Lyle Oberg

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| honorific_prefix = The Honourable

| name = Lyle Oberg

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECA|size=100%}}

| caption =

| birth_name=Lyle Knute Oberg

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|1|6}}

| birth_place = near Forestburg, Alberta

| residence =

| office = MLA for Strathmore-Brooks

| term_start = 11 March 1997

| term_end = 3 March 2008

| predecessor = district created

| successor = Arno Doerksen

| office2 = MLA for Bow Valley

| term_start2 = 1993

| term_end2 = 1997

| predecessor2 = Tom Musgrove

| successor2 = district abolished

| party = Progressive Conservative (1993–2011)
Wildrose (2011–present)

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

}}

Lyle Knute Oberg {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECA}} (born January 6, 1960) is a Canadian politician, business executive, and former member of the Legislative Assembly in Alberta. He is also a physician.

Life and career

Oberg was born near Forestburg, Alberta in 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/uofaengineer/article.cfm?article%3D51598%26issue%3D36224 |date=15 October 2006|access-date=26 September 2011 |title=PROV - The 'free thinker' who would be premier: Lyle Oberg has always reached his goals at a tender age |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930200345/http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/uofaengineer/article.cfm?article=51598&issue=36224 |archive-date=30 September 2012 }} A physician by profession, Oberg was first elected to the MLA as a member of the Progressive Conservative in 1993. He was first appointed to the Alberta Cabinet in 1997 and served in numerous posts.

Oberg was appointed Minister of Family and Social Services in March 1997.{{cite news|title=Alberta cabinet features more from new era|work=The Globe and Mail|date=27 March 1997}} Over the next two years, he oversaw the move of children's services and services for persons with developmental disabilities to community-based delivery. He launched a western Canadian initiative to address Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and implemented an interprovincial strategy to share resources and develop new approaches for addressing FAS. As part of the Alberta Children's Agenda, he introduced the Alberta Child Health Benefit Program and played a role in the development of the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act.

On May 26, 1999, Oberg was appointed Minister of Learning,{{cite web|url=http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Publications/ATA%20News/Volume%2034/Number%207/In%20the%20News/Pages/Meet%20Albertas%20new%20minister%20of%20learning.aspx|title=Meet Alberta's new minister of learning|work=ATA News|volume=34|issue=7|year=1999–2000|accessdate=2015-09-07}} a post he held until November 2004. During this appointment, he awarded a 14% increase to Alberta's teachers but only granted a 6% increase to the school boards.{{cite web|url=https://www.teachers.ab.ca/News%20Room/ata%20news/Volume%2037/Number%2017/Pages/News%20Views.aspx|title=Tom Barrett, Edmonton Journal, April 9, 2003}} To cover this funding shortfall, Calgary school boards took funding from school maintenance, leading to issues with school roofs collapsing.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/union-head-says-other-calgary-schools-have-roof-problems-1.575785|title=Union head says other Calgary schools have roof problems|work=CBC News|date=16 March 2006 }} During that time, he also served as a member of the Treasury Board and as the Minister responsible for immigration. Oberg was an active member of the Canadian Ministers of Education and led the Canadian delegation to an International Group of Eight (G8) Education Ministers meeting. He oversaw the creation of Alberta's Commission on Learning and implemented many of its recommendations, including the reduction of provincial class sizes. He began the second language initiative in Alberta schools to give students an edge in the world marketplace and initiated the development of the daily physical activity program to improve the health of Alberta students.

Following his re-election in the November 22, 2004 election, Oberg was appointed Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation.{{cite web|url=http://alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=17312974E729E-C41C-487F-84FC63084A0EEB89|title=Klein names new Cabinet, reorganizes some portfolios|publisher=Government of Alberta|date=24 November 2004|accessdate=2015-09-07}}

On March 22, 2006, shortly after announcing his resignation from his ministerial position following a directive from Premier Ralph Klein to all ministers running to replace him, Oberg was removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus after making comments at a Strathmore-Brooks Constituency Association annual general meeting, urging the membership to vote their conscience in a crucial leadership vote at the March 2006 AGM of the party.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/alta-cabinet-minister-kicked-out-of-caucus-for-leadership-remarks-1.569680|title=Alta. cabinet minister kicked out of caucus for leadership remarks|publisher=CBC News|date=24 March 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=8903f098-919a-4566-acc8-f93da5845096&k=55362|title=Oberg to sit as independent|work=Edmonton Journal|date=24 March 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115072438/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=8903f098-919a-4566-acc8-f93da5845096&k=55362|archivedate=15 January 2016}} He was re-admitted to caucus on July 25, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=eccc86f5-a349-44a5-b303-afbec7865ab9&sponsor=|title=Klein Tories welcome back ousted Oberg|work=Edmonton Journal|date=26 July 2006|accessdate=2009-09-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115072438/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=eccc86f5-a349-44a5-b303-afbec7865ab9&sponsor=|archivedate=15 January 2016}}

