Meet Your Candidates: Red Deer-Lacombe

Joan Barnes (Independent)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

There are many skills that I bring to the table as a Member of Parliament. I sat on Sylvan Lake Town Council for 3 years, as well, have sat on a school board for 3 years, I have worked in healthcare for 14 years and my husband and I run our own small successful businesses. All of this experience has helped me to be fiscally responsible, be a better listener, problem solver, critical thinker, and to think less of me and more of other people.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

The key issues in this election are the freedoms that are being taken away from Canadian citizens, due to an Immunization Passport and Mandatory Vaccinations. This all leads to the largest issue of all – Segregation of the masses. The haves and the have nots. Our Federal Government has not brought any hope to the hopeless out there by bringing negative narratives to the people who are looking for direction for peace. This is very disconcerting that a government would actually cause people to pin one person against another by mandates that are unrealistic and to bring division instead of cohesiveness. When you have good government over the people the people should prosper not suffer.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

I would like to restore to the people, hope that things can change when we all come together collectively and to be a voice, a voice that stands up for the people of Canada. Lets come together and keep our nation Strong and Free.

Blaine Calkins (Conservative Party of Canada – Incumbent)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

I have had the honour of being a Member of Parliament since 2006, first elected in the riding of Wetaskiwin, which was divided in 2015 and became Red Deer – Lacombe. For the past 15 years I have been a tireless advocate for Central Albertans in Ottawa, and I understand the legislative tools and levers available to parliamentarians to fight for their constituents. I understand the issues important to Central Albertans because they’re the same issues that are important to me and my family. I was born and raised on a farm just outside of Lacombe, and now I live in the city of Lacombe with my wife and kids.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

Creating jobs and opportunity for Canadians the number on priority both here in Central Alberta, and across the country. Small businesses have been devastated over the past 18 months. We need to incentivize work – no emergency social program can replace the dignity and satisfaction that comes with earning a living and providing for yourself and your family. It’s time to get people back to work in every region and every industry, including the energy sector. We are going to work to rebuild small businesses across the country by incentivizing investment in our communities main streets, not on Wall Street or Bay Street. Our top priority is to get as many people back to work as quickly as possible. We need long term, sustainable economic growth – we can’t accept the slow growth we have seen for the past five years.

The Public Health Measures that have been put in place by the Provincial Government are a direct result of the Trudeau Liberals failure to give the provinces the tools they need to deal with the pandemic. Nobody wants to see masking or lockdowns continue. Ultimately, that is a decision to be made by the Provincial government – the Constitution is clear on that. The federal government can however give them the resources that they need to be successful, something that the Trudeau Liberals have failed at miserably. Conservatives will implement a national rapid screening program to give the provinces what they need to remain open in the face of future waves of this pandemic.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

My number one promise to the residents of Red Deer – Lacombe is to listen to you, treat you how I would want to be treated in return, and make the betterment of our community the priority in all of the decisions I make as your Member of Parliament. As someone who has had the honour of representing my community in Ottawa previously, I know that you can never go wrong if you’re sticking up for the people you represent. That will continue to be the guiding principle for my actions if I am re-elected.

Tanya Heyden-Kaye (New Democratic Party)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

As a worker, like most people in Alberta, I have the experience of being neglected by the federal governments. In spite of having a 2 income household we still struggle to make ends meet, like many of my neighbours. I worked at ParentLink in Ponoka for 10 years but my job as a parent educator and family program planner was eliminated shortly after the UCP was elected in Alberta. My work included parent education, connecting community, listening to families and their needs and then developing family programs. I speak up in our community for 2SLGBTQ+ families and youth, co-founding the Ponoka Pride & Community GSA and working with the Town of Ponoka to get the Pride flag raised in Ponoka for the first time ever, in July 2021. I have the experience of listening to and fighting for the people who get left behind and I will fight for you.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

Reconciliation & Racial Justice: We live on the unceded territory of the Blackfoot, Plains Cree, Tsuu T’ina, and Michif peoples. I strongly believe that the federal government’s relationship to Indigenous peoples must be based on an acknowledgement of our country’s colonial history of genocide and stolen lands and include legally binding commitments to reconciliation including clean drinking water immediately, safe housing, respectful and safe access to healthcare, new and improved infrastructure and all should be Indigenous led.

Hate crimes have tripled since the pandemic began. Social media platforms need to be legally held responsible for having hateful content and misinformation on their platforms.

