Arnold Viersen

Arnold Viersen MP (born May 3, 1986) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Peace River—Westlock in the 2015 Canadian federal election.[1][2]

Arnold Viersen
MP
Member of Parliament
for Peace River—Westlock
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byRiding Created
Personal details
Born (1986-05-03) May 3, 1986
Barrhead, Alberta
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Melissa Bredenhof
​
(m. 2011)​
Children5
Residence(s)Barrhead, Alberta
ProfessionMechanic

Background

Viersen attended Covenant Canadian Reformed School in Neerlandia from Grade 1 through Grade 12, and currently resides near his childhood home on an acreage in Westlock County. Before entering politics, Viersen worked as a journeyman auto mechanic.[3] He identifies as a social conservative.[4]

Career

In the 42nd Canadian Parliament, Viersen served on the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee, and was named the Official Opposition's Deputy Critic of Rural Affairs. On December 8, 2016, Viersen's Private Member's Motion (M-47) received unanimous consent in the House of Commons.[5] The official text of this motion reads: "That the Standing Committee on Health be instructed to examine the public health effects of the ease of access and viewing of online violent and degrading sexually explicit material on children, women and men, recognizing and respecting the provincial and territorial jurisdictions in this regard, and that the said Committee report its findings to the House no later than July 2017."[6] The Health Committee's ensuing study was the first Government of Canada study into the public health effects of pornography since 1985.[7]

In June 2022, after the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization overturned abortion rights from Roe v. Wade, Viersen celebrated the ruling on Facebook, calling abortion in Canada the "greatest human rights tragedy of our time."[8]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Peace River—Westlock
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeArnold Viersen41,65980.6+11.25$61,848.92
New DemocraticJennifer Villebrun3,8867.5-6.89none listed
LiberalLeslie Penny3,1486.1-6.74$5,946.81
People'sJohn Schrader1,5793.1-$4,989.63
GreenPeter Nygaard1,3772.7+0.18none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 51,649100.0
Total rejected ballots 347
Turnout 51,99670.4
Eligible voters 73,809
Conservative hold Swing +9.07
Source: Elections Canada[9][10]
2015 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeArnold Viersen34,34269.35−8.46$74,852.55
New DemocraticCameron Alexis7,12714.39+1.35$10,844.13
LiberalChris Brown6,36012.84+9.20$6,504.94
GreenSabrina Lee Levac1,2472.52−1.34–
LibertarianJeremy Sergeew4430.89–$108.02
Total valid votes/Expense limit 49,519100.00 $259,766.62
Total rejected ballots 1700.34–
Turnout 49,68965.93–
Eligible voters 75,362
Conservative hold Swing −4.90
Source: Elections Canada[11][12]

References
  1. Arnold Viersen – Parliament of Canada biography
  2. "Arnold Viersen elected as first MP for new riding of Peace River-Westlock". Edmonton Journal. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. Katie Richard (October 2, 2019). "Peace River-Westlock Conservative Candidate: Arnold Viersen". Reach 96.3 FM.
  4. Charlebois, Kathleen (September 3, 2015). "Twenty-nine year old Arnold Viersen leads the Conservative Party in Peace River-Westlock". Whitecourt Star. Postmedia. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. "M-47 Instruction to the Standing Committee on Health (Violent and sexual online material) 42nd Parliament, 1st Session - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada".
  6. "M-47 Instruction to the Standing Committee on Health (Violent and sexual online material) 42nd Parliament, 1st Session - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada".
  7. Thompson, Elizabeth (December 13, 2016). "Commons committee to study health effects of violent online pornography". CBC News. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  8. "'It feels so good': Alberta MP celebrates overturning of Roe v. Wade". CTV News. June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  9. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  10. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  11. "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Peace River—Westlock (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  12. Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2015-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
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