On June 19, 2006, Oberg entered the race for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in Alberta.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oberg-launches-conservative-leadership-campaign-1.594217|title=Oberg launches Conservative leadership campaign|publisher=CBC News|date=19 June 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07}} He failed to place in the top three in the November 25 first ballot (he placed fourth) and was not eligible for the second ballot to be held on December 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/two-defeated-candidates-back-stelmach-to-replace-klein-1.583030|title=Two defeated candidates back Stelmach to replace Klein|publisher=CBC News|date=26 November 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07}} Oberg's allegations of scandal regarding front runner Jim Dinning in the summer of 2006 appeared to have had a negative effect on his campaign.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/features/passingthetorch/story.html?id=caa5cfb7-4b1e-438b-88e5-f71a9d73badc|title=Dinning support up after Oberg's attack|work=Edmonton Journal|date=1 November 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115072438/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/features/passingthetorch/story.html?id=caa5cfb7-4b1e-438b-88e5-f71a9d73badc|archivedate=15 January 2016}} He later threw his support to third-place finisher and eventual winner Ed Stelmach.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=50fb6a07-e1c5-4baf-974a-211b141dd989|title=Oberg becomes 2nd defeated candidate to back Stelmach in Alberta Tory race|work=Calgary Herald|date=26 November 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115072438/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=50fb6a07-e1c5-4baf-974a-211b141dd989|archivedate=15 January 2016}}

On December 15, 2006, Oberg was named Minister of Finance in Premier Ed Stelmach's cabinet.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/stelmach-names-smaller-cabinet-1.600083|title=Stelmach names smaller cabinet|publisher=CBC News|date=15 December 2006|accessdate=2015-09-07}}

Oberg announced in December 2007 that he would not seek re-election in the next election in March 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/won-t-seek-re-election-oberg-tells-caucus-colleagues-1.651392|title=Won't seek re-election, Oberg tells caucus colleagues|publisher=CBC News|date=7 December 2007|accessdate=2015-09-07}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/12/11/4718294-sun.html |title=Oberg leaves without emptying his closet |first1=Jeremy |last1=Loome |newspaper= Edmonton Sun |date=11 December 2007|access-date=2007-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213172514/http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/12/11/4718294-sun.html |archive-date=2007-12-13 |url-status=dead }}

On June 2, 2010, Oberg opened C2DNA in Edmonton, the first private DNA testing facility in Canada. He founded the lab with his brother and other investors. He stepped down as president and CEO the following day to avoid any conflict of interest arising from a medical doctor being involved with such a high tech company, but said he would remain an advisor.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/oberg-steps-down-as-ceo-of-dna-testing-clinic-1.904126|title=Oberg steps down as CEO of DNA testing clinic|publisher=CBC News|date=3 June 2010|accessdate=2015-09-07}}

On March 1, 2011, Oberg announced that he was joining the right-wing Wildrose Alliance Party.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/oberg-joining-wildrose-alliance-1.1127157|title=Oberg joining Wildrose Alliance|publisher=CBC News|date=1 March 2011|access-date=2015-09-07}} He said he would not be running for office but would participate in an advisory role to party leader Danielle Smith. He cited the Conservative government's decision to abolish the multiple health districts in Alberta and replace them with an Edmonton-based super board, and the recently announced deficit budget (the fourth in as many years) as his reasons for the switch.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

In November 2023, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced Oberg as the new chair of the board of Alberta Health Services."Former cabinet minister to chair new AHS board in health-care overhaul," Cindy Tran, Edmonton Journal. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/former-minister-chairs-ahs-health-care-board-in-overhaul

After politics

He is chief executive officer of MYND Life Sciences Inc., a Canadian company that has developed biomarker test technology which will be used in a clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.{{Cite press release|author1=Mynd Life Sciences Inc.|title=MYND Diagnostics Inc. Announces Participation in a Monash University (Australia) Proposal for $3 Million Clinical Trial|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/mynd-diagnostics-inc-announces-participation-in-a-monash-university-australia-proposal-for-3-million-clinical-trial-897588296.html|access-date=2021-10-26|website= Canada Newswire|language=en}} He has also served on the boards of other companies.{{Cite web|title=Lyle Oberg - Yorkville Asset Management|url=https://www.yorkvilleasset.com/en/about-yorkville/board-of-directors/item/388-lyle-oberg|access-date=2021-10-26|website=www.yorkvilleasset.com|language=en}}{{Cite news|title=Once a Conservative cabinet minister, Oberg now sings praises of medical pot|url=https://calgaryherald.com/cannabis/cannabis-business/once-a-conservative-cabinet-minister-oberg-now-sings-praises-of-medical-pot|access-date=2021-10-26|newspaper=Calgary Herald|language=en-CA}}