Brian Jean: podcast appearances and interviews

Brian Michael Jean, born on February 3, 1963, is a Canadian politician currently serving as Alberta's minister of Energy and Minerals since June 9, 2023. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche since March 16, 2022. Jean is affiliated with the United Conservative Party and has a diverse political background. He served as leader of the Opposition and the last leader of the Wildrose Party from 2015 to 2017 until its merger into the UCP. Prior to his provincial role, Jean was a Member of Parliament with the Conservative Party from 2004 to 2014. His professional background includes working as a lawyer in Fort McMurray for eleven years before his election to Parliament, where he represented Athabasca from 2004 to 2006 and Fort McMurray-Athabasca from 2006 to 2014. He resigned from the House of Commons in 2014 to re-enter provincial politics. In February 2015, Jean announced his bid for the leadership of the Wildrose Party and was elected leader on March 28, 2015. During the 2015 provincial election, he was elected in Fort McMurray-Conklin and became the leader of the opposition as the Wildrose Party formed the Official Opposition. Jean's leadership ended when the Wildrose Party merged with the Progressive Conservatives to become the UCP in 2017, and he subsequently ran for party leadership, losing to Jason Kenney. After resigning his legislative seat in 2018, he returned to politics by winning a by-election in 2022. He also ran for UCP leadership in October 2022, finishing third in the race.