Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection: Get to know the candidates

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order, by first name.

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READ MORE: Byelection forum going June 17

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BILL TUFTS – WILDROSE LOYALTY COALITION (WLC)

1) Why are you running to be an MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills?

I am running in the Election to make Alberta more prosperous for all Albertans. The province is not working for the people anymore; its not working for the youth, our small businesses, the farmers or our oil workers.

Our politicians have sold out to Ottawa and the Elites.

The economy and worker wages have flatlined for a decade

Youth unemployment is increasing, now over 20% in Canada.

Our institutions are collapsing, healthcare, education, universities.

Housing prices are skyrocketing out of control and homeless numbers are growing.

Cost of living is high

Ottawa is trying to shut down the oil and gas industry.

Farm costs rising and more government regulations are driving up their costs

Our children see no future for themselves

We have a plan

We see close to what lines up with Fair Deal panel

Our priorities are …

Referendum

The people have said enough. This is the first step to ensure that all the people get a voice on the future of Alberta, not just the political elites

We want to ensure that Alberta has a prosperous future for all

Policing = the people want a Provincial Police Force –

People feel unsafe – The Rural crime rate 34% higher in the citiy centers, its a trend that will likely persists into 2025

Taxation – Provincial Revenue Agency:

We need to collect our own taxes. Not wait like beggars for Ottawa to send us something back. Ottawa always sends the people’s money to provinces that give them the best political bang for the buck

Control over immigration =

Alberta has exploded by 600,000 people over 5 years.

Some of that was interprovincial and most was out of country. At the last census Red Deer had a population of 99,000. That level of immigration into the province is the equivalent to 6 Red Deer in 5 years. How many hospitals, schools, homes would that have required?

Not many were built and it has overwhelmed the system

I worked in the financial industry for 25 years, and specialized in employee benefits and pensions. Bill is the founder of Fair Pensions For All, an advocacy group focusing on public sector pension and compensation issues. He also wrote a best-seller book, Pension Ponzi.

As a political and policy advisor on pension matters, I advised Members of Parliament, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, and written pension policy for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

I am advocating for a better deal for Alberta. A relationship with Ottawa that will make Alberta a better, safer and more prosperous place for all Albertan’s

I hope that all Albertans will join in the conversation. Look at the facts and make a decision on our future. The people have to decide a,nd it cannot be an elites driven process

I was fortunate to have a grand father who believed in Canada. He was a depression era small town doctor

His Quote …

Great provinces fail because the people grow weak and faint-hearted.

A country is built on the dreams of those who will not let them die.

2) Why should people vote for you, and what skills do you have that make you suitable for this role?

*The candidate only submitted one answer

3) What will you advocate for?

*The candidate only submitted one answer

4) How do you believe Alberta’s provincial government should tackle unity with the rest of Canada?

*The candidate only submitted one answer

BEV TOEWS – ALBERTA NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NDP)

1) Why are you running to be an MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills?

I’ve called Olds home for more than 35 years. I moved here to raise my family, and I’ve lived, worked, and contributed to this community ever since. This is my home, and I care deeply about the people and the future of our community.

Right now, Danielle Smith and the UCP are making the wrong choices: underfunding schools, undermining public health care, driving up costs for families, and flirting with separatism. They have failed Albertans, and we deserve better.

I’ve stepped forward because I’m proud of this community, proud to be Albertan, and proud to be Canadian. I know that better is possible and that we can build a stronger future together.

2) Why should people vote for you, and what skills do you have that make you suitable for this role?

I’ve spent over 25 years working in schools and have been a long-time advocate for students, families, and public education. I’m known as a listener, a problem-solver, and someone who gets things done.

I am also a champion for supporting local. Whether planning student leadership events or other community initiatives, I’ve always made a point to support local food producers. I believe in getting things we can grow and produce locally first and making sure our communities benefit.

Danielle Smith and the UCP have treated this riding like a safe seat, not a community. This election is an opportunity to send a clear message that Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills is done being ignored and is demanding ethical, competent leadership.

Through my experiences in education and as Chair of the Fair Trade Olds Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to work with schools, families, farmers, and businesses to strengthen our community. I’ll bring that same passion and commitment to the Legislature for the people of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.

3) What will you advocate for?

I’ll advocate for fixing public health care, giving proper funding to schools, and making life more affordable for families. As someone who has spent decades working in this community, I know firsthand the challenges rural Albertans face. Whether it’s the rising cost of living or difficulty accessing care close to home, I will be a voice for those in need that are being ignored by the UCP.

The UCP’s misplaced priorities have created chaos in hospitals with growing wait times and overcrowded classrooms with the lowest per-student funding in Canada. At the same time, household costs keep rising. We need to put an end to their cuts, chaos, and corruption.

