David Yurdiga

Yurdiga entered politics in 2007 when he was acclaimed to Athabasca County's council as a representative of the hamlet of Grassland. He was named deputy reeve in 2008 and then served as reeve from 2009 to 2013.

On January 10, 2014, Brian Jean announced he was resigning as the Conservative Party's Member of Parliament for the riding Fort McMurray—Athabasca to return to private life in Fort McMurray.{{Cite news |last=Wingrove |first=Josh |date=2014-01-10 |title=Conservative MP representing oil sands resigns |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-mp-representing-oil-sands-resigns/article16285025/ |access-date=2022-07-06}} Yurdiga resigned from Athabasca County's council after party members selected Yurdiga to replace Jean.{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2014 |title=Yurdiga resigns as county councillor |url=https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/athabasca-news/yurdiga-resigns-as-county-councillor-1865858 |access-date= |website=TownAndCountryToday.com (formerly Athabasca Advocate) |language=en}} Yurdiga was elected during the 2014 by-election. In the 2015 federal election, he was elected to the newly formed riding of Fort McMurray-Cold Lake and re-elected in 2019.

Yurdiga was appointed as the party’s critic for Northern Affairs by interim Conservative Party Leader Rona Ambrose on November 20, 2015.{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Cullen |date=November 20, 2015 |title=David Yurdiga named Northern Affairs Critic |work=Fort McMurray Today |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/11/20/david-yurdiga-named-northern-affairs-critic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506151618/https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/11/20/david-yurdiga-named-northern-affairs-critic |archive-date=May 6, 2016}} He held the position until August 30, 2017, when Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer appointed Cathy McLeod to the position.{{Cite news |last=Zimonjic |first=Peter |date=August 30, 2017 |title=Andrew Scheer unveils full shadow cabinet leaving Kellie Leitch off front bench |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-shadow-cabinet-critics-roles-scheer-1.4268741 }} Yurdiga was unharmed during the 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill.{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2014 |title=Local MP confirms he is alright, Parliament on lockdown after shooting |url=https://www.townandcountrytoday.com/athabasca-news/local-mp-confirms-he-is-alright-parliament-on-lockdown-after-shooting-2-1866431 |access-date= |website=TownAndCountryToday.com (formerly Athabasca Advocate) |language=en}}

Yurdiga subsequently endorsed Pierre Poilievre in the 2022 Conservative leadership election. He endorsed Peter MacKay during the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=August 24, 2020 |title=Yurdiga praises leadership results as local Conservatives backed O'Toole |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-praises-party-leadership-results-as-local-party-members-backed-otoole |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}} He endorsed Kellie Leitch during the 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=August 27, 2018 |title=Yurdiga, Goodridge reject Bernier, praise pipeline support at Conservative convention |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-goodridge-reject-bernier-praise-pipeline-support-at-conservative-convention |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

Yurdiga joined the rest of the Conservative caucus as a vocal supporter of pipeline construction and oil sands production.

He was a critic of gun control legislation in Canada. In March 2021, he launched a failed petition to ban MPs from mentioning the term "assault rifle" in the House of Commons, telling Fort McMurray Today that the term "is a scare tactic used by the current government to demonize all guns.”{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Yurdiga launches petition banning the term 'assault rifle' in House of Commons |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/yurdiga-launches-petition-banning-the-term-assault-rifle-in-house-of-commons |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

He pushed for more supports for people with episodic disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Yurdiga pushes for legislative changes on Multiple Sclerosis and episodic illnesses |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-pushes-for-legislative-changes-on-multiple-sclerosis-and-episodic-illnesses |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}} He also partnered with Green Party leader Elizabeth May in lobbying for the fast-tracking of a cystic fibrosis medication that, at the time, had yet to be approved for use in Canada.{{Cite web |last=Williscraft |first=Sarah |date=July 27, 2020 |title=Yurdiga calls for fast tracking approval of cystic fibrosis drug |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-calls-for-fast-tracking-approval-of-cystic-fibrosis-drug |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

His votes on social issues were mixed throughout his political career. Yurdiga voted in favour of banning sex-selective abortion in Canada. He also opposed the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=August 15, 2021 |title=Yurdiga steps down as Fort McMurray-Cold Lake's Tory candidate, replaced by Goodridge |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-not-seeking-reelection-as-conservative-mp-for-fort-mcmurray-cold-lake |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

A flyer from Yurdiga's office sent to constituents was mocked on social media because it warned Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was planning to legalize recreational cannabis in Canada. Constituents pointed out Trudeau had never kept his support for cannabis legalization a secret.

