Arnold Viersen

Arnold Viersen MP (born May 3, 1986) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Peace River—Westlock in the 2015 Canadian Federal Election.[1][2] He identifies as a social conservative.[3]

Arnold Viersen MP
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Peace River—Westlock
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	Riding Created
Personal details
Born	May 3, 1986 Barrhead, Alberta
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Melissa Bredenhof ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4
Residence	Barrhead, Alberta
Profession	Mechanic

Viersen attended Covenant Canadian Reformed School in Neerlandia from Grade 1 through Grade 12, and currently resides near his childhood home on an acreage in Westlock County. Before entering politics, Viersen worked as a journeyman auto mechanic.[4]

In the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Viersen served on the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, and was named Deputy Critic of Rural Affairs. On December 8, 2016, Viersen's Private Member's Motion (M-47) received unanimous consent in the House of Commons.[5] The official text of this motion reads: "That the Standing Committee on Health be instructed to examine the public health effects of the ease of access and viewing of online violent and degrading sexually explicit material on children, women and men, recognizing and respecting the provincial and territorial jurisdictions in this regard, and that the said Committee report its findings to the House no later than July 2017."[6] The Health Committee's ensuing study was the first Government of Canada study into the public health effects of pornography since 1985.[7]

On February 4, 2020, during a debate on safety in sex work, Viersen asked fellow MP Laurel Collins if she had ever considered sex work. Collins was criticizing Bill 36 changes enacted by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government that Collins suggested put sex workers at risk. Viersen's question sparked immediate heckling and a shout of "shame on you" from other members of parliament. Viersen apologized following the reaction, both in the House and on Twitter.[8][9][10]

Electoral record

2019 Canadian federal election: Peace River—Westlock
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Arnold Viersen	41,659	80.6	+11.25
	New Democratic	Jennifer Villebrun	3,886	7.5	-6.89
	Liberal	Leslie Penny	3,148	6.1	-6.74
	People's	John Schrader	1,579	3.1	-
	Green	Peter Nygaard	1,377	2.7	+0.18
Total valid votes/Expense limit			51,649	100.0
Total rejected ballots			347
Turnout			51,996	70.4
Eligible voters			73,809
	Conservative hold		Swing		+9.07
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]

2015 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Arnold Viersen	34,342	69.35	−8.46	$74,852.55
	New Democratic	Cameron Alexis	7,127	14.39	+1.35	$10,844.13
	Liberal	Chris Brown	6,360	12.84	+9.20	$6,504.94
	Green	Sabrina Lee Levac	1,247	2.52	−1.34	–
	Libertarian	Jeremy Sergeew	443	0.89	–	$108.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit			49,519	100.00		$259,766.62
Total rejected ballots			170	0.34	–
Turnout			49,689	65.93	–
Eligible voters			75,362
	Conservative hold		Swing		−4.90
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]

References

1. Arnold Viersen – Parliament of Canada biography
2. "Arnold Viersen elected as first MP for new riding of Peace River-Westlock". Edmonton Journal. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
3. Charlebois, Kathleen (September 3, 2015). "Twenty-nine year old Arnold Viersen leads the Conservative Party in Peace River-Westlock". Whitecourt Star. Postmedia. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
4. Katie Richard (October 2, 2019). "Peace River-Westlock Conservative Candidate: Arnold Viersen". Reach 96.3 FM.
5. http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Arnold-Viersen(89211)/Motions?documentId=8136502&sessionId=152
6. http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Arnold-Viersen(89211)/Motions?documentId=8136502&sessionId=152
7. Thompson, Elizabeth (December 13, 2016). "Commons committee to study health effects of violent online pornography". CBC News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
8. Walsh, Marieke (February 4, 2020). "Conservative MP apologizes for asking NDP MP if she considered being a sex worker". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
9. Tunney, Catharine (February 4, 2020). "Conservative MP apologizes after asking NDP MP whether she's 'considered' sex work". CBC News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
10. Gilmore, Rachel (February 4, 2020). "Tory MP apologizes after asking NDP MP if she's considered sex work". CTV News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
11. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
12. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
13. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Peace River—Westlock (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
14. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine