Tyler Shandro

Shandro was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and later moved to Calgary to attend the University of Calgary and begin his legal career.{{cite news|last1=Gerein|first1=Keith|date=May 14, 2019|title=Keith Gerein: New health minister brings strong bloodline, "unassuming" personality to tough portfolio|work=Edmonton Journal|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/keith-gerein-new-health-minister-brings-strong-bloodline-unassuming-personality-to-tough-portfolio|access-date=6 September 2020}}{{cite web |title=Tyler Shandro |url=https://albertastrongandfree.ca/tyler-shandro/ |website=albertastrongandfree.ca |publisher=United Conservative Party |access-date=6 September 2020}} During his legal career he served as a member of several boards, including the Criminal Injuries Review Board, the National Parole Board, and the Municipal Government Board.{{cite web|url=http://www.wilcraft.com/who-we-are/tyler-shandro/|title=Tyler Shandro - Wilson Laycraft|website=Wilcraft.com|access-date=18 April 2019}} Shandro also served on the Calgary Police Commission. Previously he was appointed as a member of the Disaster Advisory Committee after the 2013 Alberta floods.{{cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/internal-complaints-soar-for-calgary-police-amidst-calls-to-change-whistleblower-system|title=Calgary police see internal complaints soar |author=Bill Kaufmann|date=14 May 2018|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=18 April 2019}}

Shandro is married to Andrea and they have two children.{{Cite web|title=Tyler Shandro|url=https://albertastrongandfree.ca/tyler-shandro/|access-date=2020-11-08|work=The United Conservative Party}} His great-uncle Andrew Shandro served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Whitford electoral district from 1913 to 1922 representing the Liberal Party of Alberta. The hamlet of Shandro, Alberta in Two Hills County is named in honour of Shandro's ancestors.

Shandro was a long time volunteer with the Progressive Conservative (PC) Association of Alberta. Following the party's defeat in the 2015 Alberta general election, Shandro ran unsuccessfully for party president against Katherine O'Neill. During this time Shandro rejected calls to merge the PCs with the Wildrose Party, describing how "I don't think it's legally permissible". However, after joining the Alberta Conservative Consolidation Committee (an organization of conservative lawyers), Shandro supported the amalgamation and wrote one of the legal briefs arguing the amalgamation was legally possible.{{Cite web |title=Keith Gerein: New health minister brings strong bloodline |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/keith-gerein-new-health-minister-brings-strong-bloodline-unassuming-personality-to-tough-portfolio |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=edmontonjournal |language=en-CA}} Shandro served on the committee which set out the terms forming the UCP following the 2017 merger of the PCs and Wildrose Party.

Shandro contested the 2019 Alberta general election in the district of Calgary-Acadia which was previously held by New Democratic Party (NDP) MLA Brandy Payne, who retired from politics following the closure of the 29th Alberta Legislature. Shandro captured 12,615 votes (54 per cent) defeating five other opponents including the next closest candidate, New Democrat Kate Andrews, with 8,049 votes (35 per cent).{{cite web|url=https://officialresults.elections.ab.ca/orResultsED.cfm?EventId=60&ED=01| title=01 - Calgary-Acadia, 2019 Alberta general election | publisher=Elections Alberta | access-date=May 21, 2020 | website=officialresults.elections.ab.ca}}

On April 30, 2019, Shandro was appointed as the minister of health.{{cite news |title=Premier Kenney appoints strong team ready to lead |url=https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=63812583439F6-F6AB-FF31-FA90C6BCF7A99D12 |access-date=5 September 2020 |work=Government of Alberta |date=April 30, 2019 |format=Press Release}}

Shandro announced in 2021 that $400 million in operational funding would be invested towards the new version of the Affordability Supportive Living Initiative. Shandro estimated that 3,800 would be replacement beds and 2,200 would be new beds.{{Cite news |last=Scheel |first=Elise |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Alberta promises to create and replace 6,000 continuing care beds |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-continuing-care-beds-funding-1.6096916}}

As Minister of Health, Shandro oversaw massive health-care worker layoffs. He has repeatedly denied that there have had been layoffs, but at least 11,000 Alberta Health Services (AHS) workers in laundry, nutrition and food services, lab services, and other support positions have had their jobs cut or privatized since 2020.{{Cite news |last=Beamish |first=Laura |date=January 12, 2022 |title=AHS axes frontline health-care positions to privatize laundry and other hospital jobs |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/ahs-axes-frontline-health-care-positions-to-privatize-laundry-and-other-hospital-jobs |access-date=July 20, 2023}}