In 2021, Yurdiga voted against a bill banning conversion therapy after originally voting in favour of banning the practice during second reading of the bill. He claimed his constituency office had received more than 900 emails and texts that “expressed concerns about parental rights since the bill was introduced," but offered no proof these messages existed. He said he wanted the practice banned, but felt the definition of conversion therapy offered by the Liberal Party of Canada was "broad."{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=June 24, 2021 |title=Yurdiga opposes bill banning conversion therapy, says bill's definition of practice too broad |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/yurdiga-opposes-bill-banning-conversion-therapy-says-bills-definition-of-practice-too-broad |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

At the same time, Yurdiga supported adding gender identity and gender expression to the Canadian Human Rights Act’s list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. In 2016, he supported removing bans on same-sex marriage from official party policy in 2016.{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2016-05-28 |title=Conservatives drop same sex marriage ban from policy |url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/conservatives-drop-same-sex-marriage-ban-from-policy/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=Macleans.ca |language=en-US}}

Yurdiga struggled with public speaking when he was first elected. Over time, Yurdiga became more confident in his public speaking and was a popular guest at functions hosted by multicultural groups in Fort McMurray.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=February 25, 2019 |title=Gallery: Fort McMurray celebrates Black History Month |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/gallery-fort-mcmurray-celebrates-black-history-month |website=Fort McMurray Today}}

But his early struggles with public speaking caused embarrassing moments at public events that were reported by local media. In 2014, Yurdiga confused India and Pakistan when he was asked to give a speech at a ceremony celebrating India's independence. He blamed the gaffe on "inaccurate information" he was given.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=August 21, 2014 |title=Yurdiga regrets confusing India and Pakistan |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/08/21/yurdiga-regrets-confusing-india-and-pakistan-at-indian-ceremony |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520134756/https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/08/21/yurdiga-regrets-confusing-india-and-pakistan-at-indian-ceremony |archive-date=2016-05-20 |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=Fort McMurray Today}}{{Cite web |last=King |first=Tyler |date=August 28, 2014 |title=Yurdiga inspiring little so far as MP |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/08/28/yurdiga-inspiring-little-so-far-as-mp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116143248/https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/08/28/yurdiga-inspiring-little-so-far-as-mp |archive-date=January 16, 2016 |website=Fort McMurray Today}} On election night during the 2015 Canadian federal election, Yurdiga thanked local voters for re-electing Stephen Harper as prime minister, even though Justin Trudeau had already been declared the winner that evening. He later said he meant voters in the riding hoped Harper would be re-elected as prime minister.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=October 20, 2015 |title=David Yurdiga wins Fort McMurray-Cold Lake {{!}} Fort McMurray Today |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/10/20/david-yurdiga-wins-fort-mcmurray-cold-lake |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509101626/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/10/20/david-yurdiga-wins-fort-mcmurray-cold-lake |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |access-date= |website=Fort McMurray Today}}

Yurdiga was criticized by local media, constituents and his opponents during elections for skipping debates and public forums. Yurdiga said previous commitments during the 2014 by-election and a family health emergency during the 2015 general election kept him from attending most election events. His campaign blamed injuries from a car accident during the 2019 election for keeping Yurdiga away from traditional campaign activities.

During the 2015 campaign, a campaign volunteer confirmed to CJOK-FM's MyMcMurray.com that Yurdiga never intended to attend forums or debates, even before the family medical emergency happened. The volunteer added Yurdiga's campaign team never confirmed attendance with organizers of any of those events.{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Sarah |date=October 9, 2015 |title=Yurdiga absent from all debates to date |url=https://www.mymcmurray.com/2015/10/09/yurdiga-absent-from-all-debates-to-date/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=MyMcMurray.Com}}

Yurdiga’s Liberal opponent in 2014 and 2015, Kyle Harrietha, portrayed him as an outsider who was ignorant of Fort McMurray and called out Yurdiga for avoiding public events. All of his opponents in the 2019 election criticized him for avoiding all-candidate events.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=October 15, 2019 |title=Fort McMurray-Cold Lake candidates face off at debate |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/fort-mcmurray-cold-lake-candidates-face-off-at-debate |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

Yurdiga’s constituency office in Cold Lake was vandalized in January 2021 when someone spray painted “COVID lie” on the building. Yurdiga told the Cold Lake Sun he empathized with the frustrations of the person responsible for the vandalism. He also said he was following Alberta’s COVID-19 restrictions, but did not agree with all of them.{{Cite web |last=Riess |first=Kelly-Anne |date=January 6, 2021 |title=MP David Yurdiga's Cold Lake office vandalized |url=https://coldlakesun.com/news/mp-david-yurdigas-cold-lake-office-vandalized |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Cold Lake Sun |language=en-CA}}

In August 2021 Yurdiga called legislation mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for public servants “a tyrannical idea” and criticized Quebec’s vaccine passport program.{{Cite web |last=Beamish |first=Laura |date=August 13, 2021 |title=Yurdiga criticizes mandatory vaccinations for public servants as a 'tyrannical idea' |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/yurdiga-criticizes-mandatory-vaccinations-for-public-servants-as-a-tyrannical-idea |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=fortmcmurraytoday |language=en-CA}} Later that month he announced he would not run for re-election, despite being named the party's official candidate in January 2021. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party of Canada said Yurdiga cited health problems as his reason for stepping down.

When the election campaign began, Yurdiga endorsed the People's Party of Canada and the party's candidate for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, Shawn McDonald. He also donated $1,500 to McDonald's campaign.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Political Donors |url=https://theijf.org/donations?donor=david+yurdiga |access-date=May 30, 2023 |website=Investigative Journalism Foundation}}

Yurdiga did not endorse his Conservative successor, Laila Goodridge,{{Cite web |last=Lawton |first=Andrew |date=2021-09-12 |title=Outgoing Alberta Conservative MP David Yurdiga formally endorsing PPC candidate |url=https://tnc.news/2021/09/12/outgoing-alberta-conservative-mp-david-yurdiga-formally-endorsing-ppc-candidate/ |access-date=2021-09-13 |website=True North |language=en-US}} but endorsed the re-election of Lakeland Conservative MP Shannon Stubbs on Facebook. McDonald claimed Yurdiga was forced out for criticizing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all government employees.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Goodridge elected as Conservative Party's MP for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/goodridge-elected-as-the-conservative-partys-mp-for-fort-mcmurray-cold-lake |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

Yurdiga studied power engineering at a technical school in Alberta.{{cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/q-and-a-mp-david-yurdiga-on-the-challenges-that-face-an-oilsands-community|title=Q and A: MP David Yurdiga on the challenges that face an oilsands community|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|date=September 17, 2014}} He worked at the Eco-Bay Mine in Nunavut, sold industrial chemicals and safety equipment out of Fort McMurray in the early 1990s, then started a consulting and property management business in Lac La Biche.

A Conservative Party biography of Yurdiga said he took over the family farm in Grassland in 2005 and raised organic beef cattle using methods taught to him by his father.

He is married. He has a son, daughter and grandchildren.

On February 16, 2021, a Fort McMurray man was charged with leaving threatening voicemail messages against Yurdiga and the staff at his constituency office. The man, Brad Love, had a history of hate crime and harassment convictions against different politicians, media outlets and religious groups in Canada. Love was found not guilty of threatening Yurdiga but was given a 24-month probationary sentence for threatening a staff member.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=June 29, 2022 |title=Trials for Fort McMurray man with hate crime history moved to November 2023 |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/trials-for-fort-mcmurray-man-with-hate-crime-history-moved-to-november-2023 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}

{{2019 Canadian federal election/Fort McMurray—Cold Lake}}

{{2015 Canadian federal election/Fort McMurray—Cold Lake}}

{{2014 Canadian federal by-elections/Fort McMurray—Athabasca}}

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Alberta

Category:Conservative Party of Canada MPs

Category:People from Athabasca County

Category:Canadian consultants

Category:Canadian miners

Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada