View source for Guy Boutilier

{{Short description|Canadian politician (1959–2024)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Guy Boutilier 2023.png
| imagesize           = 
| honorific_prefix    = The Honourable
| name                = Guy C. Boutilier
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECA|size=100%}}
| caption             = Boutilier in 2023
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1959|2|28}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://glenbow.ucalgary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Boutilier_Guy.pdf |title=Interview |access-date=2024-03-09 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= }}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Glace Bay, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2024|3|8|1959|2|28}}
| death_place=
| residence           = [[Fort McMurray]], Alberta
| office              = Member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] for [[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]]<br />[[Fort McMurray (provincial electoral district)|Fort McMurray]] (1997-2004)
| term_start          = March 11, 1997
| term_end            = April 23, 2012
| predecessor         = [[Adam Germain]]
| successor           = [[Mike Allen (Alberta politician)|Mike Allen]]
| office2             = Alberta Minister of International, Intergovernmental, and Aboriginal Relations
| term_start2         = December 15, 2006
| term_end2           = March 12, 2008
| predecessor2        = [[Pearl Calahasen]] (Aboriginal Affairs)<br />[[Gary Mar]] (International and Intergovernmental Relations)
| successor2          = [[Gene Zwozdesky]] (Aboriginal Affairs)<br />[[Ron Stevens]] (International and Intergovernmental Relations)
| office3             = Alberta Minister of the Environment
| term_start3         = November 24, 2004
| term_end3           = December 15, 2006
| predecessor3        = [[Lorne Taylor]]
| successor3          = [[Rob Renner]]
| office4             = Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs
| term_start4         = March 15, 2001
| term_end4           = November 24, 2004
| predecessor4        = [[Walter Paszkowski]]
| successor4          = [[Rob Renner]]
| office5             = Mayor of the [[Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo]]
| term_start5         = April 1, 1995
| term_end5           = 1997
| predecessor5        = '''New municipality'''
| successor5          = [[Doug Faulkner]]
| office6             = Mayor of [[Fort McMurray]]
| term_start6         = October 22, 1992
| term_end6           = April 1, 1995
| predecessor6        = E.C. (Betty) Collicott
| successor6          = '''Amalgamated Regional Charter'''
| office7             = [[Fort McMurray]] Alderman
| term_start7         = October 20, 1986
| term_end7           = October 22, 1992
| party               = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] (2009–2010; 2017–)
| otherparty          = [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]]<br />(1997–2009)<br />[[Wildrose Alliance Party|Wildrose Alliance]]<br />(2010–2017)
| spouse              = Gail
| alma_mater          = [[St. Francis Xavier University]]<br />[[Saint Mary's University (Halifax)|St. Mary's University]]<br />[[Harvard University]]
}}

'''Guy Carleton Boutilier''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|ECA}} (February 28, 1959 – March 8, 2024) was a Canadian politician, who sat as a member of the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] from 1997 to 2012. He was elected as a [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]], and served in several capacities in the [[Cabinet of Alberta]] under [[Premier of Alberta|Premiers]] [[Ralph Klein]] and [[Ed Stelmach]] before being ejected from the PC caucus in July 2009; he joined the [[Wildrose Alliance Party]] after sitting as an independent for a year.

Before entering provincial politics during the [[1997 Alberta general election|1997 Alberta election]], he was involved in municipal politics, having served two terms on the city council of [[Fort McMurray]] before being elected mayor of that city in 1992. When Fort McMurray was amalgamated with the surrounding area to form the [[Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo]] in 1995, Boutilier served as the new municipality's first mayor.

As MLA for [[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]] and [[Fort McMurray (electoral district)|Fort McMurray]], Boutilier served on the [[Executive Council of Alberta]].

