By Sheldon Spackman and Troy Gillard

Local candidates ready for the campaign trail

Mar 19, 2019 | 5:48 PM

Local candidates are ready to hit the campaign trail now that the provincial election has been called for April 16.

Red Deer-South NDP candidate Barb Miller, who is seeking a second term as MLA, says she’s looking forward to the next four weeks.

“Since I was elected in 2015, I’ve been out door knocking and meeting with constituents to see what their concerns are, and I’m just going to continue doing more of that. Their opinions are why I have been fighting in Edmonton.”

Hospital expansion, Miller highlights, is the number one issue she’s been hearing about from residents.

“The premier knows that we need a hospital expansion, we need a catheterization lab. We can’t keep sending our cardiac patients to Edmonton or Calgary. So we’ve got to continue to fight for that, and that’s what I intend to do.”

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Miller says she’s also been hearing excitement over investments into the provincial economy, and concerns over crowded classrooms.

Red Deer–North UCP candidate Adriana LaGrange says the next four weeks will consist of meeting the electorate and working hard to earn their votes, noting the economy is the biggest priority for many Albertans.

“So many of the businesses in Red Deer–North have been affected or are in the process of downsizing as a result of the poor economy,” she explains. “Beyond that, locally, of course, the hospital and cardiac catheterization is top of mind and quality education is what I’m hearing at the doors, day in and day out.”

LaGrange hopes the campaign is a positive one.

“I hope it’s about issues and policy and not about personal attacks,” she exclaims. “So I’m looking forward to running a very positive, issue-based campaign and looking forward after 28 days to the election and a United Conservative Party governance model that will look after all of Alberta and bring back that prosperity, that Alberta advantage and get people back to work and feeling hopeful about their futures again.”

Red Deer–North Alberta Party candidate Dr. Paul Hardy says his party for example will need to present themselves as a clear and viable alternative to the NDP and UCP.

“We’re not going to get mixed-up in ideology-type politics but look at issues logically and transparently,” says Hardy. “Specifically in Red Deer, hospital expansion is a critical issue that not all parties have lined up and committed to and we have. I think that the more people learn about the Alberta Party, I think the more they will realize that we are a viable alternative, whether we are government, or opposition or a balance of power.”

Hardy says the Alberta Party believes in balanced budgets, spending tax-payer dollars wisely and taking care of society’s most vulnerable.

“We are an alternative that’s probably in the middle somewhere,” he explains. “For example, we don’t believe in providing subsidized daycare for every Albertan because those that can afford it can pay for it. We think it’s far more sensible to target help to the most vulnerable and then you have more money to actually run a balanced budget.”

Candidates running in Red Deer-North include: Hardy, LaGrange, Kim Schreiner (NDP incumbent), Matthew Chapin (FCP) and Michael Neufeld (Independent).

In Red Deer-South there is Miller, Jason Stephan (UCP) and Ryan McDougall (Alberta Party).

Running in the Innisfail-Sylvan Lake riding are: Devin Dreeshen (UCP incumbent), Danielle Klooster (Alberta Party), Clayton Knutson (FCP) and Robyn O’Brien (NDP).

In Lacombe-Ponoka, incumbent UCP candidate Ron Orr is being challenged by Myles Chykerda (Alberta Party), Doug Hart (NDP) and Shawn Tylke (Alberta Advantage).

Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre UCP incumbent Jason Nixon is joined in the election race by Joe Anglin (Alberta Party), Jane Drummond (Green), Paula Lamoureux (Alberta Advantage) and Jeff Ible (NDP).

UCP incumbent Nathan Cooper is seeking re-election in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Chase Brown (Alberta Party) and Kyle Johnston (NDP) are also on the ballot. 

And in Drumheller-Stettler, incumbent Rick Strankman is running as an Independent. Holly Heffernan (NDP), Nate Horner (UCP) and Mark Nikota (Alberta Party) are also running.