Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas is the new parliamentary assistant to Minister of Finance and Enterprise Lloyd Snelgrove.

Premier Ed Stelmach announced the appointment last week and Dallas was sworn into the new position on Tuesday.

“I’m pleased that Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas, who had been serving as the parliamentary assistant in Environment, will take over this important role and work closely with Finance Minister Lloyd Snelgrove,” said the Premier.

Dallas, elected to the Legislature in the 2008 provincial election, was executive director of the Red Deer Chamber of Commerce before entering politics. He also worked in the printing and publishing industry for 25 years, including nine years as publisher of the Red Deer Express.

A long time community activist, Dallas was also involved with a wide variety of Central Alberta groups including the Rotary Club, the United Way of Central Alberta, Red Deer College and the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness. He received a Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2003, the Bill Draayer award from Alberta Weekly Newspapers and the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005.

Dallas has been shepherding Bill 40, the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Amendment Act, through the Legislature for the Minister of Children and Community Supports.

He did the same for Bill 10 in 2009, the Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act for the Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.

He also serves as a member of the standing committees on public accounts, resources and environment, and private bills as well as sitting on the regulatory review secretariat, the cabinet policy committee on resources and environment, youth homelessness review and child intervention system review panel.

In addition he chairs the climate change central committee.

acryderman@reddeerexpress.com