While no date has been set for a spring provincial election, another candidate has stepped into the ring in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding to run against incumbent MLA Nathan Cooper.
Chase Brown, a graduate of DVSS and student at Augustana in Camrose studying management with a major in economics, has been selected to represent the Alberta Party in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding. While he is a fourth generation rancher from the Wintering Hills area, he became involved with the party by helping to form the Camrose Constituency Association.
“We built up our constituency association, built up our membership and selected our candidate,” he explains. “We were hosting an event to keep our momentum up and the leader, Steven Mandel, was in attendance and I got to chatting with him and we started talking about Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills…he encouraged me to seek the nomination.”
He says the centrist position of the Alberta Party appeals to him.
“What that translates to me is being both socially and fiscally responsible. Albertans want change, but slashing funding for provincial social programs is not the way to grow our economy. Rather I believe we need to focus more on spending our taxpayers’ dollars more efficiently and effectively,” he said.
“Just the dedication to transparency and creating an open and honest government, no more backroom deals, let’s bring the public back into it.”
He also feels strongly about the rise in rural crime.
“Everybody has a role to play in it, and I believe the Alberta Party is going to address it with real practical and effective solutions, not just sound off and use buzzwords, but get some effective action,” he said.
Nathan Cooper, candidate for the United Conservative Party (UCP) says they are getting ready for the election, whenever it may come.
“We are in the process of continuing to work on the platform and in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, which runs all the way to Drumheller now, we are putting together a team of folks from all across the constituency who are excited about getting our positive united conservative vision out,” said Cooper.
He says on the ground they are securing campaign space in Olds and Three Hills, as well as part-time offices in the southeast corner of the constituency and are getting regional captains in place.
“We are excited about what the election holds,” he said.
He is hearing that a change in government is top priority leading up to the election.
“Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills never had much confidence in the NDP government and they have virtually zero confidence now. The carbon tax and how it is making life more expensive for everyone. They are frustrated with the current state of the economy and the lack of jobs in the constituency, I think those are the really big ones,” said Cooper.
“They want a premier who will actually stand up for Albertans. They don’t feel we have a strong voice in Ottawa right now. They feel that Premier Notely has made too close of an ally in Justin Trudeau, and she has been taking us in the wrong direction.”
As for when an election will happen, he is hedging his bets.
“Picking when an election will be is a fool’s game. My personal speculation is it will be held in mid to late April,” said Cooper.
While Brown is also not sure when the election will be called, it could come right in the middle of his exams
“Some are guessing late April possibly, and that will line right up with my final exams, so I can get graded by my professors and Albertans all in one week,” laughs Brown.
So far the Mail has no indication as to candidates in the riding for the NDP or Liberal Party.
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