Brent Rathgeber didn't chose to run as an Independent. His voters did that for him. Rathgeber, 51, was elected to represent the constituents of the now defunct Edmonton-St. Albert riding in 2008 and again in 2011.
Brent Rathgeber didn't chose to run as an Independent. His voters did that for him.
Rathgeber, 51, was elected to represent the constituents of the now defunct Edmonton-St. Albert riding in 2008 and again in 2011. At the time he was a member of the Conservative Party.
When he left the caucus to sit as an Independent in June 2013, he thought his political career was over. He was asked to resign by some and challenged to run in a byelection by others.
But an even larger portion of the population praised him for calling out the government for its lack of transparency and due democratic process.
Rathgeber received more than 5,000 emails, faxes and phone calls within the weeks he chose to “stand alone.”
“I wasn't alone,” he said. “There were a lot of people who felt disaffected by the democratic process and were tired of elected members abandoning their constituents in favour of their parties and their party leaders.”
This outpouring of support caused him to seek re-election as an Independent candidate.
During his two years as an Independent MP, Rathgeber passed Bregg's Bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code to include harsher punishments for violent crimes against transit operators, and shamed the government into passing its own balanced budget legislation.
He also introduced Wynn's Law, in honour of fallen St. Albert RCMP Const. David Wynn, but Parliament dissolved before it could move forward.
“I think I've been a much better MP as an Independent MP than I was as a party MP – yes I got to participate in caucus meetings and I got to sit on House of Commons committees and go on fancy junkets – but I think in terms of doing real work to effect the lives of my constituents, I'll defend my record over the last two years and know that I did a lot more than in the last five when I was a member of the caucus,” said Rathgeber.
If re-elected, Rathgeber would push to retable Wynn's Law by Christmas and have it through both houses by this time next year.
He would also push for Parliamentary reform, continuing to fight against the centralized power of the Prime Minister's Office, as well as against nonsensical time allocations and omnibus legislation.
Rathgeber would also push for stimulus, especially in Alberta, and believes that the LRT extensions in the Edmonton capital region would be a prime investment of infrastructure dollars and lead to local job creation.
Born in Mellville, Sask., Rathgeber has called Edmonton home for more than 20 years.
An avid Eskimos fan, he holds season tickets. He also gets to as many Oilers games as possible.
During the summer, Rathgeber can be heard on radio as the play-by-play announcer for the Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club or seen on the green, where Rathgeber said he prefers to walk between holes since it is good door-knocking practise.
