Key Influencer - Whitney Issik

During the 2019 provincial election, Calgary played a critical role in helping the UCP earn a majority mandate in their first term on the government side of the aisle. The party elected a number of first-time MLAs to their caucus during that election, including Calgary-Glenmore’s Whitney Issik. While MLA Issik is a newcomer to serving as an elected official, she is far from a rookie in the world of politics.

Prior to the merger that created what we now call the Conservative Party of Canada, Issik worked with the federal Progressive Conservative Party as the co-chair of their national policy team. She also worked on Jason Kenney’s leadership campaign team prior to the 2019 election. She is a graduate of the University of Calgary having studied economics and political science. In the private sector, she has worked in both energy and telecommunications in addition to running her own jewelry shop. She is also the only female MLA in Alberta to have played competitive football with the Calgary Rage.

When Premier Kenney made his most recent changes to cabinet, it was not a surprise to learn that Issik would be trusted with a promotion to the executive team. In July, Issik became the Associate Minister of Status of Women following the restructuring of the portfolio that now falls under the purview of Minister of Culture, Ron Orr. She was also added to the government house team, replacing now-Associate Minister Mike Ellis as the government whip.