| Felito Cruz | |
| |
| 24th Prime Minister of Canada | |
| Assumed office December 5, 2019 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Julie Payette Thanh Hai Ngo |
| Deputy | Nikki Pedersen (2019-2021) |
| Preceded by | Justin Trudeau |
| 17th Premier of Alberta | |
| In office May 24, 2015 - December 5, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Prentice |
| Succeeded by | Jason Kenney |
| Leader of One Canada | |
| Assumed office September 8, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| President | Pierre Lemieux |
| House Leader | Maxime Bernier |
| Deputy Leader | Naomi Chocyk |
| Leader of the Wildrose Party | |
| In office March 28, 2015 - September 6, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Heather Forsyth (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Heather Forsyth (interim) |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Southwest | |
| In office May 24, 2015 - December 5, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Matt Jeneroux |
| Succeded by | Thomas Dang |
| Chief Crown Prosecutor for Edmonton | |
| In office 2003-2015 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Niblock |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Doyle |
| Biography | |
| Born | Rafael Edward Cruz December 22, 1970 (age 50) Calgary, Alberta |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | One Canada |
| Other political affiliations | Alberta Alliance Canadian Alliance Wildrose Party Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Marilyn Cruz (nee Burns) |
| Alma mater | University of Calgary University of Alberta |
| Occupation | Politician, Attorney |
| Religion | Baptist (CNBC) |
Rafael "Felito" Edward Cruz (born December 22, 1970) is a Canadian politician and attorney. He has served as the 24th Prime Minister of Canada since 2019 and has been the leader of One Canada since 2017.
Prior to his election as Prime Minister, Cruz served as the 17th Premier of Alberta and MLA for Edmonton-Southwest. He previously served as Chief Crown Prosecutor of Edmonton, where he was the first Hispanic - and the longest-serving - Chief Crown Prosecutor in Alberta history. He is the founder and leader of One Canada, a self-described "confident and courageous conservative" political party.
From March 2015 to September 2016, Cruz was the leader of the Wildrose Party, which he led to victory in the 2015 provincial election and formed Alberta's first minority government.. He resigned his party membership in order to run in the Conservative Party leadership election while maintaining his premiership, triggering the 2016 Albertan parliamentary dispute and leading to a reshuffling of his cabinet. He became the first Premier in Alberta history to lead a coalition government primarily comprised of a different party. A vote of no confidence was called for in the Alberta Legislative Assembly, which saw Cruz maintain his government by a 45-42 vote.
Following his defeat in the 2017 Conservative leadership election, Cruz announced a merger of the Wildrose Party and the Progressive Conservatives into a national party - One Canada. On September 14th, Cruz swore in his Fourth Cabinet, with a One Canada majority.
Cruz led One Canada in the 43rd Canadian general election, which saw his party win a plurality of seats. He succeeded Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada in December 2019. With support from the Conservative Party, Cruz formed the first coalition government in Canadian history. With the collapse of the coalition in 2021, Cruz called for a snap election, where One Canada again won a plurality of seats and formed a minority government.
Cruz's tenure has seen the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks, and the 2021 political crisis following the resignation of Governor General Julie Payette. In foreign policy, he led Canada's successful 2020 bid on temporary membership of the United Nations Security Council, the establishment of the CANZUK trading bloc, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and the creation of an enforcement network for the Arctic Status Agreement.
Early Life and Family[]
Rafael Edward Cruz was born on December 22th, at Foothills General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to parents Eleanor Elizabeth (née Darragh) Wilson and Rafael Bienvenido Cruz y Díaz. Cruz's mother was born in Wilmington, Delaware, through which Cruz received American dual citizenship. At the time of his birth, Cruz's parents had lived in Calgary for three years, working in the oil business as owners of a seismic-data processing firm for oil drilling.
In 1974, his father left the family and moved to Texas, where he joined a born again Christian church in Carrollton, Texas. Later that year, at the urging of his pastor, Rafael reconciled with Elanor, and relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, where the couple continues to reside today. Rafael Cruz earned Canadian citizenship in 1973, and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 2005.
Cruz has two older half-sisters, Miriam Ceferina Cruz and Roxana Lourdes Cruz, from his father's first marriage. Miriam died in 2011.
