Jason Luan ECA MLA (born April 23, 1963) is a Canadian former politician who was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Foothills in the 30th Alberta Legislature. He was previously elected in the 2012 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Hawkwood in the 28th Alberta Legislature. Luan served was an associate minister for mental health and then became the minister for community and social services on July 8, 2021 in the cabinet of Jason Kenney. Under the premiership of Danielle Smith, he became the minister of culture on October 24, 2022.

Background

Luan holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Calgary. Before serving as an MLA, he has been managing funding for nonprofit social service agencies for over 20 years. Apart from that, he has 28 years of professional social work experience.

Luan co-chaired the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (2006-2012) and served on the Calgary Council on Mental Health and Addictions from 2017 to 2018. He received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for community services.

He and his wife, Fengying Zhang, have been married for 34 years and together have two daughters, Kailie Luan, a resident pediatric neurologist, and Linshia Luan, an investment banker in New York.

Political career

Luan firstly elected in the 2012 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Hawkwood in the 28th Alberta Legislature. He defeated Wildrose candidate, David Yager by 2067 votes, winning 47.1% of all votes cast. In the 2015 Alberta general election, he lost the seat by 1065 votes to a NDP candidate, former MLA Michael Connolly.

In the 2019 Alberta general election, Luan took back the seat of Calgary-Foothills and defeated NDP candidate, Sameena Arif by 5295 votes, winning 56.99% of all votes cast. Then, he was appointed as an Associate Minister of Mental Health & Addictions. During that time, Jason Luan, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addiction announced details on $8 million in new funds to help more Albertans access opioid treatment. Jason Luan is strongly against the “one-pillar approach” of NDP in terms of harm reduction. He and the government were promoting a more “comprehensive” treatment and recovery-oriented approach when it comes to drug use and addiction. After that, he became the minister for community and social services on July 8, 2021, in the cabinet of Jason Kenney. After Jason Kenney stepped down as UCP leader. The newly elected UCP leader, Danielle Smith, appointed Jason Luan as the Minister of Culture on October 24, 2022.

Jason Luan ran re-election in the 2023 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Foothills. He lost his seat to Court Ellingson from the NDP.

Contribution in Government

Jason Luan sponsored:

  • Bill 211 Education (International Language Programs) Amendment Act, 2013

Electoral history

vte2012 Alberta general election: Calgary-Hawkwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeJason Luan9,09747.10%
WildroseDavid Yager7,03036.40%
LiberalMaria Davis1,6328.45%
New DemocraticCollin Anderson9114.72%
Alberta PartyKevin Woron2421.25%
EvergreenJanet Keeping1991.03%
Social CreditLen Skowronski1030.53%
IndependentEd Torrance990.51%
Total19,313
Rejected, spoiled and declined138
Eligible electors / turnout33,66357.78%
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source(s)Source: . officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta.
vte2015 Alberta general election: Calgary-Hawkwood
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticMichael Connolly7,44336.35%31.63%
Progressive ConservativeJason Luan6,37831.15%-15.95%
WildroseJae Shim4,44821.72%-14.68%
Alberta PartyBeth Barberree9254.52%3.26%
LiberalHarbaksh Singh Sekhon7363.59%-4.86%
GreenPolly Knowlton Cockett4552.22%1.19%
Social CreditLen Skowronski900.44%-0.09%
Total20,475
Rejected, spoiled and declined68
Eligible electors / turnout33,52361.28%3.50%
New Democratic gain from Progressive ConservativeSwing-2.75%
Source(s)Source: . officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta.
vte2019 Alberta general election: Calgary-Foothills
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
United ConservativeJason Luan12,27756.99%-2.93%$92,648
New DemocraticSameena Arif6,98532.42%6.72%$15,707
Alberta PartyJennifer Wyness1,6807.80%2.97%$6,082
LiberalAndrea Joyce3791.76%-4.46%$500
Freedom ConservativeKari Pomerleau1420.66%$1,802
Alberta IndependenceKyle Miller800.37%$514
Total21,543
Rejected, spoiled and declined125468
Eligible electors / turnout32,77466.14%
United Conservative holdSwing
Source(s)Source: Elections AlbertaNote: Expenses is the sum of "Election Expenses", "Other Expenses" and "Transfers Issued". The Elections Act limits "Election Expenses" to $50,000.
vte2023 Alberta general election: Calgary-Foothills
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
New DemocraticCourt Ellingson11,05449.92+17.50
United ConservativeJason Luan10,79348.74-8.24
IndependentKeenan Demontigny1900.86
Solidarity MovementKami Dass1050.47
Total22,14299.27
Rejected and declined1620.73
Turnout22,30461.95
Eligible voters36,006
New Democratic gain from United ConservativeSwing+12.87
Source(s)Source: Elections Alberta
Enter ministry number
Cabinet post (1)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
Leela AheerMinister of Culture October 24, 2022–PresentIncumbent