Ready or not the election is upon us, and the campaign is ramping up. In less than a month, a new provincial government will be in place, and candidates are hoping to be a part of it going forward.
Current MLA Rick Strankman says there is a positive attitude for the party going forward.
“I feel in my heart we are on the right track with our principles of frugality and less government in Alberta. That has been the hallmark of the success in Alberta,” he said.
Strankman says he still feels the government should have respected its own legislation and waited to call the election.
“Ultimately the government made a law… so why would the pass a law if they were not going to follow it?” asks Strankman.
He says the key to his campaign will be the constituent’s acceptance of the most recent budget brought down by the government. This includes income moving away from a flat tax for residents who make more than $100,000 and healthcare premiums for Albertans who make over $50,000.
“This budget is the best reason I have seen to put the mandate to Albertans and see what they say,” said Strankman. “Our first perusal showed tax increases in 59 areas.”
Another area of focus is healthcare.
“We need to have healthcare that works,” he said. “There is a premium on healthcare for people who are in a more successful wage earning category. I don’t know if that bodes to the equality that we strived for in the province. I understood that healthcare delivery, access and cost are to all Albertans is supposed to be equal.”
Another focus is property rights. While Premier Prentice repealed Bill 19 legislation that was not proclaimed, he still feels there are threats to property rights.
PC candidate Jack Hayden says in the next 28 days he will be criss-crossing the riding to meet with constituents. He says the effects of falling energy process is forefront in his mind.
“Right off the bat I am concerned about some of our constituents. In February, we lost 1,300 jobs out of the oilfield in the province, and I know we have lost them in the valley and area,” said Hayden. “It is going to be great when the oil prices come back and that is the only thing that is going to cure that.”
Another concern for him is healthcare, particularly in the constituency.
“Some of our rural hospitals are under attack,” he said. “The Edmonton Journal did a write up that said they should close the Oyen, Castor and Hanna hospitals. We need those hospitals there, it’s a huge issue.”
He acknowledges there has been concerns with ambulance response times but says, the new rural health study will help alleviate that by making sure the hand-off of patients to hospitals from ambulances is done quicker.
“If I am elected I will be sitting with Minister Mandel and talking about it,” he said.
Education is another important aspect of rural life that he feels needs attention.
“We need to look at some of the formulas again so that everybody gets fair treatment. It is not that anyone out here wants more than anyone else, we just want to be treated equally. For example, the rural transportation grants for school buses are still locked in for 65 cents a litre for diesel fuel - when was the last time diesel was 65 cents?”
Another concern he has heard from residents is wanting an answer from the province for funding for flood mitigation and proper flood mapping for the area.
“We have to get it done, and we have to get it right because if we don’t, then nobody will be able to get insurance and nobody will be able to build anyway,” said Hayden.
He is excited to get moving on the campaign.
“I was through every community about four times during the nominations, and in the 28 day campaign I’ll be back in every community at least four times,” he said.
“I don’t have the job yet, but I have never stopped working for the community…you can make a difference.”
The NDP have named Emily Shannon as their candidate in the Drumheller-Stettler riding.
According to their website, that while Drumheller is her hometown, she has lived in Edmonton since 2002. She discovered her passion for politics while working on Rachel Notley’s campaign. Currently she has a position with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union #401.
She is interested in seeing a change in government that reflects the interest of working and middle class Alberta families.