On March 19, 2020, concerns were raised on social media{{Cite web|title=Wing Kar Li, PhD on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/karliwithakay/status/1240764822637047808|access-date=November 8, 2020|work=Twitter}} that there was a potential conflict of interest on the part of Shandro, who has shares in Vital Partners, along with his wife's sister, and his wife, Andrea Shandro.{{cite news|date=March 31, 2020|title=Tuesday's letters: Shandro should do the right thing|work=Edmonton Journal|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/tuesdays-letters-shandro-should-step-down-as-health-minister/|access-date=November 8, 2020}} In response to complaints sent to the ethics commissioner's office about Shandro's alleged conflict of interest, the ethics commissioner, Marguerite Trussler, wrote in a March 20, 2020, letter that, since Shandro was not the director of Shandro Holdings, the company that owns Vital Partners, and since his shares in that company are in a blind trust, he has done "all that is required to be in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act".{{cite web|last=Trussler|first=Marguerite|date=March 20, 2020|title=Response to complaints|url=https://albertapolitics.ca/wp-content/uploads/TRUSSLER-LETTER.jpeg|access-date=November 8, 2020|work=Office of the Ethics Commissioner}}

After news of this controversy broke, the Shandro family were subjected to multiple personal attacks through social media.{{Cite news |last=Rusnell |first=Charles |date=March 27, 2020 |title=Alberta health minister accused of berating Calgary physician, 'intimidating' citizens |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-minister-tyler-shandro-behaviour-vital-partners-1.5511288}}

On March 22, Shandro and his wife went to the residence of their neighbour Dr. Mukarram Zaidi. Zaidi, who had previously served on the constituency association of MLA Mike Ellis alongside Shandro, claimed that Shandro berated him for sharing a Facebook post about Shandro's potential conflict of interest regarding Vital Partners.{{Cite news|last=Hudes|first=Sammy|date=March 27, 2020|title=Kenney refuses to fire health minister over confrontation with doctor|work=Calgary Herald|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/bizarre-reckless-and-frankly-intimidating-ndp-calls-on-premier-to-fire-shandro-from-health-portfolio|access-date=November 8, 2020}} Shandro allegedly requested that Zaidi remove the post, which he did. Though Zaidi forgave Shandro, Zaidi still feared for both his own and his family's safety, and that he had yet to receive an apology from Shandro.{{cite news|author1=Rusnell, Charles|author2=Russell, Jennie|date=March 31, 2020|title=Calgary doctor says family fears for safety after confrontation with Health Minister Tyler Shandro|work=CBC News|location=Edmonton|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/zaidi-shandro-safety-1.5515564|access-date=6 September 2020}}

Shandro stated that he regretted his actions, though added that he had merely "responded passionately" in an attempt to stand up for his wife. Following the incident, Opposition MLAs called on Premier Kenney to fire Shandro.

Shandro responded to the media controversy in a March 27 statement, saying that the social media posts regarding Vital Partners had led to his family being "subjected to an online campaign of defamation".{{cite web|last=Shandro|first=Tyler|date=March 27, 2020|title=Minister Shandro's statement|url=https://twitter.com/SammyHudes/status/1243653843109306368/photo/1|access-date=November 8, 2020}} In his March 27 statement he said he regretted his actions, as they were a distraction from the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news|last1=Hudes|first1=Sammy|date=March 27, 2020|title=Kenney rejects NDP's calls to fire health minister over confrontation with doctor|work=Edmonton Journal|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/bizarre-reckless-and-frankly-intimidating-ndp-calls-on-premier-to-fire-shandro-from-health-portfolio/wcm/19c99c01-704d-46ed-92c5-437bbac271a0/|access-date=6 September 2020}} Shandro was supported by Premier Kenney, who said that Shandro's behaviour was understandable given that the minister felt his family was under attack.

A March 27 CBC article described another incident in which Shandro allegedly threatened a constituent who had confronted him about the conflict of interest, saying he would contact provincial security services.

On April 3, the CBC published an article detailing how Shandro had allegedly obtained the personal phone numbers of two physicians from Alberta Health Services illegally. He phoned the two individuals on their private phones, which raised concerns about privacy violations.{{cite news|last1=von Scheel|first1=Elise|date=April 3, 2020|title=Alberta health minister used confidential information to call protesting doctors|work=CBC News|location=Calgary|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/health-minister-shandro-confidential-information-1.5519962|access-date=6 September 2020}}