==Early life==
Boutilier was born in [[Glace Bay|Glace Bay, Nova Scotia]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=March 9, 2024 |title=Fort McMurray political champion Guy Boutilier dies at 65 |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/fort-mcmurray-political-champion-guy-boutilier-dies-at-65 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=Fort McMurray Today}}</ref> on February 28, 1959.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 11, 2024 |title=Remembering the life of Guy Boutilier |url=https://edmontonjournal.remembering.ca/obituary/guy-boutilier-1089460334/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en}}</ref>

Boutilier earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from [[St. Francis Xavier University]], a [[Bachelor of Education]] from [[St. Mary's University (Halifax)|St. Mary's University]], and a [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[Harvard University]].<ref name="leg bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_bio&rnumber=54  |title=Guy Boutilier's Legislative Assembly of Alberta biography |publisher=[[Internet Archive]] |access-date=2010-03-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070409050258/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_bio&rnumber=54 |archive-date = 2007-04-09}}</ref> He has worked as a financial analyst in the petroleum industry and as a business management instructor at [[Keyano College]].<ref name="leg bio" />  He was lecturing business economics at the [[University of Alberta]]'s school of business.<ref name="leg bio" />

Boutilier moved to Fort McMurray as a summer student with [[Syncrude]] and, according to friend and supporter Willie Hoflin, "fell in love with the place" and met his wife, Gail.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=March 9, 2024 |title=Fort McMurray political champion Guy Boutilier dies at 65 |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/fort-mcmurray-political-champion-guy-boutilier-dies-at-65 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=[[Fort McMurray Today]]}}</ref>

He volunteered with Fort McMurray's local hockey and sports scenes. He hosted a hockey-themed interview show on a community access channel. His signoff of “we have the energy!” became "an affectionate rallying cry for Fort McMurray," according to ''Fort McMurray Today''.<ref name=":1" />

==Political career==

===Municipal politics===
Boutilier was elected to the [[Fort McMurray]] city council on October 20, 1986, to a three-year term as alderman.  He was re-elected October 16, 1989, and was elected the youngest mayor in the city's history October 22, 1992.<ref name="Testimony">{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=f0e870d1-6c6f-44bc-b8ee-59c5e0318f21&k=0 |title=Guy Boutilier's testimony before the AEUB |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=November 29, 2006 |access-date=2008-03-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105110213/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=f0e870d1-6c6f-44bc-b8ee-59c5e0318f21&k=0 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref>  He served in this capacity until April 1, 1995, when Fort McMurray lost its status as a city and was rolled into the new Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.<ref name="Testimony"/>  He was the first mayor of this new municipality, serving until 1997 when he resigned to enter provincial politics.<ref name="Testimony"/>

===Provincial politics===
Boutilier was first elected to the [[Legislative Assembly of Alberta]] in the [[1997 Alberta general election|1997 Alberta election]], when he ran as the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Progressive Conservative]] candidate in [[Fort McMurray (provincial electoral district)|Fort McMurray]].<ref name="results">{{cite web |url=http://www.abheritage.ca/abpolitics/process/election_results.html |title=Alberta's past election results |access-date=2008-03-06}}</ref>  The incumbent [[Alberta Liberal Party|Liberal]], [[Adam Germain]], was not seeking re-election, and Boutilier won by defeating John Vyboh by more than a thousand votes.<ref name="results"/>  As a backbencher, he moved several bills: the ''Mines and Minerals Amendment Act'' was a 1997 government bill designed to enable the implementation of a generic royalty regime for new development in the [[Athabasca Oil Sands|Alberta oilsands]] and streamline the process for land leases to oil and gas companies by moving administrative elements from legislation to regulation.<ref name="1997 bills">{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-bill97.htm |title=Bill Status Report for the 24th Legislature - 1st Session (1997) |access-date=2008-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803201506/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-bill97.htm |archive-date=2007-08-03 }}</ref><ref name="May 13">{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_1%5C19970513_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=May 13, 1997}}</ref>  The bill passed with Liberal support, but [[Alberta New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] leader [[Pam Barrett]] opposed the bill out of concerns that it left the legislature out of debates in which it should play a role and provided overly-generous incentives to oil companies without requiring anything from them in return.<ref name="May 13"/><ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_1%5C19970527_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=May 27, 1997}}</ref>  Also in 1997, Boutilier sponsored the ''Cost Declaration Accountability Act'', a [[private member's bill]] that never reached second reading.<ref name="1997 bills"/>