Cruz married Marilyn Burns in 2001. The couple has two daughters, Caroline and Catherine. Cruz met his wife during the founding of the Canadian Alliance party in 2000.
Legal Career[]
Cruz served as Chief Crown Prosecutor for Edmonton from 2003 to 2015, making him the first Hispanic, and the longest-serving, Chief Crown Prosecutor in Alberta history. As Chief Crown Prosecutor, Cruz sought "leadership role in the Canadian Confederation in articulating a vision of values."
From 2004 to 2011, Cruz was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, where he taught litigation.
Political Career[]
Wildrose Leadership Election[]
Logo of the Wildrose Party (2008-2017)
The 2015 Wildrose Party leadership election was triggered December 17, 2014, following the decision by leader Danielle Smith and eight other MLAs to leave the Wildrose Party and cross the floor to join the ruling Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCs). The party announced the next day that it would appoint an interim leader and hold an election to choose a permanent leader in 2015.
Under the party's constitution, within 15 days of Smith's resignation, it had to set a date for party members to choose a new permanent leader. Smith tendered her resignation on the morning of December 17, 2014. In a letter to the party's executive, Smith recommended that party members vote on a “reunification resolution” to merge with the PCs as soon as possible, a course of action that the executive rejected.
The party's constitution also stipulated that the leadership election had to be held between three and nine months after the position becomes open, in this case between March and September 2015. Each candidate had to pay a non-refundable $20,000 deposit and receive endorsement signatures from 250 party members, which Cruz easily secured.
The party executive announced on January 23rd, 2015 that the election was to be held on June 6, 2015 and that party members would be able to vote in person at venues around the province or by mail-in ballot. However, due to the likelihood of an early provincial election, the date of the leadership vote was moved up with the vote to be conducted by a telephone ballot in a 12-day period from March 16th to March 28th, 2015 with results announced at the Sheraton Cavalier in Calgary.
29th Alberta General Election[]
The 29th general election of Alberta, Canada, elected members of the 29th Alberta Legislature took place May 5th, 2015, following a request of Premier Jim Prentice to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Donald Ethell to dissolve the Legislative Assembly on April 7th, 2015.
The Provincial Election Act fixes the election to a three-month period, between March 1st and May 31th in the fourth calendar year after the preceding election day - in this case, April 23th, 2012. However, the Act does not affect the powers of the Crown; namely, the Lieutenant Governor's power to dissolve the Legislature before this period. The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCs) had a majority in the outgoing Assembly.
As a result of the election, the Wildrose Party was elected to a minority government under Cruz. It marked the first time the party formed a government, and marked the first minority government in Alberta history. On May 8th, Cruz and the Wildrose Party entered into a formal agreement with the Alberta Party and the Progressive-Conservative Party, where the two opposition parties agreed to support the Cruz government on all confidence motions and budgetary legislation for at least three years.
Premiership of Alberta[]
First Cabinet[]
Swearing-In[]
Cruz was sworn-in as the 17th Premier of Alberta along with his cabinet on May 24, 2015. When he took office he ended Alberta's streak of majority governments. His 17-member cabinet is the smallest in the country, containing only 20% of the legislature's members. The slimmed down cabinet was met with a mixed response from pundits; some said it showed the Wildrose Party's lack of experienced people while others felt that it brought a much needed sense of economy and individual importance to the various positions.
The swearing-in ceremony was an unusually public event, held on the steps of the Alberta Legislature Building in front of a large crowd of spectators while a band played the national anthem, while free popsicles and food were distributed from food trucks. The ceremony cost $21,322; more expensive than the swearing-in ceremonies of the previous two premiers, but still less than the expenditure for the swearing-in of Alison Redford in 2011. The Wildrose Party was criticized for using the event as a part of its party fundraising, for which they later apologized.
Speech from the Throne[]
The government's first throne speech was read by newly-appointed Lieutenant-Governor Lois Mitchell on June 15th, 2015. The speech announced two bills intended to ban corporate and union donations to political parties, ending the flat tax rate that had been in place since the premiership of Ralph Klein. Both of these proposals were promised as part of the Wildrose Party's election platform. The same day, Cruz announced the creation of a 12-member committee, including Alberta Party leader Greg Clark, tasked to look into ways to improve government accountability in areas such as whistle blower protections, electioneering, and conflicts of interest.
