(Supplied)

By Josh Hall

Dave Dale: New Democratic Party

Dave Dale: New Democratic Party

May 13, 2023 | 8:26 PM

Hello readers,

Each candidate from the four constituencies we are covering this election season have been issued the same questionnaire. This candidate’s biography and their answers can be found below. Our questionnaire had a limit of 500 words, and the bio 150. A / at the end indicates they went over.

The opinions and thoughts expressed by each candidate are their own, and are not endorsed by rdnewsNOW.

For more Alberta Election 2023 coverage, visit our dedicated Alberta Votes page.

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Biography

Dave Dale has been an educator in Alberta for 25 years. He has taught in a variety of school systems in our communities including on First Nations and in special education. He currently teaches Grade 6 in a rural school.

Before teaching, Dave worked in child and youth care and earned a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary.

Dave is a born and raised Albertan. Since 2006 Dave and his wife Heather have lived in the hamlet of Mirror.

Questions

1. What made you decide to run in this provincial election?

I decided to run because of the way the UCP government has treated the people that serve the needs of the Alberta public.

Doctors had their legally binding contract ripped up, nurses were told they needed to take a pay cut, and teachers’ retirement security was put at risk.

Being a teacher, I watched as the UCP government cut funding in classrooms leaving students with no support for their learning needs. I watched the UCP lay off 20,000 teaching assistants by tweet during the pandemic.

The UCP government attacked the weakest and most vulnerable in our province while at the same time giving multinational oil companies a $4-billion-dollar tax break.

I decided I couldn’t just watch it happen anymore. I wanted to do my part to advocate for positive change and hope in my community, so I decided to put my name forward as a candidate with the Alberta NDP. Albertans have been through a very challenging four years, and we need a compassionate, caring and trusted government to take us forward. Government should be responsible to the people that elect it. Governments should put the needs of the most vulnerable first. That is why I decided to run.

2. Why should constituents vote for you? What skill sets and experience do you have that make you a good fit for the role of MLA?

People should vote for me because I have been working on the frontlines my whole life. I was a child and youth care worker before I became a teacher and I have been teaching for 25 years. I value public life and believe in compassion and honesty. I am an engaged member of my ATA Local as the vice president and the negotiation chair. Being involved in contract negotiations has allowed me to develop skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, problem solving, and compromise; all skills that are important in government.

3. From your perspective, what are the most important issues in this election, both provincially and in your riding specifically?

The most important issue facing Lacombe-Ponoka and the entire province is health care. The Alberta NDP has a plan to improve health care through our Family Health Teams commitment. We have also committed to speeding up the Red Deer Hospital expansion, so it is finished before 2032.

We also have commitments to improve public education, expand rural broadband access, create jobs, and many more. The Alberta NDP have a vision of Alberta that will prepare all of us for a bright future.

4. What is your main message to voters, especially those who may be undecided?

We need a compassionate government in Alberta. We need our leaders to be trustworthy. In Rachel Notley we have a leader who says what she means and does what she says. The whole Alberta NDP party aligns with those values. We need stability and predictability. With Rachel Notley and the Alberta NDP, we can trust in those values.