In 1998, Boutilier sponsored two more bills.<ref name="1998 bills">{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-b98_p.htm |title=Bill Status Report for the 24th Legislature - 2nd Session (1998) |access-date=2008-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803201511/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-b98_p.htm |archive-date=2007-08-03 }}</ref>  The ''Railway Act'' was a government bill that modernized the rules governing the operation of railways in Alberta.<ref name="March 3 13">{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_2%5C19980303_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=March 3, 1998}}</ref>  The Liberals expressed general support for the bill,<ref name="March 10">{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_2%5C19980310_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=March 10, 1998}}</ref> but ultimately opposed it on the basis of a clause that allowed cabinet to make regulations on "any matter that the Minister considers is not provided for or is insufficiently provided for" in the Act, which they considered to be dangerously broad.<ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_2%5C19980421_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=April 21, 1998}}</ref>  The bill passed.<ref name="1998 bills"/>  The same year, Boutilier sponsored the ''Government Accountability Amendment Act'',<ref name="1998 bills"/> a private member's bill that would have required all government bills to include an associated financial cost to come before the legislature with an estimate of those costs for the ensuing three years.<ref name="March 10"/>  The bill was [[hoist (motion)|hoisted]] for six months on second reading on a motion by [[Wayne Cao]], which, since the legislature was not in session six months later, effectively killed the bill.<ref name="1998 bills"/><ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_24%5Csession_2%5C19980311_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=March 11, 1998}}</ref>

Boutilier was re-elected in the [[2001 Alberta general election|2001 election]] with a substantially increased margin over Vyboh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.ab.ca/Public_Website/files/2001StatementOfResults/2001_SOR_53.pdf |title=2001 Alberta provincial election results, Fort McMurray |access-date=2008-03-27}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>  Following the 2001 election, Premier [[Ralph Klein]] named Boutilier to his cabinet as the Minister of Municipal Affairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton-mayor-likes-cabinet-makeup-1.298447 |title=Edmonton mayor likes cabinet makeup |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=March 16, 2001 |access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref>  In this capacity, Boutilier sponsored the ''Municipal Government Amendment Act'' in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-bill03.htm |title=Bill Status Report for the 25th Legislature - 3rd Session (2003) |access-date=2008-03-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070803201322/http://www.assembly.ab.ca/pro/bills/s-bill03.htm |archive-date=2007-08-03 }}</ref>  The Act allowed municipalities to charge developers off-site road levies, a practice which had been common but which had recently been successfully challenged in court, and passed largely without controversy.<ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_25%5Csession_3%5C20031127_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=November 27, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_25%5Csession_3%5C20031202_1330_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=December 2, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite hansard | url=http://www.assembly.ab.ca/ISYS/LADDAR_files%5Cdocs%5Chansards%5Chan%5Clegislature_25%5Csession_3%5C20031203_2000_01_han.pdf | house=Legislative Assembly of Alberta | date=December 3, 1998}}</ref>  Boutilier kept the municipal affairs until after the [[2004 Alberta general election|2004 election]] (in which he was again re-elected handily, this time in the newly formed [[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]] riding),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elections.ab.ca/Public_Website/files/Statements/54.pdf |title=2004 Alberta provincial election results, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo |access-date=2008-03-28}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> when Klein transferred him to the post of Minister of the Environment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/govrel/news.cfm?story=44980 |title=New cabinet team will be "strong, united and focused," Klein says |date=April 6, 2006 |publisher=University of Alberta, department of External Relations |access-date=2008-03-27 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  He held this post in 2005, when a [[Canadian National Railway]] train derailed, spilling oil into [[Wabamun Lake]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/province-unprepared-for-wabamun-spill-klein-1.542144 |title=Province unprepared for Wabamun spill: Klein |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=August 11, 2005 |access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref>  At the time, Boutilier described himself as "damn well pissed off" about the spill and about the allegation that CN had neglected to report that the spill contained [[carcinogen]]ic chemical, and pledged "to bring to the full extent of the law anyone who has breached Alberta law."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/angry-alberta-residents-await-test-results-1.557240 |title=Angry Alberta residents await test results |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=August 10, 2005 |access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref>  CN was eventually charged under federal statutes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d6d43884-c813-4d76-9d56-0373fc86cf65&k=52483 |first=Hanneke |last=Brooymans |title=Three charges against CN for Wabamun spill |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=2008-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105110235/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d6d43884-c813-4d76-9d56-0373fc86cf65&k=52483 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref>  He was also at the forefront of his government's opposition to the [[Kyoto Protocol]], at one point slipping his [[Quebec]] counterpart [[Thomas Mulcair]] a note during a United Nations conference on the subject in [[Montreal]], which Mulcair interpreted as a request that Quebec soften its support of Kyoto in exchange for investment in the [[Montreal Stock Exchange]] by Alberta industry.<ref name="Mulcair">{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=9ee2c328-18ad-429a-a7d9-c94a815d2282&k=5990 |title=Kyoto proposal sensationalized, politician says |last=De Souza |first=Mike |publisher=CanWest News Services |date=November 6, 2007 |access-date=2008-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309060705/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=9ee2c328-18ad-429a-a7d9-c94a815d2282&k=5990 |archive-date=March 9, 2008 }}</ref>  Boutilier characterized the note as "discussions in terms of what we would want to be able to do in a positive environmental initiative" and denied that he was trying to influence Quebec's position.<ref name="Mulcair"/>

