Derek Thompson

I am currently a Red Seal Industrial Crane Operator.

I had a humble beginning after finishing high school. I started working in the oil patch on service and drilling rigs. I also have experience in logging and owned my own skidders.

I then learned how to operate many different types of heavy equipment as opportunities arose. This included construction of oil patch roads, leases, plant sites, mining sites, highway construction, and environmental cleanup. I have worked in the oil sands on upgraders, extraction facilities, gas refineries, and plant sites, as well as in many mines operating heavy equipment such as shovels, draglines, haul trucks of all sizes, dozers (lead cat for pipelining), graders, backhoes, and cranes. I mastered all of them, which led me to become an oilfield consultant.

Workplace health and safety is of ultimate concern to me. This means keeping workers safe on the job, ensuring they are supported by their companies and safety personnel—especially non-union workers—and holding companies accountable to abide by existing laws, rules, and regulations.

I have firsthand experience addressing these issues and have appeared before the Occupational Health and Safety Council (OHSC), Labour Board Tribunals, Judicial Reviews at the Court of Queen’s Bench, and appeal courts challenging decisions that undermine workers’ rights. These experiences have given me direct knowledge of the problems within labour tribunals and the legal system and the solutions that workers desperately need.

I strongly believe that the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour should make changes to future legislation, rules, and regulations. This includes implementing tighter restrictions and limitations on tribunals and ensuring that tribunal members receive proper training on decision writing before they are eligible to serve.

I, Derek Thompson, want experienced professionals from the trades and unions to become investigators in workplace safety, supported by legislation that enforces their decisions and calls to action.

I am also a strong advocate for an accelerated effort to clean up Canada’s backlog of orphan wells, at the expense of the companies responsible. This initiative would eliminate environmental risks while creating billions of dollars’ worth of work for Canadian workers. If elected to Parliament, I will push for policies that restore accountability and bring back the system where oil companies are required to pay for the cleanup of abandoned sites—just as they once did.

I want to get Canadians back to work now, in the safest and most environmentally responsible way possible.

ENERGY
As you have read, I have more experience in the labour and energy sectors than any current Member of Parliament in a ministerial position. Not only do I know how to stop corporate welfare, but I also have the knowledge and experience to organize Canada’s workforce efficiently, creating more jobs than ever before while reducing costs to the Canadian government.
By restructuring how projects are funded and managed, we can ensure that Canadians—not corporations—own these projects and benefit from their wealth. This approach will generate steady revenue, allowing for more investment in future projects and creating what I call “The Cycle of Prosperity.”
“The Cycle of Prosperity.” – Ask me how this can be achieved after the official campaign date has started.

Political Experience
I started my political involvement as a volunteer, helping to canvass Edmonton-area ridings, distribute brochures, put up signs, and scrutineer at polling stations.
I then became a Chief Financial Officer for a riding in Edmonton, where my financial skills helped reinstate de-registered Constituency Associations with Elections Alberta.

From there, I:
– Founded a new Constituency Association as its President
– Served as a Member-at-Large for two additional ridings
– Became Vice President of Policy Development for another riding

I was later asked to serve as VP of Policies for all of Alberta, but due to work commitments, I had to decline. However, my passion for policy development and grassroots political engagement remains strong.

Why I’m Running
I am running in the 2025 Federal Election because workers, families, and communities deserve a strong, experienced leader who understands labour rights, workplace safety, environmental responsibility, and economic growth.
I want to see Canadians back to work—safely and sustainably. I want to hold corporations accountable, end corporate welfare, and ensure that our natural resources benefit Canadians first.
With your support, we can bring about the changes that working Canadians desperately need.