INNISFAIL - Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen has resigned as Alberta’s minister of Agriculture and Forestry in the wake of a recently launched lawsuit that accuses him of “aggressively yelling” at a government staff while he was intoxicated.
In a statement released on Friday morning, Dreeshen said: “I deeply regret that this is the case, but have decided that it is best for both myself and the province to resign my position (as ag minister) and focus on my personal health and wellbeing.
“This morning, I offered Premier Jason Kenny my resignation as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and he has accepted. I accept that my personal conduct with regards to alcohol has become an issue for the government as a whole.”
Dreeshen will remain in the UCP caucus, Premier Jason Kenney said in a Friday morning press conference.
Ariella Kimmel, formerly employed as chief of staff to the minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation, has launched a $400,000 lawsuit against the Office of the Premier of Alberta.
In the suit, she alleges that in October 2020, Dreeshen “aggressively yelled at her to the point where she was in tears and a concerned bystander intervened” and that she was “shaken and scared during this encounter.”
She says Dreeshen was “heavily intoxicated” at the time.
Earlier this week the Office of the Premier announced that it has appointed a human resources expert to conduct an independent review of human resources policies for political staff in light of recent allegations outlined in the Kimmel lawsuit.
During the press conference Friday morning, Premier Kenney said, “I don’t object to members of the legislature socializing, having a social drink every now and then, but people should be mature and responsible in terms of consuming alcohol, especially in any kind of workplace environment.
“We expect all members to demonstrate maturity and responsibility and of course respect for others. Those are basic common-sense and obvious standards of conduct for anybody in a workplace.”
Olds-Three Hills-Didsbury MLA Nathan Cooper and Sundre-area MLA and Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on Dreeshen's resignation.
Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, has been named the new minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