==== Expulsion from the PC caucus ====
In the [[2006 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election|2006 Progressive Conservative leadership election]], Boutilier initially backed [[Lyle Oberg]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/blog/johnsrude.html?pn=60&start=11/1/2006&end=11/30/2006 |title=Dinning in Oilers colours |first=Larry |last=Johnsrude |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=November 10, 2006 |access-date=2008-03-27 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and switched his support to eventual winner [[Ed Stelmach]] after Oberg was eliminated on the first ballot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-politicians-pick-sides-in-leadership-race-1.579469 |title=Alberta politicians pick sides in leadership race |date=November 28, 2006 |access-date=2018-06-02 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> When Stelmach succeeded Klein as premier, he named a smaller cabinet than Klein's.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/stelmach-announces-smaller-cabinet-royalty-review-1.621619 |title=Stelmach announces smaller cabinet, royalty review |date=December 13, 2006 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref> This included a merger of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio with Intergovernmental and International Relations, and Stelmach gave the expanded portfolio to Boutilier.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/stelmach-names-smaller-cabinet-1.600083 |title=Stelmach names smaller cabinet |date=December 15, 2006 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=2018-06-02}}</ref>

That same year, Stelmach also announced that the construction of a $35-million, 48-bed long-term care centre in Fort McMurray would be a priority for his government. But the next year, Health Minister [[Ron Liepert]] said the project would be delayed by at least four years. Liepert said the project was not an immediate priority because Fort McMurray’s growing population at the time was young.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=April 20, 2018 |title=Construction starts on long-term care centre at Willow Square |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/2018/04/20/construction-starts-on-long-term-care-centre-at-willow-square |access-date=2022-08-14 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}</ref>

Boutilier was re-elected by another expanded margin in the [[2008 Alberta general election|2008 election]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://results.elections.ab.ca/54.htm |title=Alberta 2008 provincial election results, Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo |access-date=2008-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301033511/http://results.elections.ab.ca/54.htm |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}</ref> but was not named to Stelmach's new cabinet, making him the only returning member of the pre-election cabinet not to receive a portfolio.<ref>{{cite news |first=Don |last=Braid |title=Stelmach cabinet snubs Fort McMurray |url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=5473d082-7578-4801-b4a5-9f4dc1e75a5d |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=March 15, 2008 |access-date=2008-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105110339/http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=5473d082-7578-4801-b4a5-9f4dc1e75a5d |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref> His demotion was met with protest in his home riding, which contains much of the [[Athabasca Oil Sands|oilsands activity]] driving Alberta's economy at the time, and the local Progressive Conservative [[riding association]] sent a letter of protest to Stelmach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=213b469f-0d9a-4a65-a7b7-3e7ea8b2a9d1 |title=Fort McMurray dismayed over Boutilier's exclusion |publisher=Edmonton Journal |first=Keith |last=Gerein |date=March 13, 2008 |access-date=2008-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105110439/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=213b469f-0d9a-4a65-a7b7-3e7ea8b2a9d1 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2008/03/18/5036086-sun.html |title=Dismay grows over benching of Boutilier |publisher=Edmonton Sun |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=2008-03-26}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Boutilier also became a vocal critic of the government for delaying the long-term care facility, and compared the treatment of Fort McMurray’s seniors at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre to being kept in "holding cells." He also said Liepert was "talking gibberish."<ref>{{cite news |last=Braid |first=Don |date=July 17, 2009 |title=Bold critique of Stelmach endangers Alberta Tory MLA |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |url=https://calgaryherald.com/health/Bold+critique+Stelmach+endangers+Alberta+Tory/1800300/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718210307/http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Bold+critique+Stelmach+endangers+Alberta+Tory/1800300/story.html |archive-date=2009-07-18}}</ref>