Women & Childcare: Women make up at least 46% of the workforce in Alberta and they are first line childcare for families. I was still working at ParentLink when the UCP cancelled the provincial NDP $25 a day childcare program and how many women had to leave their new jobs because they could no longer afford childcare – especially those with more than one child. It was financially devastating. Single mothers could no longer afford childcare.The NDP platform includes $10/day childcare making it affordable for women to work.

Covid Recovery – economic & health: Over the last year and a half we saw big industries getting large Covid packages while small businesses, much more highly affected by shutdowns, received almost nothing. Imagine an NDP government revitalizing the prairies by investing in sustainable development projects and local business; building a diversified economy by providing training for workers and investing in clean energy.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

I have far more than one promise for my constituents. I promise to fight to make life more affordable for workers like you and me, to build a better economy that works for everyday Albertans, to fight the climate crisis and make sure that the rich actually pay taxes. I promise to vote in Parliament for you if you vote for me.

Harry Joujan (Maverick Party)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

My work-life experience includes 25 years of owning/operating flooring businesses in Al-berta and the Arctic plus ten years working in the oil and gas industry in both drilling and well servicing sectors. I’ve served in various management positions in the construction and service sector industries. Throughout my career I have held executive positions on numerous volunteer and non-profit organizations supporting the needs of my community. Today, my focus has shifted to helping secure a dedicated voice for Westerners.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

C) Central Alberta’s most pressing issue today is a reality that rankles the majority of Westerners. The stark reality locally is that politicians in Ottawa dictate policy that adversely affects western provinces but is based on central and eastern desires and priori-ties. MPs elected in the West are refused a platform and any voice on Western priorities in Ottawa. Western MPs are routinely muzzled and then ignored by their eastern counterparts who hold the majority in their respective caucuses.

A specific aggravating example is the federal government’s Equalization Program formula enshrined in the constitution. Alberta has paid a staggering sum in the multi-billions of energy industry dollars to Quebec—designated a “Have Not” province—over the past decades. And yet under the program formula, when Alberta had an $8.7 billion budget deficit in 2018-19 and Quebec showed an $8.3 billion surplus in the same year, Alberta still got nothing! Westerners believe the federal transfer payment program is irreversibly flawed. The Maverick Party will work to abolish it.

B) The Liberal carbon tax is an attack on taxpayers. It unfairly penalizes Westerners with no measurable effect on carbon emissions. Erin O’Toole’s frantically-produced carbon levy also has no measurable carbon reduction benefits but again attacks Westerners disproportionately to satisfy eastern governments clamoring for a carbon reduction plan. The Maverick Party supports eliminating any form of carbon taxes/levies targeting individuals.

C) The federal government must stop its incessant attack on the oil/gas sector that supports this region’s economy with the most ethically-produced products in the world. At the same time, eastern Canada ignores its own reliance on the same products from foreign sources produced with questionable environmental and ethical practices. Regional autonomy in our resource industries must be held by Westerners.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

If elected, I will bring a voice from Central Alberta to the halls of Parliament. It will be the dawn of the new Western Bloc. In today’s West, it’s time for voters to seize control of the root causes of our simmering discontent, now about to boil over. The Maverick Party is our liberator.

Here’s my Charter for Service to the constituents of Red Deer-Lacombe.

· Relentless representation of our grassroots to win long-held, soul-deep goals and objectives

· Principled, passionate pursuit of Western priorities, successes and achievements

· Resounding results across the spectrum of Western aspirations

· Daily delivery of honesty, integrity and Western grit

Megan Lim (People’s Party of Canada)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

The thing that makes me the right fit for the role of MP is that I’m not a politician. I am a regular person who cares about the people in my community and that’s who I believe should be representing us. I don’t have a slick answer to every question. I’m here to learn from the people of Red Deer-Lacombe and to fight for what matters to them. I’ve talked to many people recently, from nurses to dairy farmers and they all have different concerns and priorities. I’m always available to speak with the people of my riding directly.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

I think the biggest issues this election are those surrounding COVID. The Peoples Party of Canada will always stand against mandatory vaccination, vaccine passports and lockdowns. We believe that you have the right to make your own decisions. We are not anti-vax, we believe in your freedom to make this choice for yourself and your family. If we carry on with our plans to force nurses, doctors, etc to be vaccinated I believe we will see disaster unfold in our health care system. The decision to get this vaccine is a personal one that you should make after weighing the benefits and risks for yourself.

Another key issue here in Alberta is pipelines. We still live in a world that is dependent on oil and gas. Theres no reason that here in Canada we should be bringing in oil from places like Saudi Arabia that don’t have our environmental protections or human rights standards. Alberta is positioned to provide the cleanest and safest oil to Canadians and the World and our government is doing us all a disservice by not advocating for Alberta oil. The PPC intends to use section 92(10) of our Constitution to get the pipelines built in the national interest.

