Doug Griffiths

Doug Griffiths
Former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office 2004–2015
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Wes Taylor
Constituency	Battle River-Wainwright
In office 2002–2004
Preceded by	Robert Fischer
Succeeded by	Riding abolished
Constituency	Wainwright
Personal details
Born	(1972-10-26) October 26, 1972 Coronation, Alberta
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s)	Sue
Children	Austin and Brady
Residence	Ardrossan, Alberta
Alma mater	University of Alberta
Occupation	Teacher, speaker, author
Website	www.13ways.ca

Douglas "Doug" Griffiths (born October 26, 1972) is the president and chief executive officer of 13 Ways, Inc., a company he founded to provide consultation to struggling North American communities. He is a public speaker and co-author of the book 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, now in its second edition, and is an instructor with the Executive Education program at the University of Alberta School of Business.

Griffiths is a former Canadian politician and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Battle River-Wainwright as a Progressive Conservative (PC). He was a candidate for the leadership of the PC Party in the 2011 leadership election. He has since taken a step back from provincial politics, in favour of his role with 13 Ways and his teaching duties.

13 Ways, Inc.

13 Ways began as a book, and has since developed into a consulting company and a speaking tour series delivered across North America. The book is written in a satirical style, with a "straight-shooting, no-punches-pulled approach" detailing the various ways in which one might kill a community; ie. through failure to provide clean water, reliable Internet services, and a place where youth will return to raise families and retire. The concept has since branched out and now incorporates a speaking series, syndicated columns, blog, and newsletter, in addition to offering consultation to struggling communities.

Education

Griffiths attended the University of Alberta, where he earned an honours degree in philosophy and an education degree. After university, he taught for three years at Byemoor School], in the County of Stettler No. 6. He was nominated for a teaching award each year, including two nominations for the PanCanadian Students' Choice Award.

Political career

Griffiths received 79 per cent of the vote in Battle River-Wainwright during the 2008 provincial election, sending him to the Legislature for his third term. In addition to his duties as an MLA, he has served as Parliamentary Assistant for the Department of Finance and Enterprise and is currently a member of the Public Accounts Committee and Health Committee.

Griffiths was first elected in a by-election for the Wainwright constituency on April 8, 2002, after former incumbent Robert Fischer resigned amidst a conflict-of-interest investigation by the Ethics Commissioner. Then 29, Griffiths was the youngest MLA in office at the time.

The Wainwright boundaries changed for the 2004 provincial election, creating the current Battle River-Wainwright constituency, which Griffiths won with support from 65 per cent of the voters.

During his tenure as MLA, Griffiths was the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and has been involved in numerous committees and has chaired the Standing Committee on Energy and Sustainable Development, Rural Development Strategies Task Force, MLA Steering Committee for Rural Development, and was vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

On October 12, 2011 Griffiths was appointed Minister of Alberta Municipal Affairs by Premier Alison Redford.

Griffiths was reelected in the April 23, 2012 provincial election as an incumbent PC candidate.

On December 13, 2013, Griffiths was sworn in as Minister of Service Alberta.

On January 26, 2015, he resigned from his position as a MLA.

Election results

Alberta provincial by-election, 2002: Wainwright
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Griffiths	2,924	44.6
	Alberta First	Jerry D. Barber	1,695	25.9
	Liberal	Horst Schreiber	1,114	17.0
	Social Credit	Robin Skitteral	519	7.9
	New Democratic	Lilas Lysne	227	3.5
	Green	Colleen Biggs	73	1.1
Turnout			6,552	33.6

Alberta general election, 2004: Battle River-Wainwright
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Griffiths	6,406	65.02%
	Alberta Alliance	Orest Werezak	1,442	14.64%
	Liberal	Gordon Rogers	1,069	10.85%
	New Democratic	Len Legault	616	6.25%
	Social Credit	Robin Skitteral	320	3.24%
Total			9,853
Rejected, spoiled and declined			45
Eligible electors / Turnout			20,368	48.60%
Source: "Battle River-Wainwright Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved January 29, 2012.

Alberta general election, 2008: Battle River-Wainwright
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Griffiths	7,968	78.56%	13.54%
	Liberal	Horst Schreiber	1,260	12.43%	1.58%
	Green	Will Munsey	483	4.76%
	New Democratic	Doris Bannister	431	4.25%	-2.00%
Total			10,142
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined			148
Eligible Electors / Turnout			22,343	46.06%
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		7.55%
Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-Seventh Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections Alberta. pp. 368–371.

Alberta general election, 2012: Battle River-Wainwright
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive Conservative	Doug Griffiths	7,205	46.71%
	Wildrose	Dave Nelson	6,710	43.50%
	New Democratic	Terry Zawalski	775	5.02%
	Liberal	Amber Greenleese	469	3.04%
	Alberta Party	Midge Lambert	265	1.72%