From the Legislature Monday morning, Premier Alison Redford told Albertans there would be an election on April 23.
And while it was no surprise, as anticipation has been building since Redford was elected leader of the Progressive Conservatives (PC), there are still only three candidates confirmed for the Drumheller-Stettler Riding.
Back in the hunt is incumbent Jack Hayden for the PC Party and he says it is going to be a tough one. According to a recent poll the Wildrose Party is just three points behind the PC’s.
“It is serious competition,” said Hayden, adding that part of the campaign he likes is being able to be back in the constituency.
“It’s tough when you are at the cabinet table. I have served as a minister under two premiers and have served in three fairly high profile ministries which cuts into your time being home.”
Hayden says one item he would like to run on is the recent budget passed by the PC government.
“This is the fourth budget in a row that we have kept our increase less than the cost of living increase plus the population increase, I think we have done pretty well. We are not spending more on people than what the cost of living increase is,” said Hayden.
Some of the items in the budget he gains satisfaction from is the cost of living increase for those on AISH. He adds they have committed funding for health care and education for the next three years.
“What is nice about it is we have done it without any tax increases,” he said. “It sounds like magic but it is not. We have 13 projects in Fort McMurray that are paid out over the next year. These are projects that were only paying one per cent royalty until they recover their capital costs… so in two years from now we are projecting a $5.2 billion surplus.”
He also wants to clear up what he feels are misconceptions about the government’s protection of land rights.
“People’s property rights are not being threatened. Our population grew by about a third since the late 90’s so the legislation is for planning and it is more for protecting agricultural land; our second largest industry, and not taking it away,” he said.
Rick Strankman is riding the wave of popularity of the Wildrose Party and his leader Danielle Smith made a campaign stop in Drumheller on Tuesday afternoon, just one day into the campaign. She addressed supporters at the Badlands Community Facility.
Strankman says the key issues for constituents are health care and land rights.
“As property owners we are concerned about the intrusiveness of Bills 19, 24, 36 and 50 and that being a priority of our constituency,” said Strankman. “From knocking on doors and meeting people in the coffee shops it seems this is neck and neck with health care as a priority, and rightfully so. In an affluent province like we have the spending continues to go up stratospherically and the performance is underwhelming of the money that goes into that department.”
In his discussion with constituents he is hearing displeasure in a number of recent controversies that have faced the government including the MLA committee pay scandal where 21 MLAs, representing all parties, sat on a committee that never met.
“(A constituent) took great exception to the recent discovery that some of the MLAs were sitting on committees collecting $1,000 a month, particularly for a committee that never sat… he said ‘in the difficult economic climate we are in that is simply inexplicable,’” he said. “That is a good way to put it, it is not just frivolous… to fritter it away is inexplicable.”
While many have characterized this election as possibly having a negative tone, both Hayden and Strankman say they won’t engage in such politics.
“I want to represent a better idea… a better mouse trap. It is not about personalities, the greater goal is at hand here and the greater goal is the proper and efficient use of Alberta taxpayers' money,” said Strankman.
The third committed candidate is Aditya Rao, running for the Alberta New Democratic Party. Rao graduated from DCHS and is currently working on a double major in Political Science and Economics at the University of Alberta. Rao did not immediately respond to questions sent by The Mail after the election was called.
The Mail contacted the Alberta Liberal Party and was informed they have not selected a candidate for the riding, but were planning to have a candidate in place by the “14 day run off.”
The Alberta Party and the EverGreen Party of Alberta do not have candidates listed on their websites as of yet.