In July 2009, Stelmach kicked Boutilier out of the Progressive Conservative caucus for publicly criticizing the government’s delay of the facility. Stelmach's spokesman said that his ejection was due to his seeking "preferential treatment" for his riding; Boutilier denied that he had done so.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://calgaryherald.com/news/Stelmach+boots+Boutilier+from+caucus/1804743/story.html |title=Stelmach boots Boutilier from caucus |first=Don |last=Braid |work=[[Calgary Herald]] |date=July 18, 2009 |access-date=2009-07-18}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==== Joining the Wildrose caucus ====
In June 2010, after nearly a year as an independent, he joined the [[Wildrose Alliance Party]], saying that the move was "a natural flow,” and in hindsight calling his expulsion from the PC Party "the best thing that ever happened to me in my political career.”<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/former-alberta-cabinet-minister-joins-wildrose-alliance/article1619214/ |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |first=Dean |last=Bennett |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=2010-06-25 |title=Former Alberta cabinet minister joins Wildrose Alliance}}</ref>

Boutilier was joined by fellow former Tories [[Heather Forsyth]] and [[Rob Anderson (politician)|Rob Anderson]]. As an Opposition MLA, Boutilier was a vocal critic of the PC government’s handling of education, health care, transportation, infrastructure and housing in [[Fort McMurray]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cummins |first=Julianna |date=April 23, 2012 |title=Alberta Election 2012: Boutilier loses close race in Fort McMurray-Conklin |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/alberta-election-2012-fort-mcmurray-conklin |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA}}</ref>

He continued to demand a long-term care centre project and progress on twinning [[Alberta Highway 63|Highway 63]], which had been announced and was scheduled to be finished in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Dan |date=May 26, 2012 |title=No shortage of finger-pointing when subject of progress arises |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/no-shortage-of-finger-pointing-when-subject-of-progress-arises |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=Edmonton Journal |language=en-CA}}</ref> The highway between [[Fort McMurray]] and [[Atmore, Alberta|Atmore]] would not be twinned until 2016.

In the [[2012 Alberta general election|2012 Alberta election]], Boutilier ran for re-election as a Wildrose candidate in the new electoral district of [[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]]. He was defeated by PC candidate [[Mike Allen (Alberta politician)|Mike Allen]].

===Return to municipal politics===
In July 2013, Allen was arrested in a prostitution sting during a government trip to St. Paul, Minnesota.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Mike Allen Charged, Scheduled to Appear in Court |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2013/07/19/mike-allen-charged-scheduled-to-appear-in-us-court |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=July 19, 2013 |access-date=2016-03-27}}</ref> Boutilier remained silent on a possible political comeback,<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Boutilier Silent on Possible Comeback |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2013/07/17/boutilier-silent-on-possible-comeback |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=2016-03-27}}</ref> but in October, announced he would be seeking a Ward 1 municipal council seat in the [[Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo]].

When it came to local governance, Boutilier commented that residents were beginning to feel that "the inmates are running the asylum."<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Guy Boutilier running for council in Ward 1 |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2013/09/22/guy-boutilier-running-for-council-in-ward-1 |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511021057/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2013/09/22/guy-boutilier-running-for-council-in-ward-1 |archive-date=May 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Boutilier won one of six seats representing the urban Ward 1 covering [[Fort McMurray]]. He quickly earned a reputation on council as a strong fiscally conservative voice who frequently criticized past administrations for hiring companies and consultants based outside Alberta.

==== Residency controversy ====
In May 2014, [[Fort McMurray Today]] discovered Boutilier did consultant work for the municipality prior to being elected to council. After the 2012 provincial election, he was working as an urban planning and political consultant and submitted a "strategic roadmap" for projects approved by the previous council administration.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Councillor Guy Boutilier wanted municipal consultant work prior to running in election |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/05/08/councillor-guy-boutilier-wanted-municipal-consultant-work-prior-to-running-in-election |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509102818/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/05/08/councillor-guy-boutilier-wanted-municipal-consultant-work-prior-to-running-in-election |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Boutilier was paid $2,957.58 for his two-page report. This included a $1,050 expense for two round trips from Edmonton to Fort McMurray. The report and invoice was leaked to the newspaper and showed Boutilier ran his consulting business out of a residential home in Edmonton.

