Werner Schmidt

Werner George Schmidt (January 18, 1932 – March 29, 2024) was a Canadian politician, teacher, and school principal.

Werner Schmidt
Leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party
In office 1973–1975
Preceded by	James Douglas Henderson (acting)
Succeeded by	Robert Curtis Clark
Member of Parliament for Kelowna (Okanagan Centre; 1993–1997)
In office October 25, 1993 – January 23, 2006
Preceded by	Al Horning
Succeeded by	Ron Cannan
Personal details
Born	(1932-01-18)January 18, 1932 Coaldale, Alberta, Canada
Died	March 29, 2024(2024-03-29) (aged 92) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political party	Conservative (from 2004)
Other political affiliations	Reform (1993–2004) Alberta Social Credit Party (1973–1975)

Political career

Schmidt was vice-president of Lethbridge Community College when he was chosen to succeed Harry Strom as leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party following the defeat of Strom's government in 1971 despite the fact that Schmidt had never held a seat in the Alberta legislature. Schmidt defeated former Highways Minister Gordon Taylor and former Education Minister Robert Curtis Clark in an upset victory at the 1973 Alberta Social Credit leadership convention. After his leadership election, Schmidt ran in the electoral district of Calgary-Foothills in a by-election held on June 25, 1973, but was defeated by Stewart McCrae.^[1]

Under his leadership, the party won only four seats in the 1975 provincial election and Schmidt, failing to win his own seat, returned to private life.

Schmidt left Alberta and moved to British Columbia joining the Reform Party of Canada at its inception and was a member of its first Executive Council. He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1988 federal election before winning a seat in the 1993 election representing Okanagan Centre. He was re-elected in 1997 representing Kelowna. He won election again in 2000 as a Canadian Alliance MP with 60% of the vote and won his fourth straight victory in the 2004, this time as a Conservative.

As a member of Parliament, Schmidt served as Critic for Industry, Critic for Public Works and Government Services and Critic for Seniors. He has also been a member of several Standing Committees including the Standing Committee on Industry, the Standing Committee on Finance, and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

He served as Caucus Chair of the Canadian Alliance and Caucus Vice Chair when the party became the Conservative Party of Canada.

Schmidt retired from politics with the dissolution of parliament for the 2006 federal election. He died in Edmonton on March 29, 2024, at the age of 92.^[2][3]

Electoral history

v t e 2004 Canadian federal election: Kelowna—Lake Country
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Conservative	Werner Schmidt	25,553	48.0	-19.7	$61,185
	Liberal	Vern Nielsen	14,109	26.5	+2.7	$58,986
	New Democratic	Starleigh Grass	8,954	16.8	+10.5	$14,000
	Green	Kevin Ade	3,903	7.3	–	$4,993
	Marijuana	Huguette Plourde	447	0.8	–
	Canadian Action	Michael Cassidyne-Hook	271	0.5	-1.6
Total valid votes			53,237	100.0
Total rejected ballots			159	0.3	-0.1
Turnout			53,396	62.1	-1.9

Note: Conservative vote is compared to the total of the Canadian Alliance vote and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000 election.

v t e 2000 Canadian federal election: Kelowna—Lake Country
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Alliance	Werner Schmidt	33,810	59.5	+9.5	$44,990
	Liberal	Joe Leask	13,564	23.9	+1.5	$46,876
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Mallo	4,708	8.3	-8.5	$9,791
	New Democratic	John O. Powell	3,572	6.3	-1.3	$9,493
	Canadian Action	Jack W. Peach	1,199	2.1	–	$3,652
Total valid votes			56,853	100.0
Total rejected ballots			223	0.4	+0.2
Turnout			57,076	64.0	+1.2

Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.

v t e 1997 Canadian federal election: Kelowna—Lake Country
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Reform	Werner Schmidt	25,246	50.0	–	$48,355
	Liberal	Janna Francis	11,306	22.4	–	$32,838
	Progressive Conservative	Al Horning	8,477	16.8	–	$47,498
	New Democratic	Fred Steele	3,838	7.6	–	$11,443
	Green	David Hughes	1,612	3.2	–	$1,014
Total valid votes			50,479	100.0
Total rejected ballots			123	0.2
Turnout			50,602	62.8