Red Deer-North (14 of 19 polls reporting)
*UCP – Adriana LaGrange: 10,630 (DECLARED BY CANADIAN PRESS)
NDP – Jaelene Tweedle: 7,145
The Independence Party of Alberta – Vicky Bayford: 281
Green Party of Alberta – Heather Morigeau: 257
Solidarity Movement of Alberta – Kallie Dyck: 183
Unofficially re-elected UCP MLA Adriana LaGrange alongside supporters at her campaign office on Monday night. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)
From her campaign office, Red Deer-North winner Adriana LaGrange said she feels honoured and blessed to be given another four years as MLA.
“My first order of business is definitely to make sure the hospital expansion is on track. We have the design company chosen; I want to see the design and see it move to construction as quickly as possible,” she said. “I want to make sure I continue to do good work, connecting with the citizens of Red Deer, and make sure their priorities are my priorities.”
LaGrange was asked about her work going forward after a number of years as Minister of Education.
“I serve at the pleasure of the premier, so whatever the premier would like to see me do, I’m happy to do,” she said. “I believe we’ve done a lot of great work in education, and there’s a lot more to be done, but that will be the premier’s decision.”
Naming her opponents in Red Deer-North, she also gave them kudos for stepping up to the democratic plate.
“I believe the results show that people in Red Deer are happy with the good work that’s been done, and they want to see stability.”
Red Deer-North and Red Deer-South NDP candidates, Jaelene Tweedle and Michelle Baer, also issued a statement Monday night:
“We want to thank everyone who came out to vote in this election,” they said. “Thank you to all our volunteers and supporters. We are immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved. This campaign gives us hope for a better future for Red Deer and Alberta.”
Red Deer-South (23 of 23 polls reporting)
*UCP – Jason Stephan: 13,449 (DECLARED BY CANADIAN PRESS)
NDP – Michelle Baer: 9,975
Green Party of Alberta – Ashley MacDonald: 275
Wildrose Loyalty Coalition – Jesse Stretch: 197
Solidarity Movement of Alberta – Pamela Liebenberg: 145
Unofficially re-elected UCP MLA Jason Stephan cheering with supporters on Monday night. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)Gathering with supporters at the Granary Kitchen, Stephan said he believes his party’s campaign was successful because of their honesty, integrity, and respect for competing candidates by not using fear-mongering tactics or personal attacks.
He says he has spent hours each day meeting with locals in his constituency and feels he has become a better person as a result.
“Everyone matters, they’re all important and even if we didn’t necessarily agree, even if they didn’t support me, we can still disagree without being disagreeable and we still can respect and value each other,” he said.
In his speech following the announcement of becoming the unofficial winner, Stephan said the province has seen record migration under the UCP, in comparison to higher levels of outward migration and unemployment under a time when the NDP was in government. He claims people value the province’s freedom and prosperity.
He also says his government is moving things forward in addictions with their recovery communities, including one built in Red Deer.
For the city in particular, he says he is happy to see things progressing for the downtown and the Red Deer Polytechnic.
He believes the election results represent the people of Red Deer as a conservative-leaning city.
“Regardless of whether or not you supported me, my desire is to serve you with any challenges that you have with government and to do whatever we can to be a good servant because they are my bosses,” he said about Red Deerians.
His first order of business is to prioritize the hospital, a concern he says many residents have shared.
“The people of Red Deer need to see, and they need to be reported to, in an accountable, transparent way, the progress that we’re making on this $1.8 billion investment, which is the largest capital investment in the entire province of Alberta,” he said.
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For a complete province-wide look at the results, visit www.elections.ab.ca.
Official results will be announced Thursday, June 8, 2023.