2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire[]
Residents flee the wildfire.
In May 2016 a wildfire devastated the township of Fort McMurray, destroying approximately 2,400 homes and buildings and forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Albertan history. In October 2016 Cruz surveyed the construction site of the first rebuilt home since the permission to return was granted.
Australia, Israel, Mexico, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, the Republic of China, and the United States offered international assistance in battling the fire, though the offers were turned down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau said that while the offers were appreciated, they were unnecessary as firefighters from other Canadian provinces were gaining control of the situation.
Cruz spent time in the national and international spotlight when he lambasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government and his handling of the federal response to the wildfire, calling it "shameful, cowardly, and cruel."
Opioid Epidemic[]
As Premier, Cruz has tasked his government with combating the opioid epidemic in the province. Cruz, whose sister Miriam died of a drug overdose in 2011, called the epidemic “a tragedy we’re seeing across the country.”
Cruz has launched the "Families and Communities Together" initiative to raise awareness of the epidemic and implore a stronger community response as opposed to a government response, saying:
“The solution to this is going to come at the provincial and local level. It’s going to come from the church, it’s going to come from charities, it’s going to come from friends and families and loved ones stepping forward.”
Cruz has additionally proposed and signed legislation to expand drug testing of unemployment benefit applicants.
2016 Albertan Parliamentary Dispute[]
Opposition leader Rachel Notley, NDP (since 2015)
On September 6th, 2016, Cruz announced that he would be switching his party affiliation to the Conservative Party, in order to run in the federal leadership election in 2017.
Opposition leader Rachel Notley, of the NDP, introduced a motion of no confidence on September 8th. Two Progressive Conservative MLAs joined the Liberals and New Democrats in supporting the motion, violating a previous agreement between their party and the Cruz government.
Cruz requested from Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell a week-long prorogation of the Legislative Assembly, which she granted.
The Legislative Assembly reconvened on September 19, and the motion of no confidence was put to a vote. The Cruz government was sustained by a razor-thin 45-42 vote. As a result, Cruz reshuffled his cabinet, leading a coalition government of the Wildrose Party and the Progressive Conservatives. In doing so, he became the first Premier in Canadian history to run a government primarily comprised of a party other than his own.
2017 Conservative Party Leadership Election[]
Main Article: Conservative Party of Canada Leadership Election, 2017 (The More Things Changed)
Cruz's platform established him as a social conservative, opposing both same-sex marriage and abortion. Cruz further proposed testing applicants for citizenship on their "their understanding and appreciation of Canada's core values." However, he proposed a path to "legal status" for undocumented immigrants. He also proposed pulling Canada out of the United Nations firearms marking standardization, and making his "Families and Communities Together" a national initiative.
Cruz ultimately came in second place, losing to fellow Albertan Nimrata "Nikki" Pedersen.
One Canada and Cabinet Reshuffling[]
Logo of One Canada (2018-Present)
Main Article: One Canada (The More Things Changed)
Following his defeat in the Conservative leadership election, Cruz consulted with the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party and his former Wildrose Party. On June 5th, Cruz announced the merger of the parties into a new, nationwide political party - One Canada. He announced a "Canadian conversation tour" across the country, to thank voters for support of his Conservative leadership bid and to shore up support for the nascent party.
Pierre Lemieux, representing Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Ontario, has been named Deputy Leader. He had previously ran in the Conservative leadership election before endorsing Cruz and joining the One Canada leadership.
Following the announcement, Ric McIver, Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, resigned his post, saying his loyalty was to the Progressive Conservatives. Dave Schneider of Little Bow, who held the post before McIver under Cruz's First Cabinet, returned to the office as the Premier announced the creation of his Third Cabinet. Ministers were formally appointed on June 7th. Minister of Energy Donna Kennedy-Glans, also a Progressive Conservative, likewise resigned, citing a "polarizing" political climate in the province. She was replaced by Glenn van Dijken, of Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock.
