Kent Hehr is a Canadian politician and former Member of Parliament representing the Liberal Party. He became one of Calgary’s most recognizable political figures, known for both his achievements and controversies. More details on calgaryes.
Early Life and a Life-Changing Accident
Kent Hehr was born and raised in Calgary. His mother worked as a school principal, and his father served as the president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. From an early age, Kent understood the importance of public service and the significant role education plays in shaping society.
Kent was passionate about sports, particularly hockey, and planned to become a physical education teacher. During the 1989–90 season, he played for the Calgary Canucks hockey team and contributed to their Alberta Junior Hockey League championship victory. In 1991, while studying at Mount Royal College and honing his hockey skills with the college’s team, his life took a dramatic and irreversible turn. While riding in a friend’s car, Kent became the victim of a shooting, leaving him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair.
Academic Achievements and Legal Career
Although Kent’s hockey career was abruptly ended, his determination to achieve other life goals only intensified. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Canadian Studies from the University of Calgary and later completed a Bachelor of Laws. Kent’s academic success earned him recognition as the university’s “Graduate of the Decade” and one of its “Top 40 Graduates in 40 Years.”
After completing his education, Kent began his legal career at Fraser Milner Casgrain, later known as Dentons, one of Canada’s leading national law firms. He also served as the chair of the Alberta branch of the Canadian Paraplegic Association and was actively involved in several other community organizations, demonstrating his commitment to public service.
Service in Alberta’s Legislative Assembly
On March 3, 2008, Kent Hehr was elected as a Member of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly, representing the Calgary-Buffalo district. During his time in the Legislature, Kent worked to address crime issues in Alberta and served on multiple committees, including the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services, the Standing Committee on Utilities and Natural Resources, and the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
In his first year as an MLA, Kent frequently traveled across Canada to meet with veterans and their families to learn more about how the government could better support them. Kent gained a reputation for being accessible and engaged, often attending local events and listening to the concerns of his constituents. His dedication to addressing their issues earned him widespread respect as one of Alberta’s hardest-working politicians.
Kent was a strong advocate for progressive legislation in Calgary and throughout Alberta. He championed initiatives for better budget management, sustainable natural resource policies, increased funding for public education, and equality in educational opportunities for all participants.
In 2014, Kent introduced a groundbreaking bill aimed at supporting LGBTQ students by ensuring that Alberta schools allowed the formation of gay-straight alliances (GSAs). Although the bill faced significant opposition and failed to pass, it set the stage for future legislation. Six months later, a similar bill was introduced by MLA Laurie Blakeman. However, instead of allowing a vote on Blakeman’s proposal, conservative members of the Legislature introduced their own legislation, which allowed schools to decide whether to permit GSAs. The final version of the bill effectively mandated that all schools in Alberta must allow such alliances, making the province more inclusive for LGBTQ rights. Kent’s efforts were instrumental in creating an environment where this progress became possible.
Kent, whose life had been profoundly affected by gun violence, also worked tirelessly to reduce gun-related violence in Alberta. He advocated for increased police presence in Calgary’s downtown core and proposed empowering police to confiscate vehicles containing unregistered firearms. Unfortunately, this proposal faced resistance from conservative members and failed to pass into law.
Election to Parliament and Ministerial Roles
On July 17, 2014, Kent announced his candidacy as a Liberal candidate for the federal parliamentary seat in Calgary. On October 19, 2015, he narrowly defeated incumbent Joan Crockatt by a margin of 750 votes. Following his victory, Kent was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet. In August 2017, Kent was reassigned to the roles of Minister of Sport and Minister of Persons with Disabilities.
Controversies
In December 2017, Kent Hehr faced significant criticism for insensitive comments made to survivors of thalidomide, a drug linked to severe birth defects. During a meeting with affected individuals, Kent reportedly accused them of drawing too much attention to their plight.
Shortly afterward, the spouse of a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder alleged that Kent had been dismissive during a meeting in October 2016, granting her only two minutes of his time and denying financial assistance.
In November 2017, Kent was accused of using parliamentary resources to support his father’s campaign for a position on the Calgary Board of Education. In January 2018, Kristin Raworth, a government employee, alleged on Twitter that Kent had made inappropriate sexual comments to female staff during his time in Alberta’s Legislature. She claimed that his behavior made women feel unsafe, even avoiding sharing elevators with him.
In response to the allegations, Kent expressed regret if his words had offended anyone and announced his resignation from his ministerial roles. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that harassment of any kind was unacceptable and emphasized the importance of a harassment-free workplace for all Canadians.
Mayoral Campaigns
In 2010, Kent Hehr briefly considered running for mayor in Calgary’s municipal election but withdrew his candidacy a month before the vote to support Naheed Nenshi. At the time, polls indicated low support for Kent’s campaign.
In 2021, Kent announced his candidacy for Calgary mayor once again but withdrew two weeks later due to health concerns after testing positive for COVID-19. In his withdrawal statement, Kent highlighted his vision for progressive property tax reforms, free public transit, and solutions for chronic homelessness as key priorities for Calgary’s future.