I have a track record of delivering results and I know how to follow through. If I say I’m going to do something, I will get it done. With Naheed Nenshi’s experienced leadership, we can ensure that public services are protected, government spending is responsible, and rural Albertans have the chance to thrive.

4) How do you believe Alberta’s provincial government should tackle unity with the rest of Canada?

I am the only candidate in this race who loves Canada and wants to fight to save it. We need leadership that brings people together, not drives them apart. The UCP’s approach of creating division through their separatist agenda is reckless and hurts Alberta’s economy, reputation, and future. We need to build bridges, not burn them.

My approach to unity starts with community. It starts with supporting what we grow here, valuing what we share, and making sure no one is left behind. This by-election is a chance to send Danielle Smith a message that we want a government focused on making life better for Albertans, not on stoking division. I’m proud to be Canadian, and I believe we are stronger together. I will always advocate for a strong Alberta in a united Canada.

CAMERON DAVIES – REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ALBERTA (RPA)

1) Why are you running to be an MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills?

I’m running to represent Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills because rural Albertans deserve a voice that puts people before parties. For too long, rural Alberta has been taken for granted by establishment politicians more concerned with staying in power than defending our freedoms, livelihoods, and way of life.

The Republican Party of Alberta is built on a single, powerful idea: Alberta is strong enough to stand on its own. We don’t need Ottawa’s permission to exist.

That’s why I will push for a binding referendum on Alberta independence. An independent Alberta means protecting our jobs, land, and families. It means ending equalization, securing our borders, and building a future rooted in freedom, prosperity, and accountability—one where conservative values aren’t for sale.

2) Why should people vote for you, and what skills do you have that make you suitable for this role?

I’m not a career politician — I’m an Albertan who understands what it means to be Albertan. I’m a veteran who stood up to vaccine mandates. I worked in the oil patch and know what it’s like to put in a hard day’s work. I’m the son of a teacher and small business owner, I know there’s no safety net other than the one you build yourself. I’m a listener, a fighter, and someone who will always put the needs of this constituency first. What makes me suitable isn’t a title — it’s my dedication to protecting our freedoms, standing up for local priorities, and refusing to back down when it comes to defending Alberta’s interests.

3) What will you advocate for?

I will advocate for a binding referendum on Alberta independence. Not strongly worded letters, panels, and endless lawsuits. For too long, Albertans have been dictated to by Ottawa elites and an out of touch government in Edmonton. I’ll stand up for property rights that include firearms rights, parental rights, medical freedom, and the right of every Albertan to live free from government overreach. We need a government that trusts its citizens — not one that tries to control them.

4) How do you believe Alberta’s provincial government should tackle unity with the rest of Canada?

Unity should never come at the cost of Alberta’s autonomy. We need to stand up for our province, assert our constitutional rights, and demand independence. That means rejecting a broken confederation and building an Alberta that is truly strong and free. Our government should prioritize Alberta-first policies and forge relationships that serve our people, not Ottawa’s political class.

TARA SAWYER – UNITED CONSERVATIVE PARTY (UCP)

1) Why are you running to be an MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills?

I’m running because, as a mother of three children, I believe we must protect the values that have made Alberta: Freedom, hard work, and the centrality of the family. I see these values under threat by the Liberal Government in Ottawa and I believe Premier Smith and her team have done tremendous work to fight back and make Alberta strong. I’m running to join that work and be a voice at the table for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, the place my husband Matt and I have called home for over two decades.

2) Why should people vote for you, and what skills do you have that make you suitable for this role?

I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother and farmer who is worried about the future of our Province. As the Chair of Alberta Grains, I worked tirelessly to represent grain producers across the province, advocating for our product and fighting back against Ottawa’s attacks on our way of life. This is the real life, hands-on experience I will bring to representing Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills in the Legislature.

3) What will you advocate for?

I will continue to advocate for our agriculture sector as I have done for so many years. I will also work with Premier Smith to ensure that Alberta pushes back against Ottawa’s attacks on our energy sector. And I will immediately join the Premier’s efforts to remove sexually explicit material from school libraries. In short, I will advocate for our industries, our values, and our families.

4) How do you believe Alberta’s provincial government should tackle unity with the rest of Canada?

The truth is that Ottawa has given Alberta a bad deal. As a lifelong Albertan, I’ve been proud of Premier Smith’s efforts to stand up to the Federal Government by invoking the Sovereignty Act twice, forcing Ottawa to axe the carbon tax, and getting the Federal Government to the table to negotiate an Alberta Accord. I’m also proud of the Premier’s work to lower the threshold for a citizens’ initiated referendum, allowing the voice of the people to be respected. I truly believe that a United Conservative Government is best suited to lead Alberta through this crisis while stopping the NDP from taking advantage of a vote split and winning the next election.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection: Get to know the candidates

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