Greg Clark, Leader of the centrist Alberta Party and Minister of Environment and Parks, resigned and was replaced by Leela Aheer, of Chestermere-Rocky View. About the Wildrose/PC merger, Clark stated "What we are seeing today isn’t a merger but a hostile takeover."
With the merger, Cruz became the only Premier in Canadian history to serve as a member of three political parties within a single term.
30th Alberta General Election[]
The 30th Alberta Legislative Assembly
Despite holding a plurality in the Assembly, the Cruz government did not have enough to sustain a majority or prevent a vote of no confidence. On July 10th, 2017, Cruz asked Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell for a prorogation of the Assembly, which was granted.
The 30th Alberta General election was held Thursday, September 14th, 2017. One Canada received a majority of the vote and a majority of the seats. The Fourth Cruz Cabinet took office on Monday, September 18th.
Fourth Cabinet[]
2017 Election Amendment Act[]
The 2017 Election Amendment Act repealed the 2011 Election Amendment Act, and instituted fixed-date elections for the Legislative Assembly. Under the new act, provincial elections are set for five years following the previous election.
Government Accountability Act[]
Main Article: Government Accountability Act (The More Things Changed)
The Government Accountability Act dramatically reduced the scope of the Cabinet and provincial government programs. The Assembly passed the GAA on Monday, October 16th.
During the 30th Albertan general election, Premier Cruz said:
“We should shrink the size and power of the federal government by every and any means possible. What does that mean? That means eliminating unnecessary or unconstitutional agencies.”
He specifically targeted five agencies: the Education Ministry, the Energy Ministry, Alberta Municipal Affairs, Environment and Parks Ministry, and ATB Financial.
Trade Missions[]
Prasad Panda
Since becoming Premier, Cruz has made trade a crucial part of his tenure; a critic of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trade policies, he has positioned himself as a sharper critic of the Government's policies than rival and one-time party colleague Nikki Pederson.
Several of his trade missions have been to the United States, particularly to the states of North Dakota, Texas, Louisiana, and Illinois, where petroleum - one of Alberta's most plentiful resources - is refined and distributed. In 2017 alone, trade missions generated over $510 million in revenue and investment for the province.
Premier Cruz and Senator Jindal
The trade mission that garnered the most amount of coverage, by far, was his meeting with U.S. Senator Bobby Jindal, to discuss shale petroleum exports from Alberta to refinement in Louisiana, and thereon exported from the Gulf of Mexico across the globe. In addition, Cruz and Jindal helped institute a Twinning Relationship - analogous to sister cities - between Alberta and Louisiana.
Cabinets of Alberta[]
First Cabinet[]
| Portfolio | Minister | Appointment Date | Riding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of Alberta President of Executive Council |
Felito Cruz | May 24, 2015 | Edmonton-Southwest |
| Deputy Premier of Alberta Minister of Health |
Drew Barnes | May 24, 2015 | Cypress-Medicine Hat |
| Minister of Infrastructure Minister of Transportation |
Dave Schneider | May 24, 2015 | Little Bow |
| Minister of Education | Mark Smith | May 24, 2015 | Drayton Valley-Devon |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade |
Prasad Panda | May 24, 2015 | Calgary-Foothills |
| Minister of Finance President of Treasury Board |
Derek Fildebrandt | May 24, 2015 | Strathmoore-Brooks |
| Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General | Scott Cyr | May 24, 2015 | Bonnyville-Cold Lake |
| Minister of Environment and Parks | Todd Loewen | May 24, 2015 | Grande Praire-Smoky |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development | Rick Strankman | May 24, 2015 | Drumheller-Stettler |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Pat Stier | May 24, 2015 | Livingstone-Macleod |
| Minister of Energy | Leela Aheer | May 24, 2015 | Chestermere-Rocky View |
| Minister of Human Services and Status of Women | Angela Pitt | May 24, 2015 | Airdrie |
| Minister for Seniors | Tany Yao | February 2, 2016 | Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo |
| Minister of Aboriginal Relations | Dave Hanson | May 24, 2015 | Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills |
| Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training, Labour & Red Tape Reduction | Grant Hunter | February May 24, 2015 | Cardston-Taber-Warner |
| Minister of Service Alberta | Wayne Anderson | May 24, 2015 | Highwood |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | Ron Orr | May 24, 2015 | Lacome-Panoka |
| Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education | Wes Taylor | February 2, 2016 | Battle River-Wainwright |
Second Cabinet[]
| Portfolio | Minister | Appointment Date | Riding | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of Alberta President of Executive Council |
Felito Cruz | May 24, 2015 | Edmonton-Southwest | Conservative |
| Deputy Premier Minister of Health |
Drew Barnes | September 19, 2016 | Cypress-Medicine Hat | Wildrose |
| Deputy Premier Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation |
Ric McIver | September 19, 2016 | Calgary-Hays | Conservative |
| Minister of Education | Mark Smith | September 19, 2016 | Drayton Valley-Devon | Wildrose |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade |
Jason Kenney | May 24, 2015 | Calgary Midnapore | Conservative |
| Minister of Finance President of Treasury Board |
Derek Fildebrandt | September 19, 2016 | Strathmoore-Brooks | Wildrose |
| Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General | Scott Cyr | May 24, 2015 | Bonnyville-Cold Lake | Wildrose |
| Minister of Environment and Parks | Greg Clark | September 19, 2016 | Calgary-Elbow | Alberta Party |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development | Rick Strankman | September 19, 2016 | Drumheller-Stettler | Wildrose |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Pat Stier | September 19, 2016 | Livingstone-Macleod | Wildrose |
| Minister of Energy | Donna Kennedy-Glans | September 19, 2016 | Calgary-Varsity | Conservative |
| Minister of Human Services and Status of Women | Angela Pitt | September 19, 2016 | Airdrie | Wildrose |
| Minister for Seniors | Tany Yao | September 19, 2016 | Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo | Wildrose |
| Minister of Aboriginal Relations | Dave Hanson | September 19, 2016 | Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills | Wildrose |
| Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training, Labour & Red Tape Reduction | Grant Hunter | September 19, 2016 | Cardston-Taber-Warner | Wildrose |
| Minister of Service Alberta | Wayne Anderson | September 19, 2016 | Highwood | Wildrose |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | Ron Orr | May 24, 2015 | Lacome-Panoka | Wildrose |
| Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education | Wes Taylor | September 19, 2016 | Battle River-Wainwright | Wildrose |
Third Cabinet[]
| Portfolio | Minister | Appointment Date | Riding | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of Alberta President of Executive Council |
Felito Cruz | May 24, 2015 | Edmonton-Southwest | One Canada |
| Deputy Premier Minister of Health |
Drew Barnes | June 7, 2017 | Cypress-Medicine Hat | One Canada |
| Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation | Dave Schneider | June 7, 2017 | Calgary-Hays | One Canada |
| Minister of Education | Mark Smith | June 7, 2017 | Drayton Valley-Devon | One Canada |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade |
Prasad Panda | June 7, 2017 | Calgary-Foothills | One Canada |
| Minister of Finance President of Treasury Board |
Derek Fildebrandt | September 19, 2016 | Strathmoore-Brooks | One Canada |
| Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General | Scott Cyr | June 7, 2017 | Bonnyville-Cold Lake | One Canada |
| Minister of Environment and Parks | Leela Aheer | June 7, 2017 | Chestermere-Rocky View | One Canada |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development | Rick Strankman | June 7, 2017 | Drumheller-Stettler | One Canada |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Pat Stier | June 7, 2017 | Livingstone-Macleod | One Canada |
| Minister of Energy | Glenn van Dijken | June 7, 2017 | Calgary-Varsity | One Canada |
| Minister of Human Services and Status of Women | Angela Pitt | September 19, 2016 | Airdrie | One Canada |
| Minister for Seniors | Tany Yao | June 7, 2017 | Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo | One Canada |
| Minister of Aboriginal Relations | Dave Hanson | June 7, 2017 | Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills | One Canada |
| Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training, Labour & Red Tape Reduction | Grant Hunter | June 7, 2017 | Cardston-Taber-Warner | One Canada |
| Minister of Service Alberta | Wayne Anderson | June 7, 2017 | Highwood | One Canada |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | Ron Orr | June 7, 2017 | Lacome-Panoka | One Canada |
| Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education | Wes Taylor | June 7, 2017 | Battle River-Wainwright | One Canada |
Fourth Cabinet[]
| Portfolio | Minister | Appointment Date | Riding | Party | Dissolution Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of Alberta President of Executive Council |
Felito Cruz | May 24, 2015 | Edmonton-Southwest | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Deputy Premier Minister of Health |
