While many voters have already made up their minds on the provincial election, Highwood constituents had some final questions for their candidates before going to the polls.
Over 100 people attended the Chamber of Commerce Highwood Forum on April 12 at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. The candidates had no prior warning of the questions which were submitted via email prior to the forum, and were given 90 seconds to answer.
The forum was attended by Ron Kerr, Alberta Party; Dan Irving, Alberta Independence Party; and RJ Sigurdson, United Conservative Party. The New Democratic Party candidate Erik Overland was unable to attend.
Right out of the gate, residents wanted to know how the candidates would define Highwood’s water issue, and how does their party plan to solve it.
“The water pipeline issue is, of course, it would probably be in the top 10 issues, and definitely this is moving goalposts,” said Sigurdson. “Every time the Town goes, they keep changing what the plan is going to be. So it’s going to take a strong advocate to lock down Alberta Environment so we understand what the plan should be and what they intend and want to see in order for a plan from the municipality [to be made].”
He said he would like to see the water pipeline dealt with as a regional issue for long-term planning, in order to make sure the money is spent efficiently on a pipeline that can support the region into the future.
Similarly, both Irving and Kerr said they planned to get rid of red tape and work with the right people to put in a water pipeline.
The candidates covered the gambit of party policies, answering questions on climate change, the carbon tax, Bill C-69, healthcare, and more.
Speaking on their visions for the Highwood riding should they be elected MLA, the candidates focused on building a future.
“I hear it over and over and over again: jobs, economy, pipelines. It’s that simple, people want jobs, they want a strong economy, they want to provide a future for their kids,” said Sigurdson. “That’s my vision … I believe this plan will work, getting back to the essentials in Alberta, the Alberta advantage, the things that make everything so great here.”
Kerr agreed with Sigurdson on a bright and stable future for families, and his focus was on water.
“Without [the water pipeline], that creates uncertainty in the market. We’re not getting the businesses that we need to come down here and help with the jobs, we’re deluding the equity that we’ve got in our existing houses without that pipeline,” he said. “We need to focus on a different pipeline, a local pipeline, that’s going to be able to give us a lot more prosperity going into the future.”
The AIP wants to bring families back together and incorporate the well-being of Albertans in the ridings, Irving said.
Irving talked of families where both parents are working full time jobs to stay afloat, and the impact that can have on families, adding that the AIP plans to bring forward a tax cut for families making less than $45,000.
“They are overtaxed, they’re overworked because they can’t make ends meet. This way we can spend time as families again, and really enjoy it,” he said.
With advance polling coming to a close, for many voters their decision has already been made, but for some attendees of the forum the night helped solidify any doubts they might have had.
Leslie Miller, a Black Diamond resident, was at the forum because it was the only forum he knew of and was looking to hear about policies directly from the candidates.
“I like the fact that it was well organized and there was a number of questions covering a range of broad topics, and that doesn’t happen if you open the mic up… I loved the format, I thought it was very good,” said Miller.
Miller came to the forum with an open mind and no prior allegiance to any party, but said by the end of the forum he knew who he was voting for.
“Very much beneficial, worth an hour and a half,” he said.
A similar story came from Terry Myers, who also had not decided on his vote before attending, but said that he found the forum useful in helping to make that decision.
A common thread amongst attendees was that there were not enough forums organized, and therefore not enough opportunity to hear from local candidates.
One such attendee was Okotoks Councillor Ed Sands, who had already voted in the advance polls but was there to show support, calling himself a “political junkie.”
“You have to have these forums, they absolutely have to be available for the public,” said Sands. “Fifteen years ago when I was at a nomination we had, I’m trying to remember, three forums where it was speeches and questions, one came nearly to blows, and then there were four speeches in communities with voting.
“Seven, seven forums in a nomination, and we get only one. The grade 6 kids probably got more exposure to these guys than we did… it’s very important.”
