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By rdnewsNOW

lacombe-ponoka

Myles Chykerda: Alberta Party

May 13, 2023 | 4:42 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

While I’ve also lived in places like Edmonton, Athens, and Los Angeles, Lacombe has been home since 1994 when my family moved here from Stettler. They were very active in that community for several decades, so I grew up learning the importance of service, volunteer work, and collaboration. My K-12 years were half in the public system and half in Lacombe’s Christian schools. I am a trained classical archaeologist, I obtained my BA and MA at UofA and then headed to UCLA in southern California for my PhD. Intermingled were years in private sector jobs as well as five years in the Legislative Assembly Offices, so I know a thing or two about internal government operations and procedures. Since I returned home to Lacombe in 2017 I’ve volunteered with many organizations and am currently engaged in efforts championing recognition and protection of Lacombe’s fantastic inventory of heritage buildings.

Questions

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

I ran in 2019 and had a great experience, but it was physically and emotionally draining. I kept saying I’d make my mind up, but work in 2022 kept me quite busy and pushed making a decision down the road. Mid-April came, and I wasn’t happy with the options on the ballot. One major party has slid into the realm of populism while the other thinks going back to 2012 PC policy is exciting – and both just bicker at each other. That’s not what Alberta needs. We need more voices in the Legislature, voices that represent voters rather than Parties. We need honesty, integrity, and MLAs who take responsibility rather than blaming other levels of government at every turn. I decided to run because I didn’t see those qualities represented with other parties represented on the ballot.

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

I could list off credentials, years in education, my varied work experience, but there’s no point because I think we need MLAs from all walks of life. What matters is possessing a particular passion (mine is post-secondary education and good governance) and realizing that new information can change your views on an issue. But MLAs need two particularly critical skills. First, they must be able to absorb a lot of information and make educated decisions that always put the best interests of their entire constituency first; no hidden agendas or special interests. Second, they must be able to listen. Albertans need their concerns to be heard, and for years, particularly in rural Alberta, we’ve had bureaucrats in office towers telling us that they know our home towns better than we do.

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

Sustainability. Education, health care, infrastructure, and all foundational aspects of Alberta are facing systemic challenges. Throwing more or less money at the same thing doesn’t ensure it will be here tomorrow. Whether the bureaucracy or MLAs, provincial leaders need to focus on long term sustainability planning; they need to undertake full scale analysis, and where necessary fundamental reconstruction, of the basic components of our public system. And these plans should not rest upon the reports of committees that were told to support a pre-determined solution.

Locally, we need fair and equitable funding. Too many responsibilities have been downloaded on to municipalities without transferring corresponding resources and abilities.

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

Find something to vote for. Alberta’s last two elections were driven by protest and voting against something. That isn’t good for democracy. It encourages parties to be lazy and vilify others instead of building good plans. Dig beyond Party labels and find the local candidate that advocates for something that resonates with your key issues. And find the groups that aren’t afraid to have tough and honest conversations with Alberta. Avoiding unpopular topics or simply blaming Ottawa isn’t going to miraculously conjure up thousands of healthcare workers or high-paying private sector positions.