Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan covers array of topics at townhall

Stephan encouraged all conservatives to participate, stating he believes the party would benefit from seeing a vote that truly represents grassroot conservatives.

Some participants expressed displeasure with the $100 registration fee to take part in the Special General Meeting where the vote will take place — at the Cambridge Hotel. The price increases to $150 after March 19.

There was also frustration expressed by an apparent lack of response when emailing or phoning the UCP, including not receiving membership cards after payment, plus Premier Jason Kenney’s inconsistency on pandemic measures.

Stephan highlighted the impact of Alberta’s insufficient ICU beds on the pandemic response, saying the province has less than 50 per cent of the lowest number of ICU beds in any U.S. state. He said the recently announced $1.8 billion investment in the Red Deer Regional Hospital will be “transformational” for having positive “healthcomes” (health outcomes) in the city.

Adding Albertans need to, “look at AHS,” he received an affirming reaction from the crowd, and then vowed to push AHS to utilize funding as soon as possible so that the necessary hospital services can be put in place.

Stephan emphasized his desire for a public inquiry on the impacts that COVID-19 restrictions and other measures have had on Albertans.

Stephan also touched upon the city’s under construction 75-bed Addiction Recovery Community in the north end and the misconceptions some may have about it.

“This is a dry place. This is where individuals are not living in their addictions,” he said tearing up while sharing his experience visiting a similar site. “The thing that I found so gratifying when I went there is that the best support for individuals suffering under the addictions was the other individuals that they were on that journey together.”

Hopeful the site and the future permanent shelter will provide some positivity, he described an “exodus” of downtown businesses as a result of the current situation, which includes the overdose prevention site (OPS) located near the temporary shelter. He said he’d like to see the OPS gradually transitioned out.

One attendee expressed support for the OPS having seen less needle debris and even, “less dead bodies,” near the north bridge since the site’s opening.

Another resident leaned on his past work in the homeless and addictions community in Ottawa where services were gradually dispersed outside the downtown core as a way to revitalize the area and make it “livable” again.

Among other topics, Stephan shared his excitement for Red Deer Polytechnic’s new bachelor degree programs in business and education.

by Alessia Proietti

Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan covers array of topics at townhall

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