By the end of March, there was considerable media coverage of Shandro's response to these concerns including articles in the Medicine Hat News,{{Cite news|date=March 28, 2020|title=Laying It Out: We need a new health minister, stat|work=Medicine Hat News|url=https://medicinehatnews.com/commentary/opinions/2020/03/28/laying-it-out-we-need-a-new-health-minister-stat/|access-date=November 8, 2020}}{{Cite news|date=March 27, 2020|title=Notley calls on Kenney to fire Health Minister|work=Morinville News|url=https://morinvillenews.com/2020/03/27/notley-calls-on-kenney-to-fire-health-minister/|access-date=November 8, 2020}} the Edmonton Journal, and CBC News,{{cite news|last1=Rusnell|first1=Charles|date=March 27, 2020|title=Alberta health minister accused of berating Calgary physician, 'intimidating' citizens|work=CBC News|location=Edmonton|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-minister-tyler-shandro-behaviour-vital-partners-1.5511288|access-date=6 September 2020}} A CBC article described how Vital Partners could potentially profit from changes to provincial physician reimbursement that led to physicians having to fire staff and shutter practices. The media coverage of the confrontation resulted in the political opposition and citizens calling for Shandro's resignation.

Shandro struggled to recover from these allegations, with an April poll showing 34 per cent of Albertans expressing their approval for his handling of COVID-19—the lowest approval rating in Canada.{{cite news|last1=Braid|first1=Don|date=April 30, 2020|title=Braid: Poll shows Dr. Deena Hinshaw's a smash hit, while government popularity lags|work=Calgary Herald|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/braid-poll-shows-dr-deena-hinshaws-a-smash-hit-while-government-popularity-lags|access-date=6 September 2020}} In a July 2020 survey of Alberta doctors, 98% of respondents said that they had lost confidence in Shandro.{{cite news|last1=French|first1=Janet|date=July 29, 2020|title=98% of doctors who voted in survey have no confidence in Alberta health minister|work=CBC News|location=Edmonton|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-medical-association-health-minister-tyler-shandro-vote-1.5667412|access-date=6 September 2020}}

Bill 21 gave Shandro the right to unilaterally end the long-standing master agreement with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).{{Cite news|last=Bruch|first=Timm|date=February 20, 2020|title=Province implements new framework for physician pay|work=CTV Calgary|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/province-implements-new-framework-for-physician-pay-1.4820196?cache=yes%3FclipId%3D89563%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue%3Fot%3DAjaxLayout|access-date=November 8, 2020}} He terminated the agreement on March 30 and introduced a new fee structure which Shandro stressed would provide $5.4 billion in annual funding among other supports.{{Cite web |title=shandro/status/1230869163067002883 |url=https://twitter.com/shandro/status/1230869163067002883 |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Twitter |language=en}} On April 9, the AMA filed a lawsuit against the province, citing the termination of the agreement as well as the "government's conduct during negotiations".{{Cite news|last=Knight|first=Demi|date=April 9, 2020|title=Alberta Medical Association files lawsuit against provincial government|work=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6799757/alberta-medical-assocation-files-lawsuit-against-provincial-government/|access-date=April 21, 2020}} On March 30, 2021, Alberta doctors voted 53 percent to turn down a negotiated offer to settle their long standing dispute with the government.{{Cite web|title=Alberta doctors have turned down tentative agreement with government|url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/alberta-doctors-have-turned-down-tentative-agreement-with-government|access-date=2021-03-31|website=calgaryherald|language=en-CA}}

On September 21, 2021, Premier Jason Kenney shuffled him out of the cabinet position as health minister. NDP leader Rachel Notley stated that the news of his departure was "welcome" however "Alberta is facing a crisis in our hospitals but the UCP can't see beyond the chaotic spectacle of their own infighting."{{Cite web|title=Tyler Shandro resigns as Alberta health minister, moves to labour and immigration |date=21 September 2021 |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/tyler-shandro-no-longer-alberta-s-health-minister-as-premier-jason-kenney-shuffles-cabinet-sources-1.5594606}}

On September 21, 2021, Shandro was appointed as the Minister of Labour and Immigration, swapping roles with Jason Copping, who took over the health portfolio.{{Cite web|title=Tyler Shandro out, Jason Copping in as Alberta's health minister|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/shandro-kenney-health-minister-alberta-cabinet-shuffle-1.6184167|access-date=September 21, 2021|website=CBC News}}

Shandro took over the role of Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta on February 25, 2022, swapping portfolios with Kaycee Madu, who was demoted after a probe found he attempted to interfere with the administration of justice.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-25 |title=Alberta shuffles cabinet: Shandro moves to justice, Madu becomes immigration minister |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-shuffles-cabinet-shandro-moves-to-justice-madu-becomes-immigration-minister-1.5796704 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Edmonton |language=en}}