Alberta needs a fair deal on equalization. Right now Alberta has to count its oil and gas revenue but Quebec doesn’t have to count their hydro-electric. Does that seem fair to Alberta? Of course not, but it’s because Quebec had leaders that fought for its interests and we intend to do that for Alberta. We plan to recalculate the formula used to determine the equalization payments so that we get a fair deal for all of Canada.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

I will not make a bunch of big campaign promises. I won’t try to buy your votes by creating programs paid for with your own tax dollars. What I promise is that I will fight against the current system. I will put Alberta and my local communities first, before the interests of the Eastern Provinces. I am not handcuffed by the positions of my party or my party leader. I am free to vote my conscience on the issues that matter to Albertans. I will listen to you and do my best to represent you in Ottawa.

David Ondieki (Liberal Party of Canada)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

My name is David O Ondieki, a nurse manager with Covenant Health and Alberta Health Services and worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnessing the suffering of many families impacted by the pandemic has underscored my deep commitment to fighting for a strong public healthcare system that works for all Canadians. I hold a nursing degree (Athabasca University), in addition to a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (University of Central Oklahoma, USA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Texas A & M Commerce.

I was born and raised in Kenya before making my way to the USA for my post-secondary education and then to Canada. I am a community leader and organizer, having led the Association of Kenyans in Alberta. In addition, I have been a manager and a leader in my nursing career. All these lived experiences have given me a unique skill set that will be much needed in the house of commons in Ottawa. I am married to my wife Eirine of 22 years and blessed with four wonderful children.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

Residents in Red Deer-Lacombe are extremely concerned about the current state of our health care system. Some have expressed concerns that two tier health care and privatization are in our future. I can assure constituents that a Liberal government will never allow our system of universal health care to be undermined including investing in mental health supports. We’ve seen the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on Canadians who have been more isolated and alone. In our liberal party platform, we committed to ongoing funding for mental health services with an initial investment of $4.5 billion over the next 5 years.

In the same vein there have many concerns expressed about seniors’ care. The Trudeau team shares those concerns and has committed significant funding to ensure updated standards of care for our seniors.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

Finally, there has been considerable concern regarding the fact that Alberta is not yet a part of the national childcare program which would result in $10 a day childcare. Families feel this is a key element in allowing them to grow and thrive. I and all Liberals agree. We are committed to high quality programs managed by skilled staff that meet the diverse needs of families. We will not waiver on this commitment.

Matthew Watson (Libertarian Party of Canada)

Which skills and experience do you have that make you fit for the role of MP?

I have many skills that would make me the right fit. I’m articulate, passionate, willing to debate with anyone and have a never ending desire to learn new ways to complete tasks. I believe that I can learn from anyone if they have something to teach. I’m a Black belt in Jiu Jitsu which is very challenging martial art that requires a person to have great patience in moments of personal discomfort while large amounts of pressure are directed on you. This has had great improvements in my life and makes me a very strong person both physically and more importantly mentally which is what a person who wants to change our political system will need to be.

From your perspective, what are the key election issues, both locally and nationally?

Locally it seems that the back and forth COVID measures are stressing people past the point of civility. We are losing sight of the fact that there are many different opinions and ways of thinking about risks in our lives. Debate on these should be welcomed as long as tempers are kept in check. No one likes to feel belittled over their beliefs.

Nationally I feel like the voices of Rural Canadians are being ignored. The large cities have a tendency to think that their problems are what is troubling the rest of the country as well, not taking into account the vast nature of Canada and the people who call it home.

What is your number one promise to constituents?

I promise to be willing to talk with anyone about issues whether political or personal. That’s something that I feel we are losing as a society. Social media has brought information and certain types of communication to our fingertips but it also seems to be removing the face to face conversations from our lives. I don’t want to only communicate with people online, I would be there for them whenever we were to meet. I want to be a real person and not just an online politician who isn’t there to listen or help people out.

More information on local candidates is at elections.ca. Polls are open Monday, Sept. 20 from 7:3o a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

*All photos were supplied by the individual candidate

by rdnewsNOW staff

Meet Your Candidates: Red Deer-Lacombe

Joan Barnes (Independent)

Blaine Calkins (Conservative Party of Canada – Incumbent)

Tanya Heyden-Kaye (New Democratic Party)

Harry Joujan (Maverick Party)

Megan Lim (People’s Party of Canada)

David Ondieki (Liberal Party of Canada)

Matthew Watson (Libertarian Party of Canada)

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