30 Facts About Brian Jean

Brian Jean has served as member of the Legislative Assembly for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche since March 16,2022.

Brian Jean was leader of the Opposition and the last leader of the Wildrose Party from 2015 to 2017 before its merger into the United Conservative Party.

Brian Jean returned to political life in February 2015 when he announced that he would seek the leadership of the Wildrose Party.

Brian Jean was elected party leader on March 28,2015.

Brian Jean ceased to lead the Wildrose Party merged with the Progressive Conservatives to become the United Conservative Party in 2017 and ran to be leader of the new party, losing to Jason Kenney.

Brian Jean resigned his seat in the Alberta legislature on March 5,2018.

Brian Jean re-entered provincial politics after winning a by-election on March 16,2022.

Brian Jean finished third on the first ballot with 11 percent of the vote, ultimately losing to Danielle Smith after his elimination from the sixth and final ballot.

Brian Jean was born in Kelowna, British Columbia, and moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta, in 1967 when he was four years old.

Brian Jean has a Bachelor of Science degree from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon, and Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Bond University in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Brian Jean attended the law school at the University of Calgary, where he received qualification to be admitted to the Law Society of Alberta.

Brian Jean has worked as a farmhand, a printer's assistant, a businessperson, a lawyer, and an inspirational speaker.

Brian Jean currently sits on the advisory board of Barkuna Capital, a Calgary-based financial institution that describes itself as "More Than Merchant Banking".

Brian Jean was first elected to the House of Commons as a Conservative Party of Canada candidate in the riding of Athabasca in 2004, sitting in the Official Opposition to Paul Martin's Liberal government.

In February 2006, Brian Jean was appointed as the parliamentary secretary to minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, Lawrence Cannon.

On January 10,2014, Brian Jean announced that he would be resigning his seat on January 17,2014, to return to private life in Fort McMurray.

Brian Jean was elected party leader on March 28,2015, with 55 per cent of the vote, defeating Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes and former Strathcona County mayor Linda Osinchuk.

The 2015 Alberta election was held on May 5,2015, less than two months after Brian Jean became Wildrose leader.

Brian Jean then apologized for what he later called "an inappropriate attempt at humour" and insisted Notley cares about housing and health care for seniors.

Brian Jean led the room to applaud Notley for approving the construction of a long-term care home for seniors built in downtown Fort McMurray, an issue that former premier Ed Stelmach and PC MLA Guy Boutilier had feuded over.

On March 20,2017, Brian Jean met with Kenney to begin unity discussions.

The merger agreement formed the United Conservative Party, a leadership election occurred on October 28,2017, in which Brian Jean was defeated by Kenney, and a founding convention to be held in 2018.

Brian Jean announced his resignation from the legislature on March 5,2018.

Brian Jean said in an interview that he knew people would accuse him of being a sore loser following his defeat to Kenney, but insisted he was resigning to rebuild his home that was destroyed in 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and spend time with family, including a sister who was battling Stage 4 cancer at the time.

Brian Jean was succeeded by UCP MLA Laila Goodridge in the 2018 Fort McMurray-Conklin by-election.

Brian Jean became a vocal critic of Kenney's leadership through social media and guest columns in the Edmonton Journal.

On November 3,2021, Brian Jean announced that he would seek the UCP nomination for an upcoming by-election in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, and won this nomination contest on December 12 against Joshua Gogo, with 68 per cent of the vote.

The post was removed and Brian Jean apologized, saying the post's "unacceptable connotation" was written by an unnamed volunteer.

Brian Jean continued to criticize Kenney's leadership during the by-election campaign and accused Kenney of being too weak to defeat Rachel Notley in the 2023 Alberta general election.

Brian Jean won the March 15,2022 by-election after he openly campaigned in favour of removing Kenney from the leadership of the UCP.