Provincial Politics
In 2000, following the mid-term resignation of the then leader of the New Democrats Pam Barrett of MLA Edmonton Highlands, Mason left city council and ran for the NDP in the ensuing by-election. He easily held the Legislative Assembly seat and was re-elected in the 2001 provincial election.
Mason was appointed the role of interim party leader for the NDP following the resignation of then leader Raj Pannu in July 2004. He became the official leader of Alberta's NDP on September 18, 2004, following a vote at the party convention.
Mason held his seat during the provincial election in 2004, which saw the caucus welcome the return of former leaders Pannu and Ray Martin, along with newcomer David Eggen. In the provincial election of 2008 Mason again retained his seat, and was joined in caucus by newly elected NDP MLA Rachel Notley from Edmonton-Strathcona, the seat previously held by Pannu.
During his tenure as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mason has become the outspoken champion of issues such as:
- Protecting public health care and long-term care
- Defending senior citizens
- Diversifying Alberta's economy
- Refining more bitumen in the province
- Banning political contributions from corporations and unions (like what has been done federally)
- Denouncing PC electricity deregulation
- Increasing education funding
- Regulating automobile insurance rates
Read more about this topic: Brian Mason
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