The address and the expenses raised questions regarding Boutilier's residency and his eligibility to hold a council seat. Boutilier said he owned an Edmonton home because his son regularly had treatments related to his autism at the [[Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital]] and he lectured part-time at the [[University of Alberta]].

In November 2014, a Fort McMurray business owner named Robert Vargo, who supported Boutilier's Wildrose campaign, filed a legal challenge questioning Boutilier's residency.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Long-time business owner challenging Boutilier's legitimacy on council |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/11/09/long-time-business-owner-challenging-boutiliers-legitimacy-on-council |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=November 9, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314201341/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/11/09/long-time-business-owner-challenging-boutiliers-legitimacy-on-council |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Vargo wrote in his affidavit that Boutilier had moved to Edmonton shortly after Stelmach expelled him from the Progressive Conservative Party's caucus. Three more people filed separate affidavits claiming they rented Boutilier's Fort McMurray home and rarely saw him.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Affidavit claims Boutilier seldom stayed at Thickwood home until 2013 election |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/07/affidavit-claims-boutilier-seldom-stayed-at-thickwood-home-until-2013-election |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314201338/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/07/affidavit-claims-boutilier-seldom-stayed-at-thickwood-home-until-2013-election |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> They also claimed Boutilier was claiming a northern living allowance, despite allegedly living in Edmonton.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Two more claim Boutilier was not eligible for council seat |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/12/two-more-claim-boutilier-was-not-eligible-for-council-seat |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=January 12, 2015 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314201339/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/12/two-more-claim-boutilier-was-not-eligible-for-council-seat |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Boutilier's lawyer dismissed the affidavits as "a frivolous application" and said a defence was being prepared. At the same time, [[Fort McMurray Today]] reported Boutilier had started looking for new jobs in the private sector as questions about his eligibility to sit on council were raised in the community.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Boutilier named possible top boss for RRC |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/12/14/boutilier-named-possible-top-boss-for-rrc |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=December 14, 2014 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519212254/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2014/12/14/boutilier-named-possible-top-boss-for-rrc |archive-date=May 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==== Resignation from council ====
The claims made by Vargo and the three individuals never went to court. In January 2015, Boutilier resigned from council one day after Vargo dropped the challenge.<ref name="McDermott">{{cite news |first=Vincent |last=McDermott |title=Boutilier resigns from council, but silent on PC run |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/24/boutilier-resigns-from-council-but-silent-on-pc-run |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |date=January 24, 2015 |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506151507/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/24/boutilier-resigns-from-council-but-silent-on-pc-run |archive-date=May 6, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Boutilier denied his resignation was related to the dropped case. The lawyers for Vargo and Boutilier said the motivations behind dropping the challenge would remain a private matter between the two men.<ref name="McDermott" /><ref>{{cite news |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=January 26, 2015 |title=Details of Vargo's legal settlement with Boutilier remain private |publisher=Fort McMurray Today |url=http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/26/details-of-vargos-legal-settlement-with-boutilier-remain-private |url-status=dead |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506151505/http://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/01/26/details-of-vargos-legal-settlement-with-boutilier-remain-private |archive-date=May 6, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On the same day as his resignation, Boutilier purchased a membership with the Progressive Conservative Party's riding association for [[Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo]], leaving many to believe he would attempt to run as an MLA in the [[2015 Alberta general election]]. Boutilier said he was returning to the party because of the leadership of Premier [[Jim Prentice]]. He said his expulsion from the PC caucus was "water under the bridge."

The PC nomination in Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo went to incumbent MLA [[Mike Allen (Alberta politician)|Mike Allen]] and was not challenged by Boutilier.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |title=Mike Allen wins PC nomination |work=Fort McMurray Today |url=https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/03/08/mike-allen-wins-pc-nomination |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419052613/https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/2015/03/08/mike-allen-wins-pc-nomination |archive-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>

==Post-politics and legacy==
Boutilier was affectionately nicknamed "Guy Boots" during his political career. He reminded people his first name was pronounced with the French pronunciation, Ghee, while his last name was anglicized Boot-a-LEER.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Climenhaga |first=David |date=March 10, 2024 |title='Guy Boots,' youngest mayor of Fort McMurray, first mayor of Wood Buffalo, PC, Independent and Wildrose MLA, dead at 65 |url=https://albertapolitics.ca/2024/03/guy-boots-youngest-mayor-of-fort-mcmurray-first-mayor-of-wood-buffalo-pc-independent-and-wildrose-mla-dead-at-65/ |work=AlbertaPolitics.ca}}</ref>

Hoflin notes Boutilier was an introvert in his personal life, but an extroverted politician who frequently joked with constituents, journalists, politicians and staff from all parties. At the same time, Hoflin says Boutilier was combative on his views.<ref name=":3" />

Dan MacLennan, who served as president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees between 1997 and 2006, credits Boutilier for securing a northern living allowance for AUPE members in Fort McMurray.<ref name=":2" /> Vaughn Jessome, Boutilier’s former constituency assistant and a long-time friend, said Boutilier was instrumental in founding the Stepping Stones Youth Home in Fort McMurray.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Christian |first=Carol |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Tribute to Guy Boutilier |url=https://ymmonline.ca/ymm-magazine/features/05/2024/tribute-to-guy-boutilier/ |access-date=July 15, 2024 |work=YMMonline.ca}}</ref>

After Boutilier's death, ''Fort McMurray Today'' reported that Jessome felt Boutilier was "vindicated on his biggest fights."<ref name=":1" />

A continuing care centre opened in Fort McMurray in July 2021. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 20, 2018. It was approved in 2015 by Premier [[Rachel Notley]], of the [[Alberta New Democratic Party]], following lobbying from [[Brian Jean|Brian Jean, the MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin]] and then-[[Wildrose Party#Leaders|leader of the Wildrose Party]]. Both Notley and Jean agreed the project had been mismanaged and needlessly delayed by the former PC government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=June 23, 2021 |title=First residents move into Willow Square Continuing Care Centre |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/first-residents-move-into-willow-square-long-term-care-centre |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Fort McMurray Today |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony, Boutilier told ''Fort McMurray Today'' in 2018 he had no regrets about his actions that led to his expulsion from the PC caucus.

“It’s important to stand on principle. When someone promises something and they don’t deliver, you can sit back and say nothing or say something,” he said. “I chose to say something and I will never regret it.”<ref name=":0" />

In 2021,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lobby Team |url=https://www.albertacounsel.com/lobby_team |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422002953/https://www.albertacounsel.com/lobby_team |archive-date=2021-04-22 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=albertacounsel.com |quote=''[note: Boutilier not yet listed on team as of April 2021]''}}</ref> Boutilier joined the Edmonton-based lobbying firm Alberta Counsel as a senior advisor.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Guy Boutilier |url=https://www.albertacounsel.com/guy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816134948/https://www.albertacounsel.com/guy |archive-date=2021-08-16 |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=albertacounsel.com}}</ref> In October 2021, Mayor [[Don Scott (Alberta politician)|Don Scott]] of the [[Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo]] awarded Boutilier and 12 other residents the Key to the Region.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDermott |first=Vincent |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Outgoing council recognizes philanthropists, volunteers and advocates with Keys to the Region |url=https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/outgoing-council-recognizes-philanthropists-volunteers-and-advocates-with-keys-to-the-region |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201060131/https://fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/local-news/outgoing-council-recognizes-philanthropists-volunteers-and-advocates-with-keys-to-the-region |archive-date=2021-12-01 |access-date=2022-08-14 |newspaper=[[Fort McMurray Today]]}}</ref>

==Death==
Boutilier died on March 8, 2024, at the age of 65.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2024-03-08 |title=Mayor's statement: Honourable Guy Boutilier, ECA, remembered for years of service to Wood Buffalo |first=Sandy |last=Bowman |url=https://www.rmwb.ca/en/news/mayor-s-statement-honourable-guy-boutilier-eca-remembered-for-years-of-service-to-wood-buffalo.aspx |access-date=2024-03-09 |publisher=[[Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo]] }}</ref>

==Election results==
{{Alberta provincial election, 1997/Fort McMurray}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 2001/Fort McMurray}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 2004/Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 2008/Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo}}
{{Alberta provincial election, 2012/Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Stelmach Ministry}}
{{Klein Ministry}}

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