Ottenbreit was first elected MLA for Yorkton in the 2007 election, when the Saskatchewan Party won government under the leadership of Brad Wall. Before Ottenbreit's win, the Yorkton seat had been held by the New Democratic Party since 1991.[1] Ottenbreit was re-elected in Yorkton three times in 2011, 2016, and 2020.[2]
Ottenbreit was first named to Wall's cabinet in 2014 when he became the Minister of Rural and Remote Health. Prior to the appointment, he had served as government whip.[3] Ottenbreit remained in the role when Scott Moe succeeded Wall as Premier in 2018. By 2019, Ottenbreit was questioned by the Opposition as to whether his anti-abortion views were preventing the government from approving universal coverage for medical abortion drugs, with most provinces having adopted coverage.[4] That summer, Ottenbreit was shuffled from rural and remote health to become the new Minister of Highways and Infrastructure; Moe, who stated that he shared Ottenbreit's anti-abortion position, said that the controversy was not the reason for the shuffle.[5] After the 2020 election, Ottenbreit was dropped from cabinet.[6]
On May 29, 2023, Ottenbreit announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2024 election, but would remain in office for the remainder of his term.[7] In October 2024, he was succeeded as Yorkton MLA by David Chan.[8]
Controversies
In 2011, Ottenbreit argued against resource revenue-sharing with First Nations in the province, suggesting that First Nations people who get "handouts" spend the money on drugs and alcohol; Ottenbreit apologized for the comments.[9] The comments drew calls for Ottenbreit's resignation from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.[10]
In a 2019 speech, Ottenbreit urged an anti-abortion group to continue their "battle" and stated that he would "continue to do what I can in my professional capacity" to help; at the time, Ottenbreit was the minister in charge of rural and remote health.[11] Premier Scott Moe stated that the comments crossed a "small line" and said that government ministers "will choose our words more carefully."[4] Ottenbreit had previously attended anti-abortion March for Life rallies in Ottawa and Regina.[12][13]
During the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan in March 2020, Ottenbreit was criticized for sharing a social media post suggesting that people 'pray and repent' to stop the pandemic. Ottenbreit added a comment saying, "I guess it worked a few thousand years ago ... couldn't hurt." He later deleted the post.[14]
In October 2020, Ottenbreit shared a Thanksgiving message from Texas Pastor Ed Newton, an American preacher who has shared anti-LGBT views and whose church labels homosexuality as an addiction.[15] Ottenbreit had earlier shared messages from pastor John Hagee, a social conservative who had referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and claimed Adolf Hitler was fulfilling God's will. Ottenbreit said he found Hagee's documentary about "Blood Moons", which claims that lunar eclipses coinciding with Jewish holidays will trigger a war in Israel and usher in the return of Jesus Christ, to be "very interesting".[15]
Personal life
Before being elected to the Legislature, Ottenbreit owned and operated Ottenbreit Waste Systems along with his brother Grant.[citation needed]
On January 27, 2017, it was revealed that Ottenbreit had been diagnosed with cancer.[16] Ottenbreit had in 2000 lost a son to cancer; after their son's death, Ottenbreit and his family hosted an ongoing childhood cancer research fundraiser in Yorkton.[16]
