Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan was sworn in on Wednesday afternoon as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta tweeted the announcement at 3 p.m.
This afternoon, Jason Stephan was sworn in to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, as the Member representing the constituency of Red Deer-South.#ableg #albertamlas #albertalegislature
— Legislative Assembly of Alberta (@LegAssemblyofAB) July 5, 2023
Stephan, who was not sworn in June 20 along with his UPC colleagues because he had a pre-booked vacation, has been criticized for his absence. The Alberta NDP launched a petition to allow Albertans to register their unhappiness with Stephan’s decision to skip the swearing in.
Related:
Red Deer-South MLA absent from Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony of the UCP government
Stephan said in a previous Facebook post that he and his wife are on a two-week trip to Africa, with his son and wife who were married in the spring. He planned to be sworn in shortly after his return and that there was no impact on his “responsibilities or abilities to serve.”
Related:
Red Deer MLA Jason Stephan offers explanation for missing swearing-in
This is not the first time that one of Stephan’s trips proved controversial. In 2021, the Red Deer-South MLA resigned from the Alberta Treasury Board after it was discovered that he had gone on holiday to the U.S. when the provincial government was urging Albertans against foreign travel during the pandemic.
