Robert Fischer (politician)

Robert Arnold "Butch" Fischer (June 9, 1937 – August 9, 2020)[1] was a Canadian provincial level politician from Alberta.[1] He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1982 until 2001 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. He was investigated for a conflict of interest in 2001 that led to his resignation. During his time in office he served in a couple of different cabinet portfolios under the Ralph Klein government.[2]

Robert "Butch" Fischer
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office
1982 – December 31, 2001
Preceded byCharles Stewart
Succeeded byDoug Griffiths
ConstituencyWainwright
Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services
In office
September 15, 1994 – May 31, 1996
Preceded byTom Thurber
Succeeded byStan Woloshyn
Minister of Transportation and Utilities
In office
May 31, 1996 – March 29, 1997
Preceded bySteve West
Succeeded byWalter Paszkowski
Personal details
Born
Robert Arnold Fischer

(1937-06-09)June 9, 1937
Irma, Alberta, Canada
DiedAugust 9, 2020(2020-08-09) (aged 83)
Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Occupationpolitician

Early life

Robert Arnold Fischer was born June 9, 1937 in Irma, Alberta to George Everett Fischer and Marjorie Lillian Dutton. Fischer would marry Marian Annette Smallwood on February 21, 1959 and have five children together.[2]

Political career

Fischer ran for a seat to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 1982 Alberta general election. He won a comfortable plurality defeating Bill Veitch from the Western Canada Concept and three other candidates to hold the Wainwright provincial electoral district for the governing Progressive Conservative party.[3]

He ran for his second term in office in the 1986 Alberta general election. He won a greater percent of the popular vote but a slightly reduced plurality. He still defeated the other three candidates comfortably.[4] Fischer faced off for the second time against Liberal candidate Joe Vermette and New Democrat Willy Kelch in the 1989 Alberta general election. He would win his third term easily despite his total popular vote slipping for the second straight election.[5]

Fischer would stand for re-election to his fourth term in office in the 1993 general election. He would fend off three other candidates in the race and for the first time in three elections Fischer saw his popular vote increase.[6]

Premier Ralph Klein appointed Fischer to the Executive Council of Alberta for the first time on September 15, 1994. He would become the new Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services. On May 31, 1996 he was shuffled to the Minister of Transportation and Utilities portfolio. He would have ministerial advantage for running for his fifth term in office in the 1997 Alberta general election. His personal popularity continued to climb and he almost won his district with a landslide.[7]

After the election Fischer would not return to cabinet. He would run for his final term in office in the 2001 Alberta general election. Despite not having a cabinet portfolio he won the election, seeing Jerry Barber from the Alberta First Party finish second.[8] He resigned his seat on December 31, 2001 after being investigated for a breach of ethics regarding a private business deal.[9]

Death

Fischer would die on August 9, 2020.[10]

References
  1. "Robert FISCHER". Edmonton Journal. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  2. O'Handley, Kathryn, ed. (2001). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Scarborough, Ontario: Gale Canada. p. 602. ISBN 0-7876-3561-8. ISSN 0315-6168. OCLC 659912934. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  3. "Wainwright results 1982". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  4. "Wainwright results 1986". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  5. "Wainwright results 1989". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  6. "Wainwright results 1993". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  7. "Wainwright results 1997". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  8. "Wainwright results 2001". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  9. Ron Gunzburger. "Robert "Butch" Fischer". Politics 1 Canada. Archived from the original on November 15, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  10. "Obituary for Robert "Butch" Fischer". Creech's Funeral Homes. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
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