Steve West (Canadian politician)

In 2004 West would be hired as Premier Ralph Klein's Chief of Staff and abruptly let go seven months later following the 2004 Alberta general election. West's dismissal less than a year into his three-year contract and $180,000 severance package would become a controversy in the Alberta legislature later that year.

West was moved to the Transportation and Utilities portfolio in December 1994, he served that post until May 1996, when he was appointed Minister of Economics Development and Tourism. West was re-elected to his fourth and final term as MLA in the 1997 Alberta general election. He won the electoral district in a landslide with his largest percentage and plurality of his political career. After the election he was appointed Minister of Energy on March 26, 1997. The last post he served in cabinet was as Minister of Finance.

Vermilion-Viking was abolished due to redistribution in 1993, West ran for his third term in the new electoral district of Vermilion-Lloydminster. The race was a rerun of the 1989 Vermilion-Viking election as both the challenging candidates for the New Democrats and Liberals faced West for the second time. The race was hotly contested as Liberal candidate Greg Michaud quadrupled his popular vote. Despite the strong showing by the Liberal candidate West won the new district by increasing his popular vote.

West was appointed to his first cabinet portfolio under the government of Don Getty. He served as Minister of Recreation and Parks from April 1989 to February 1992. He became Solicitor General in a cabinet shuffle and held that post until Ralph Klein became Premier in December 1992. Under the Ralph Klein government, West was appointed as Minister of Municipal Affairs. He held that post until December 1994.

West was first elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1986 Alberta general election. He easily won a two race over New Democrat candidate Mervin Stephenson in the electoral district of Vermilion-Viking. He was re-elected to his second term in the 1989 Alberta general election winning a three-way race with a slightly reduced plurality over the last election.

Stephen Carlyle "Steve" West (born May 21, 1943) is a Canadian businessman, and a former veterinary doctor, teacher, farmer and former provincial level politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1986 to 2001. He served numerous portfolios in the cabinet for the Alberta government during his political career.

Stephen C. West was born in London, Ontario on May 21, 1943.