Derek Fildebrandt

Career with the CTF

In 2009, Fildebrandt was hired as the National Research Director (NRD) of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. As NRD, Fildebrandt published studies on public sector and politician pension reform, federal debt and expenditure reduction programs, and federal balanced budget plans.

In 2012, Fildebrandt moved to Calgary when he was promoted to the post of Alberta Director. In that role, Fildebrandt became a vocal critic of former Alberta Premier Alison Redford's fiscal policies and corruption. Fildebrandt regularly used Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation to obtain and release documents that were damaging to the PC government. On several occasions, Fildebrandt released sole-sourced contracts from the Progressive Conservative government to businesses closely related to the party as part of a campaign to reform public-sector procurement and accountability legislation.

In December 2012, Fildebrandt released the expense claims of a majority of cabinet ministers, resulting in the firing of one minister and an overhaul of expense policies. Fildebrandt helped the PC government draft new expense disclosure policies for MLAs and public sector employees, dubbing the new process the "gold-standard" for other jurisdictions to follow.

Fildebrandt campaigned for a so-called 'sunshine list' that would disclose all government employee salaries, severance payments and pension eligibilities. Controversy ensued in October 2013 when the Redford government refused to disclose to the severance payment of $130,000 made to her former Chief of Staff, Stephen Carter in an FOI request made by Fildebrandt. The controversy was used by the CTF to successfully campaign for a government sunshine list months later.

In February 2014, Fildebrandt released the CTF's balanced budget plan calling for $2.4 billion in spending cuts to business subsidies and the bureaucracy. In May 2014 he spoke out about buyout payments to political appointees. Fildebrandt was a conservative critic of former PC Premier Jim Prentice, calling him a “tax and spend liberal.” During the Alberta PC leadership race, Fildebrandt filed Freedom of Information requests for Jim Prentice's federal expense records, releasing them in September 2014. This came after controversy about alleged irregularities in the destruction of the records.

Fildebrandt was credited by the Calgary Sun with playing a significant role in the downfall of former Alberta Premier, Alison Redford and former Alberta Finance Minister, Doug Horner. Fildebrandt's term as Alberta Director of the CTF ended in November 2014.

Political career

Following the defection of Danielle Smith to the Progressive Conservatives, Fildebrandt was named by the Calgary Sun as a potential candidate for the Wildrose Party leadership. Fildebrandt considered seeking the leadership, but opted instead to support Brian Jean.

On January 26, 2015, Fildebrandt announced that he would seek the Wildrose nomination in Strathmore-Brooks. He was named as the candidate on February 6, 2015. During the 2015 General Election, Fildebrandt played a prominent role in the Wildrose campaign. In response to PC challenges to the Wildrose’s budget plan, Fildebrandt challenged Finance Minister Robin Campbell to a debate, which Campbell refused.

On May 5, 2015, Fildebrandt was elected as the MLA for Strathmore-Brooks with one of the largest margins for an opposition MLA in the province.

On May 11, 2015 Fildebrandt was appointed Shadow Finance Minister in the Wildrose Official Opposition Cabinet.

Fildebrandt has advocated for healthcare and seniors care infrastructure in his constituency. Fildebrandt is one of the most outspoken opposition MLAs, regularly attacking the NDP for tax increases, deficit spending and its relationship with public sector unions.

In June 2015, Fildebrandt became the first Alberta MLA to attend the Strathmore Gay Rodeo. Fildebrandt supported libertarian Maxime Bernier for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership in 2017.

Fildebrandt was an advocate for the creation of the United Conservative Party of Alberta and was a founding member of the Party. He made several public statements throughout 2016, but most notoriously on December 14, 2016, when he broke ranks with Brain Jean and openly called for a merger of the Wildrose and PC Parties. One month later, Jean released a statement in favour of uniting the parties on the same day that Fildebrandt held a fundraiser at the Calgary Petroleum Club calling for a single united party. On May 18, 2017, Brian Jean and Jason Kenney signed an agreement in principle to create the United Conservative Party of Alberta.

In 2017, Fildebrandt launched his PAC called United Liberty which is based on Libertarian polices such as lower taxes, and less government control.

Fildebrandt publicly mused about running in the United Conservative Party Leadership Race, but ultimately decided against it, announcing he would merely endorse a candidate other than Brian Jean.

Controversies

In February 2016, Fildebrandt came under criticism for his use of his MLA expense account. Fildebrandt charged $52.30 to his expense account for a breakfast with former leader of the Reform Party of Canada Preston Manning. He was also criticised for the small size of his tip (6%).

On May 27, 2016, Wildrose leader Brian Jean suspended Fildebrandt for an indefinite period of time after Fildebrandt wrote "Proud to have constituents like you!" in response to a comment referring to Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne as "Mr Wynne", which Jean called "unacceptable." This came on the heels of an incident where Fildebrandt criticised Premier Wynne in the Alberta Legislature as Wynne sat in the gallery as a guest. Fildebrandt said he "entirely misread" the original comment. A large number of Wildrose members were upset at the move and threatened to cancel donations and membership in the party if the suspension wasn't lifted. By Tuesday May 31, Fildebrandt was reinstated into the Wildrose Caucus and as the Opposition Shadow Minister of Finance.

On March 3, 2017, Fildebrandt attracted controversy over a tweet, wherein he defined "Racist" as: "someone winning an argument with a liberal or socialist." The tweet, posted in response to criticism by NDP MLA David Shepherd, was attacked by multiple political observers, including Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi.

On August 9, 2017, various news outlets revealed that Fildebrandt was routinely renting out his taxpayer-funded Edmonton apartment on Airbnb. which allows him to receive public money while generating revenue from the private rental market.

On August 14, 2017, Alberta Party leader Greg Clark revealed that Fildebrandt had been charging meals to his MLA expense account whilst simultaneously claiming his MLA per-diem for meals. Clark claimed that Fildebrandt was effectively "double-claiming" his meals, a practice Clark claimed was in violation of the Legislative Member Service Committee Order.

On August 15, 2017, CBC News reported that Fildebrandt was charged under the provincial traffic act with leaving the scene of an accident and failing to notify the owner of the damaged vehicle, for an incident alleged to have occurred in June, 2016. He represented himself at his trial in February, 2017. It was revealed during the trial that Fildebrandt had offered to settle with the key witness just before the trial began. Following this news, Fildebrandt announced on Facebook that he would be resigning from the UCP caucus until further notice, stating that "the UCP leadership race should be focused on leadership and values, not personalities."