Lyle Knute Oberg ECA (born 6 January 1960) is an Albertan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly. He is also a physician and business executive.
The Honourable Lyle Oberg | |
|---|---|
| MLA for Strathmore-Brooks | |
| In office 11 March 1997 – 3 March 2008 | |
| Preceded by | district created |
| Succeeded by | Arno Doerksen |
| MLA for Bow Valley | |
| In office 1993–1997 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Musgrove |
| Succeeded by | district abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lyle Knute Oberg 6 January 1960 near Forestburg, Alberta |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative (1993–2011) Wildrose (2011–present) |
Life and career
editOberg was born near Forestburg, Alberta in 1960.[1] A physician by profession, Oberg was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta as a Progressive Conservative in 1993. He was first appointed to the Alberta Cabinet in 1997 and served numerous posts. Oberg was appointed Minister of Family and Social Services in March 1997.[2] Over the next two years, he oversaw the move of children's services and services for persons with developmental disabilities to community-based delivery. He launched a western Canadian initiative to address Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and implemented an interprovincial strategy to share resources and develop new and better approaches for addressing FAS. As part of the Alberta Children's Agenda, he introduced the Alberta Child Health Benefit Program and played a key role in the development of the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act.
On 26 May 1999, Oberg was appointed Minister of Learning,[3] a post he held until November 2004. During this appointment, he awarded a 14% increase to Alberta's teachers but only granted a 6% increase to the school boards.[4] To cover this funding shortfall, Calgary school boards took funding from school maintenance leading to issues with school roofs collapsing [5] During that time, he also served as a member of Treasury Board and as the Minister responsible for immigration. Oberg was an active member of the Canadian Ministers of Education and led the Canadian delegation to an International Group of Eight (G8) Education Ministers meeting. He oversaw the creation of Alberta's Commission on Learning and implemented many of its recommendations, including the reduction of provincial class sizes. He began the second language initiative in Alberta schools to give students an edge in the world marketplace and initiated the development of the daily physical activity program to improve the health of Alberta students.
Following his re-election in the 22 November 2004 election, Oberg was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.[6]
On 22 March 2006, shortly after announcing his resignation from his ministerial position following a directive from Premier Ralph Klein to all ministers running to replace him, Oberg was removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus after making comments at a Strathmore-Brooks Constituency Association annual general meeting urging the membership to vote their conscience in a crucial leadership vote at the March 2006 AGM of the party.[7][8] He was re-admitted to caucus on 25 July 2006.[9]
On 19 June 2006, Oberg entered the race for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in Alberta.[10] He failed to place in the top three in the 25 November first ballot (he placed fourth), and thus was not eligible for the second ballot to be held on 2 December.[11] Oberg's allegations of scandal on front runner Jim Dinning in the summer of 2006 appeared to have had a negative effect on his campaign.[12] He later threw his support to third-place finisher and eventual winner Ed Stelmach.[13]
On 15 December 2006, Oberg was named Minister of Finance in Premier Ed Stelmach's cabinet.[14]
Oberg announced in December 2007 that he would not seek re-election in the next election in March 2008.[15][16]
On 2 June 2010, Oberg opened C2DNA in Edmonton, the first private DNA testing facility in Canada. He founded the lab with his brother and other investors. He stepped down as president and CEO the following day to avoid any conflict over a medical doctor being involved with such a high tech company, but said he would remain an advisor.[17]
On 1 March 2011, Oberg announced that he was joining the right-wing Wildrose Alliance Party.[18] He said he would not be running for office but would participate in an advisory role to party leader Danielle Smith. He cited the Conservative government's decision to abolish the multiple health districts in Alberta and replace them with an Edmonton-based super board, and the recently announced deficit budget, the fourth in as many years, as his reason for the switch.[citation needed]
In November 2023, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Oberg as the new chair of the board of Alberta Health Services.[19]
After politics
editHe is chief executive officer of MYND Life Sciences Inc., a Canadian company that has developed biomarker test technology which will be used in a clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.[20] He has also served on the boards of other companies.[21][22]
References
edit- ^ "PROV - The 'free thinker' who would be premier: Lyle Oberg has always reached his goals at a tender age". 15 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
- ^ "Alberta cabinet features more from new era". The Globe and Mail. 27 March 1997.
- ^ "Meet Alberta's new minister of learning". ATA News. 1999–2000. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Tom Barrett, Edmonton Journal, April 9, 2003".
- ^ "Union head says other Calgary schools have roof problems". CBC News. 16 March 2006.
- ^ "Klein names new Cabinet, reorganizes some portfolios". Government of Alberta. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Alta. cabinet minister kicked out of caucus for leadership remarks". CBC News. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Oberg to sit as independent". Edmonton Journal. 24 March 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Klein Tories welcome back ousted Oberg". Edmonton Journal. 26 July 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Oberg launches Conservative leadership campaign". CBC News. 19 June 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Two defeated candidates back Stelmach to replace Klein". CBC News. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Dinning support up after Oberg's attack". Edmonton Journal. 1 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Oberg becomes 2nd defeated candidate to back Stelmach in Alberta Tory race". Calgary Herald. 26 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Stelmach names smaller cabinet". CBC News. 15 December 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Won't seek re-election, Oberg tells caucus colleagues". CBC News. 7 December 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ Loome, Jeremy (11 December 2007). "Oberg leaves without emptying his closet". Edmonton Sun. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2007.
- ^ "Oberg steps down as CEO of DNA testing clinic". CBC News. 3 June 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Oberg joining Wildrose Alliance". CBC News. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
- ^ "Former cabinet minister to chair new AHS board in health-care overhaul," Cindy Tran, Edmonton Journal. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/former-minister-chairs-ahs-health-care-board-in-overhaul
- ^ Mynd Life Sciences Inc. "MYND Diagnostics Inc. Announces Participation in a Monash University (Australia) Proposal for $3 Million Clinical Trial". Canada Newswire (Press release). Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Lyle Oberg - Yorkville Asset Management". www.yorkvilleasset.com. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Once a Conservative cabinet minister, Oberg now sings praises of medical pot". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2021.