# Christine Cusanelli

Christine Cusanelli ECA (born July 15, 1972) is a former Canadian politician who represented the electoral district of Calgary-Currie in the Alberta Legislature from 2012 to 2015. Cusanelli was elected to her first term as MLA for Calgary-Currie on April 23, 2012. Cusanelli was the minister for Tourism, Parks, and Recreation from May 8, 2012, until February 4, 2013. On May 5, 2015, she was voted out of office in Alberta's general election, losing her seat to Brian Malkinson of the Alberta New Democratic Party.

## Education and work

Cusanelli has a Bachelor of Education degree from Faculté Saint-Jean at the University of Alberta, and a master's degree in psychology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. She started her career as a teacher with the Calgary Catholic School District where she taught elementary and junior-high students in French immersion and other educational settings.
In 2012, while in Alison Redford's cabinet, Cusanelli was forced to repay $10,600 in expenses, including $4,078 in airfare incurred after she flew her daughter and mother to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In response to media questions, Cusanelli said the expenses were charged as a result of a misunderstanding.

## Interests

Her personal interests include running, cycling, swimming and golfing.
She is a member of Chickwagon, a Calgary women's group that raises money and awareness for women in need.

## Election results

vte2015 Alberta general election: Calgary-Currie :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Brian Malkinson | 7,387 | 39.82% | 34.37% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Christine Cusanelli | 4,577 | 24.67% | -20.29% |
| | Wildrose | Terry Devries | 3,769 | 20.31% | -8.57% |
| | Liberal | Shelley Wark-Martyn | 1,441 | 7.77% | -8.32% |
| | Alberta Party | Tony Norman | 1,006 | 5.42% | 2.17% |
| | Green | Nelson Berlin | 373 | 2.01% | 0.65% |
| Total | Total | Total | 18,553 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 82 | 48 | 7 |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 37,342 | 49.92% | -4.56% |
| | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | -0.47% |
| Source(s) Source: "07 - Calgary-Currie, 2015 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||
vte2012 Alberta general election: Calgary-Currie :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Christine Cusanelli | 7,394 | 44.96% | 7.69% |
| | Wildrose | Corrie Adolph | 4,750 | 28.89% | 23.40% |
| | Liberal | Norval Horner | 2,646 | 16.09% | -29.47% |
| | New Democratic | Robert Scobel | 896 | 5.45% | 1.10% |
| | Alberta Party | Norm Kelly | 534 | 3.25% | – |
| | Evergreen | Dean N. Halstead | 224 | 1.36% | -5.64% |
| Total | Total | Total | 16,444 | – | – |
| Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | Rejected, spoiled and declined | 127 | – | – |
| Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | Eligible electors / turnout | 30,415 | 54.48% | 15.92% |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | 3.90% |
| Source(s) Source: "07 - Calgary-Currie, 2012 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020. |||||||