Drew Barnes | September 14th, 2017 | Cypress-Medicine Hat | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation | Dave Schneider | September 14th, 2017 | Calgary-Hays | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Education | Mark Smith | September 14th, 2017 | Drayton Valley-Devon | One Canada | October 15th, 2017 |
| Minister of Economic Development and Trade |
Prasad Panda | September 14th, 2017 | Calgary-Foothills | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Finance President of Treasury Board |
Derek Fildebrandt | September 14th, 2017 | Strathmoore-Brooks | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General | Scott Cyr | September 14th, 2017 | Bonnyville-Cold Lake | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Environment and Parks | Leela Aheer | September 14th, 2017 | Chestermere-Rocky View | One Canada | October 15th, 2017 |
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development | Rick Strankman | June 7, 2017 | Drumheller-Stettler | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Pat Stier | September 14th, 2017 | Livingstone-Macleod | One Canada | October 15th, 2017 |
| Minister of Energy | Glenn van Dijken | June 7, 2017 | Calgary-Varsity | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Human Services and Status of Women | Angela Pitt | September 14th, 2017 | Airdrie | One Canada | October 15th, 2017 |
| Minister for Seniors | Tany Yao | June 7, 2017 | Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Aboriginal Relations | Dave Hanson | September 14th, 2017 | Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training, Labour & Red Tape Reduction | Grant Hunter | June 7, 2017 | Cardston-Taber-Warner | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Service Alberta | Wayne Anderson | September 14th, 2017 | Highwood | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Culture and Tourism | Ron Orr | September 14th, 2017 | Lacome-Panoka | One Canada | Not dissolved |
| Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education | Wes Taylor | September 14th, 2017 | Battle River-Wainwright | One Canada | Not dissolved |
Leader of One Canada[]
Policy and Organizing[]
One Canada, according to Cruz, espouses "courageous conservatism." In his speech announcing the start of the new political party, Cruz stated:
"I want to talk to you this morning about reigniting the promise of Canada: fifty-seven years ago, the great public servant John Diefenbaker said that as Canadians, we are 'free to choose those who shall govern our country.' I want to ask each of you to imagine, imagine millions of courageous conservatives, all across Canada, rising up together to say in unison “we choose who shall govern.”
One Canada is currently the majority party in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; in all other provinces, it is a minority party, only forming a government in Ontario. Implementation of the Government Accountability Act on a national scale is one of the stated key goals of the party.
Criticism of the Trudeau Government[]
See Also: Arctic Status Agreement (The More Things Changed)
Although the Conservatives remain the Official Opposition, One Canada has often become the leading voice for opposition against policies where the Liberals and Conservatives are in agreement. The proposed Arctic Status Agreement, in particular, has emerged as a flashpoint in Canadian politics. While Prime Minister Trudeau has rallied public support for the ASA, in conjunction with Nikki Pedersen's Conservatives, One Canada has strongly opposed the agreement, with Cruz calling it a “corrupt” backdoor deal between Parliamentary leaders and 24 Sussex.
Federal Election[]
Cruz led the One Canada in the 43rd Canadian general election, which saw his party win a plurality of seats and position himself to succeed Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada.
Prime Minister of Canada[]
Main Article: Premiership of Felito Cruz (The More Things Changed)
Felito Cruz and the rest of his Cabinet were sworn in by Governor General Julie Payette on December 5th, 2019.
His premiership has seen the pursuit of an enforcement network for the Arctic Status Agreement, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, the early establishment of CANZUK, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2021, Governor General Julie Payette resigned her position, following the conclusion of a workplace review that found she had "created a toxic, verbally abusive workplace." Cruz's attempt to replace Payette with the controversial retired General Lewis Mackenzie was met with widespread outcry, leading to Conservative Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nikki Pedersen withdrawing her support for the coalition government. In the snap election on June 21st, 2021, One Canada again won a plurality of seats and Cruz was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister.