By Troy Gillard

Red Deer-South

McDougall touts Alberta Party’s authenticity, care for big issues

Mar 31, 2019 | 8:00 AM

The Alberta Party candidate for Red Deer-South says she and her party need to stick to their authenticity in order to be successful this provincial election campaign.

Ryan McDougall describes the Alberta Party as a strong party filled with incredible candidates.

“We just need to carry on moving forward being the solution-focused party that we are and be a home for everybody politically,” she explains. “Focus on that fiscally responsible piece while caring for the people in our community at the same time.

“We just need to get out into the community and let people know that the Alberta Party is a viable option and they don’t have to sacrifice anything anymore, they have an option to vote for.”

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McDougall describes the Alberta Party as a centrist party that aims to find balanced solutions for the vast majority of Albertans.

“The Alberta Party doesn’t concern itself with finger pointing and blaming, it’s about identifying the issues in our community and going to work finding solutions for them,” says McDougall. “We take that collaborative approach. If it’s a great idea for Albertans, we need to get to work on it. It doesn’t matter where that idea comes from.”

McDougall agrees the economy and hospital expansion are the biggest issues for central Alberta on the campaign trail.

“The Alberta Party has committed to funding that expansion, based on the updated Needs Assessment that we’re waiting to have released,” adds McDougall. “Paul Hardy is the candidate in the north and he and I have worked very hard advocating on behalf of central Albertans to have that commitment from the Alberta Party, so those are the two main ones for central Alberta.”

The family law mediator and long-time community builder says her goal for the campaign is to “get out there” as much as she can to let people know she is just like them.

“I am somebody that saw a gap and I want to step forward and be a voice for them,” she explains. “Let people know that I am genuinely just out to be a strong voice for central Albertans and take that voice up to Edmonton so that I can accurately represent and fight to get some much-needed services brought back to central Alberta.”

McDougall says she’s proud of her decision to run for the Alberta Party because it’s a balanced party that makes a great fit for her.

“My profession as a mediator has really taught me the value of listening, asking the questions to make sure that I’m understanding people properly and what it is that concerns them,” adds McDougall. “Being accessible, having those conversations that aren’t always about confrontation but what is it that they need, what is it that they need from me, what is it that they need from government, so being very collaborative-minded.”