Dan Williams (Canadian politician)

Dan Williams ECA MLA is a Canadian politician who has been the Alberta Minister of Mental Health and Addiction since 2023. He was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Peace River in the 30th Alberta Legislature.^[1][2] He was re-elected in the 2023 Alberta general election.^[3]

As of March 2023^[update], Dan Williams was Deputy Government Whip as well as Chair of the Standing Committee on Private Bills. He also was the Deputy Chair of the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services and was a member of the Building Communities Cabinet Policy Committee.^[4][5] He had previously been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Culture and for la Francophonie, Deputy Chair of the Select Special Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner Search Committee as well as a member of the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.^[4]

As of March 2023^[update] Dan Williams had sponsored four bills as MLA. These being Bill 207; Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act, Bill 217; Polish-Canadian Heritage Day Act, Bill Pr1; The Sisters of the Precious Blood of Edmonton Repeal Act, and Bill 202; Alberta Personal Income Tax (Charitable and Other Gifts) Amendment Act.^[4]

He resides in La Crete with his wife, Maureen, where he worked at Knelsen Sand & Gravel.^[4]

In 2019 Williams said he supported immediately repealing the provincial carbon tax and reducing regulations to create the fastest regulatory approval process in North America.^[6] He also supported a one-third reduction in the corporate tax to promote economic growth. In January 2019, he appeared at a pro-resource rally where he stated, “We are not at all ashamed to defend (the oil and gas) industry, to defend the way we make a living and have for generations in this province.”^{[7][unreliable source?]}

In 2019 he was in favour of reducing the rural crime rate through additional funding to the criminal justice system and strategic reforms to avoid suspected criminals escaping the justice system without a trial.^[8]

Williams supports school choice and is opposed to abortion.^[9]

On March 15, 2023, to show his support for the Royal Canadian Legion, Dan Williams drank a beer while the Alberta Legislature was in session as he was giving his remarks. As Speaker Cooper described, the action was in violation of government procedures.^[10]