As Justice Minister, Shandro has been critical of the federal Liberal government plan to ban handguns and further restrict semi-automatic rifles. He sponsored the Alberta Firearms Act which is said to counter what the Alberta government sees as federal overreach. The Alberta Firearms Act received royal assent on March 28, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Introducing the Alberta Firearms Act |url=https://www.alberta.ca/introducing-the-alberta-firearms-act.aspx |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www.alberta.ca |language=en-CA}} "We disagree with the confiscation program, so we don't think that there should be anyone involved in being engaged as a seizure agent for the confiscation program," Shandro stated.{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Alberta introduces provincial firearms act to push back on federal gun bill |work=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-introduces-provincial-firearms-act-to-push-back-on-federal-gun-bill-1.6771176}}{{Citation |title=Alberta Firearms Act - March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4nXjx3EupM |access-date=2023-04-06 |language=en}} Much of the act expands the responsibilities and powers given to the provincial Chief Firearms Officer, as well as regulation powers that the government can use in orders in-council concerning future "firearms matters".{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Alberta Firearms Act |url=https://docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_30/session_4/20221129_bill-008.pdf |access-date=April 5, 2023 |publisher=Government of Alberta }}

On April 5 of the same year, the act was referenced in a [https://globalnews.ca/news/9605293/alberta-restriction-federal-firearms-programs/ news release] from Shandro's Justice Ministry as legislation (along with the [https://docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files/docs/bills/bill/legislature_30/session_2/20200225_bill-211.pdf Municipal Governments Firearms Amendments Act]) that the province may use to regulate the federal firearms buy-back program. Specifically, this usage of the act is claimed to give to the Alberta government the final word before municipal and / or police services enter into funding agreements or accept funding from the federal government to take part in the federal program.{{Cite web |last=Alberta |first=Government of |title=First action taken using the Alberta Firearms Act |url=https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=www.alberta.ca |language=en-CA}}

Shandro lost his seat in the 2023 Alberta general election to Diana Batten from the NDP.{{Cite web |title=Alberta election 2023 results: Calgary-Acadia {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9625324/alberta-election-2023-results-calgary-acadia/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

In 2020, the Law Society of Alberta authorized three citations against Shandro:

CO20200379: It is alleged that Tyler Shandro, KC attended the private residence of a member of the public, behaved inappropriately by engaging in conduct that brings the reputation of the profession into disrepute, and that such conduct is deserving of sanction;

CO20200393: It is alleged that Tyler Shandro, KC used his position as Minister of Health to obtain personal cell phone numbers, contacted one or more members of the public outside of regular working hours using that information, and that such conduct is deserving of sanction; and

CO20200759: It is alleged that Tyler Shandro, KC responded to an email from a member of the public addressed to his wife by threatening to refer that individual to the authorities if they did not address future correspondence to his office as Minister of Health, and that such conduct is deserving of sanction{{Cite web |title=Tyler Shandro, KC |url=https://www.lawsociety.ab.ca/hearing/tyler-shandro-qc/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Law Society of Alberta |language=en-US}}

Virtual conduct hearings into these matters began on Tuesday January 24, 2023. The hearing was adjourned to a later date as the 3 days allotted for the hearing were insufficient.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=Tyler Shandro's Law Society hearing adjourned to later date |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/tyler-shandro-s-law-society-hearing-adjourned-to-later-date-1.6247734 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Calgary |language=en}}

During the hearings, Shandro's lawyer criticized the proceedings as politically-motivated and not related to the practice of law. Shandro testified that he had reached out to the vice president of community of engagement and communications at Alberta Health Services after the two doctors in question had confronted him in person earlier about a recent rate cut. Shandro said that he indicated he wanted to identify the doctors because he was willing to speak with them and was passed on their names and contact information by AHS, who did not confirm with Shandro that the doctors were actually prepared to speak with him or that the numbers given to him were private numbers.{{Cite news |last=Cummings |first=Madeleine |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Former Alberta cabinet minister Tyler Shandro not guilty of unprofessional conduct, law society says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/law-society-alberta-no-sanctions-tyler-shandro-1.7268130 |access-date=July 19, 2024 |work=CBC News}}

In July 2024, a majority of a three-person Law Society panel released its decision not to sanction Shandro on any of the citations. It ruled that in respect to the first two citations that lawyers were allowed to have emotional conversations with their neighbours and that the phone conversations with doctors did not violate their privacy rights and were professional. In respect to the third citation, the panel found that while Shandro's reply was improper, it was not a clear threat and did not rise to the level of professional misconduct. A partially dissenting panel member would have found Shandro guilty of misconduct for the conversation with his neighbour.

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