Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Rick Wilson | |
Honorific-Suffix: | ECA MLA |
Office: | Minister of Indigenous Relations of Alberta |
Term Start: | April 30, 2019 |
Premier: | Jason Kenney, Danielle Smith |
Predecessor: | Richard Feehan |
Office1: | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin |
Term Start1: | April 16, 2019 |
Predecessor1: | new district |
Residence: | Wetaskiwin, Alberta |
Party: | United Conservative Party |
Occupation: | Businessman |
Richard Wilson is a Canadian politician elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin in the 30th Alberta Legislature.[1] [2] On April 30, 2019, he was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Indigenous Relations. He was re-elected in the 2023 provincial election held on May 29.[3]
Before being elected as an MLA, Wilson served as a councillor for the County of Wetaskiwin as well as on the Wetaskiwin Regional Public School Board[4] [5] He also owned and operated multiple businesses relating to construction and ranching. Him and his wife, Rose, live on their ranch which has been in his family for over 100 years. They have four children and seven grand children.[6]
As minister of Indigenous Relations, Wilson has sponsored 2 bills being Bill 57; Metis Settlements Amendment Act, as well as Bill 14; Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Act. Bill 14 Wilson says is “generating sustainable revenue streams for First Nations and Métis communities by removing barriers to investment capital for major projects” resulting in more than $400 million in major resource projects.[7]
Wilson has also often spoken about the need for more resources put into rural healthcare, with the province putting in $19.5 million into the Wetaskin Hospital and Care Centre.[8]