Richard John Feehan (born February 11, 1960) is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (MLA), representing the electoral district of Edmonton-Rutherford from 2015 until 2023.

Early life and career

Richard Feehan was born on February 11, 1960 to parents Bernie and Kathleen Feehan.{{cite web |last1=Cook |first1=Dustin |date=April 12, 2019 |title=Riding profile: Edmonton-Rutherford |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/riding-profile-edmonton-rutherford-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117055522/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/riding-profile-edmonton-rutherford-2 |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA}} His father was a Judge on the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and his mother was chair of Grant MacEwan’s social work program for 30 years.{{cite web| url = http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=9d5120d8-96a8-42bc-af77-8ec11d970b42| title = Canada.Com {{!}} Homepage {{!}} Canada.Com}}https://stmcollege.ca/documents/newsletters/1990-spring.pdf Feehan has six siblings, and is married with three adult children.{{Cite web |title=J. Feehan Obituary (2008) - Legacy Remembers |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/j-feehan-obituary?id=46021104 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Legacy.com}}

Feehan graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts in 1980, from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Social Work and from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Masters of Social Work in 1986.

Before entering politics, Feehan worked in a variety of roles, including as the program director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council and vice-president of Catholic Social Services in Edmonton.{{Cite news |title=Edmonton council hopefuls begin campaigns for Oct. 21 election |url=https://edmontonsun.com/2013/05/31/edmonton-council-hopefuls-begin-campaigns-for-oct-21-election |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240910010654/https://edmontonsun.com/2013/05/31/edmonton-council-hopefuls-begin-campaigns-for-oct-21-election |archive-date=2024-09-10 |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=edmontonsun |language=en}} He taught in the Edmonton division of the University of Calgary’s faculty of social work for a decade, before being elected.{{Cite news |title=Premier adds three Edmonton MLAs to cabinet |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/premier-adds-three-edmonton-mlas-to-cabinet |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20201129085051/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/premier-adds-three-edmonton-mlas-to-cabinet |archive-date=2020-11-29 |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}}

Politics

Feehan ran for Edmonton City Council in the 2013 Edmonton municipal election in Ward 10, on a platform of local sustainability and infrastructure renewal. He placed second, losing to community organizer Michael Walters.{{cite web |title=Richard Feehan - Ward Ten Candidate |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/2.2237/ward-ten/richard-feehan-ward-ten-candidate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117055532/https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/2.2237/ward-ten/richard-feehan-ward-ten-candidate |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=CTV News Edmonton}}

In the 2015 Alberta general election, Feehan was nominated as the Alberta New Democratic Party candidate for Edmonton-Rutherford. Feehan was elected as MLA, receiving 63.94% of the vote, a 55.62% increase in the NDP's share of the vote, which was the party's largest increase from the 2012 Alberta general election.{{Cite web |title=Election Results |url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsED.cfm?EventId=31&ED=43 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Elections Alberta |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=The Election Index: How Alberta turned orange |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/the-political-index-how-alberta-turned-orange/article24352152/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016080038/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/the-political-index-how-alberta-turned-orange/article24352152/ |archive-date=2016-10-16 |access-date=2017-09-10}}

Following the election, Feehan was appointed Alberta NDP caucus chair by Premier Rachel Notley.{{cite web |date=June 3, 2015 |title=Edmonton MLA Marlin Schmidt named NDP government whip |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-mla-marlin-schmidt-named-ndp-government-whip |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117055522/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-mla-marlin-schmidt-named-ndp-government-whip |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA}} Shortly after, he was elected Deputy Chairman of Committees in the 29th Alberta Legislature. {{cite web |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Mariam |date=June 12, 2015 |title=New Speaker’s first act to lead moment of silence in memory of slain Edmonton constable |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/new-speakers-first-act-to-lead-moment-of-silence-in-memory-of-slain-edmonton-constable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117055533/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/new-speakers-first-act-to-lead-moment-of-silence-in-memory-of-slain-edmonton-constable |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}}

In 2016, Feehan was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as Minister of Indigenous Relations.{{Cite web |last=Sinnema |first=Jodie |last2=Ibrahim |first2=Mariam |date=February 3, 2016 |title=Premier adds three Edmonton MLAs to cabinet |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/premier-adds-three-edmonton-mlas-to-cabinet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629173927/https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/premier-adds-three-edmonton-mlas-to-cabinet |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |access-date=January 27, 2019}} During his time as Minster, he oversaw the investment of $35 million in Indigenous-led renewable energy projects,{{Cite news |last=Morin |first=Brandi |date=30 June 2017 |title=Alberta investing $35M to help Indigenous communities address climate change |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/alberta-indigenous-climate-change-program-funding-1.4186675 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019215931/https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/alberta-indigenous-climate-change-program-funding-1.4186675 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=CBC News Indigenous}} implemented supports for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women,{{Cite news |date=2017-05-19 |title=Family liaison units set up to help relatives of missing and murdered indigenous girls and women |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/family-liaison-units-set-up-to-help-relatives-of-missing-and-murdered-aboriginal-girls-and-women |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171027214652/http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/family-liaison-units-set-up-to-help-relatives-of-missing-and-murdered-aboriginal-girls-and-women |archive-date=2017-10-27 |access-date=2025-04-08 |work=Edmonton Journal |language=en-US}} and participated in engagement sessions for survivors of the Sixties Scoop, culminating in the Albertan government's apology for its role.{{Cite news |last=Morin |first=Brandi |date=1 March 2018 |title=Alberta officials' role in 60s Scoop sessions was to 'shut up and listen' to survivors, says minister |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/alberta-final-engagement-session-sixties-scoop-apology-1.4558056 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019214445/https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/alberta-final-engagement-session-sixties-scoop-apology-1.4558056 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=CBC News Edmonton}}{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=28 May 2018 |title=Alberta premier apologizes to Sixties Scoop survivors |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-premier-apologizes-to-sixties-scoop-survivors-1.4681194 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019214442/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-premier-apologizes-to-sixties-scoop-survivors-1.4681194 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=CBC News Edmonton}} Feehan also instituted training on Indigenous history and culture for all Albertan public servants in June 2018.{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=18 June 2018 |title=27,000 Alberta public servants to get Indigenous history, culture training |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-indigenous-training-program-for-staff-1.4711379 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019214447/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-indigenous-training-program-for-staff-1.4711379 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=CBC News Edmonton}}

Feehan was re-elected in the 2019 Alberta general election and was appointed as the Official Opposition's Indigenous relations critic.{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=13 May 2019 |title='Challenging and exciting, fun and frustrating': NDP MLAs look ahead to next 4 years |work=CBC News Edmonton |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/challenging-and-exciting-fun-and-frustrating-ndp-mlas-look-ahead-to-next-4-years-1.5134614 |access-date=19 October 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019201856/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/challenging-and-exciting-fun-and-frustrating-ndp-mlas-look-ahead-to-next-4-years-1.5134614 |url-status=live }}

In April 2022, Feehan announced he would not seek re-election in the 2023 Alberta general election.{{Cite news |last=Lachacz |first=Adam |date=22 April 2022 |title=NDP MLA Richard Feehan not seeking re-election for Edmonton-Rutherford seat |work=CTV News Edmonton |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/ndp-mla-richard-feehan-not-seeking-re-election-for-edmonton-rutherford-seat-1.5873151 |access-date=19 October 2022 |archive-date=19 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119033405/https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/ndp-mla-richard-feehan-not-seeking-re-election-for-edmonton-rutherford-seat-1.5873151 |url-status=live}}