Searle Turton Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Searle Turton
Birth Date:June 23, 1979
Birth Place:Regina, Saskatchewan
Residence:Spruce Grove, Alberta
Office:Minister of Children and Family Services
Term Start:June 9, 2023
Premier:Danielle Smith
Predecessor:Mickey Amery
Office1:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain
Term Start1:April 16, 2019
Predecessor1:Erin Babcock
Party:United Conservative Party
Occupation:Technology Sales, Industrial Construction

Searle Turton (born 23 June 1979) is a Canadian politician who is the Alberta Minister of Children and Family Services. He was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Spruce Grove-Stony Plain. Turton previously was a city councillor in the City of Spruce Grove from 2010 to 2019 until his election as MLA.[1] He was re-elected in the 2023 Alberta general election,[2] and in June 2023 he was appointed to Cabinet.

Before being elected, Turton also worked in the tech sector and in construction consulting with a variety of oil refineries/ facilities around Alberta.[3]

As MLA, Turton was Chair of the Social Services Cabinet Policy Committee, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and member of the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship. Turton has previously been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy, Deputy Char of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and has served on various other boards as well.[4]

Turton sponsored Bill 213 titled the Traffic Safety (Maximum Speed Limit for Provincial Freeways) Amendment Act.[5] Turton described how due to Alberta’s mostly flat prairie terrain, a mild increase to the speed limit would be necessary.[6]

In 2023, Turton announced a $14.7 million investment to Meridian Housing Foundation to build seniors units in Spruce Grove. He described how “Alberta's seniors have spent decades making our communities what they are today. I am pleased to see that through funding from the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, seniors in the Spruce Grove-Stony Plain area will have access to the modern, safe, and affordable housing they deserve”.[7]

Electoral history

2019 general election

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sarah O'Donnell . Riding profile: Spruce Grove-Stony Plain . Edmonton Journal . 2019-04-17.
  2. Web site: Alberta Election 2023 – daveberta.ca – Alberta Politics and Elections . 2023-03-21 . en-US.
  3. Web site: Member Information . 2023-03-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  4. Web site: Member Information . 2023-03-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  5. Web site: Member Information . 2023-03-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  6. News: March 12, 2021 . Need for speed: UCP MLA wants to see 120 km/h speed limit on some Alberta highways . CBC . March 21, 2023.
  7. Web site: Corporation . Canada Mortgage and Housing . CANADA SUPPORTS NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR ALBERTANS IN NEED . 2023-03-21 . www.newswire.ca . en.