I’m so sorry for any pain, anger, or frustration this may have caused you,” it reads. “All of us make mistakes, but this one is a big one.”
Stage 1 reopening rules had been implemented earlier the day the photos were captured, which allowed for outdoor social gatherings of up to 10 people, so long as they were physically distanced, and did not contain an indoor component.
In her statement to media following her decline to speak about the cabinet shuffle, Aheer wrote highly both of Albertans, and the party.
“I want to let you know that I am here to stay. I am a founding member of the United Conservative Party, a movement that saw so many diverse and divided conservatives, and amazing Albertans come together to provide this province with hope and prosperity,” she wrote.
“Our value lies in our diversity no matter where you come from, the colour of your skin, who you pray to or who you love. Resilience is in our blood, passion is in our hearts, and we don’t sit on the sidelines, we get to work.”