# Arno Doerksen

Arno Doerksen (born January 25, 1958) is a Canadian politician. A member of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, Doerksen served as a member of the Alberta Legislature for the Strathmore-Brooks district from 2008 to 2012.

## Early life

Doerksen was born in the town of Bassano, Alberta, Canada and raised in Gem. He spent more than 25 years in farming and ranching before entering politics. He is a purebred and commercial cattle producer and feedlot operator in partnership with his family. They grow alfalfa, grain and oilseed crops on irrigated land in the Eastern Irrigation District.

## Political career

Doerksen won the 2008 provincial election with 75 per cent of the vote in the constituency of Strathmore-Brooks. He was a member of the Private Bills Committee, the Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing Committee, and the Standing Committee on Community Services. Doerksen chairs the Endangered Species Conservation Committee. More information about Arno Doerksen is available from his website at ArnoDoerksen.ca.

## Personal life

Doerksen lives with his wife Wanda in Gem, Alberta. They have three sons: Barry, Daniel and Lorin. His community involvement includes the Gem Curling Club, Gem Grazing Association, Gem Home and School Association, his local church board and Camp Evergreen.
Doerksen was chair of the Alberta Beef Producers during the BSE (mad cow disease) crisis in 2003 and 2004. He has travelled internationally as a representative of Alberta and Canada's livestock industry. Doerksen chaired the Canada Beef Export Federation from 2006 to 2008.
In 2004, Doerksen was named one of the 50 most influential Albertans in Alberta Venture. He has received a 10-year leadership award from the Canadian 4-H Council.

## Election results

vte2008 Alberta general election: Strathmore-Brooks :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Arno Doerksen | 7,623 | 74.56 | 10.51 |
| | Liberal | Gerry Hart | 991 | 9.69 | -3.06 |
| | Wildrose Alliance | Amanda H. Shehata | 935 | 9.15 | 0.15 |
| | Green | Chris Bayford | 362 | 3.54 | – |
| | New Democratic | Brian Stokes | 313 | 3.06 | -1.44 |
| Total | Total | Total | 10,224 | 99.47 | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 54 | 0.53 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,278 | 33.02 |
| Eligible electors | Eligible electors | Eligible electors | 31,127 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | 6.78 |
| Source(s) Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 548–551. |||||||
vte2012 Alberta general election: Strathmore-Brooks :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Wildrose | Jason Hale | 8,157 | 55.58 | +46.44 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Arno Doerksen | 5,743 | 39.13 | -35.43 |
| | New Democratic | Brad Bailey | 409 | 2.79 | -0.27 |
| | Liberal | Alex Wychopen | 299 | 2.04 | -7.66 |
| | Separation | Glen Dundas | 68 | 0.46 | – |
| Total | Total | Total | 14,676 | 99.31 | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 102 | 0.69 | +0.16 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,778 | 52.79 | +19.77 |
| Eligible electors | Eligible electors | Eligible electors | 27,996 |
| | Wildrose gain from Progressive Conservative | Wildrose gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +40.93 |
| Source(s) Source: "83 - Strathmore-Brooks Official Results 2012 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||