UCP leadership hopeful Brian Jean made a stop in High River on Thursday night.
In an hour-long speech at George Lane Park, Jean announced additional planks in his platform, and then took questions from about 50 people in attendance.
“I’m going to talk about two major areas of autonomy that matter to many Albertans,” Jean said before announcing his vision for community autonomy and agricultural autonomy.
Community autonomy means respecting municipalities, he said, and a one-size-fits-all model does not work.
“We need different models for different communities,” he said.
He highlighted two policies that he thinks will make a difference.
“I’m not in favour of (a) regional planning approach,” he said.
Jean said, if elected, he would make participation in metropolitan regional boards, such as the Calgary Metropolitan Regional Board (CMRB), voluntary. He said the change would be good for people in and out of the major cities.
“And too often, these approaches have actually led to big city players setting the rules for their regional neighbours,” he said.
A municipality being allowed to leave a regional board would have a moderating impact on its decisions, and lead to better working relationships, he said.
A second policy under community autonomy is designed to speed up development in the province, Jean said, and change the way development permits are issued in discretionary land use zones.
He then launched into a wide-ranging discussion of agriculture and agricultural autonomy in the province, saying those in power need to listen to those who work on the land, and he would form a cross-commodity advisory board of farmers and ranchers.
“I want to make it clear that any government that I would be part of will help not hinder the people who are the backbone of our world-renowned agricultural sector,” he said.
“And I will also explore policies that will prevent growing instances of absentee corporate landlords in agriculture. And we're seeing that more and more now.”
Campaigning on a platform of autonomy, Jean noted that he is not seeking separation from the rest of Canada.
“My theme is autonomy for Albertans, and Alberta, within Canada, not outside of Canada,” Jean said.
He was in High River the day before the deadline for people to purchase UCP memberships in order to vote in the party’s leadership contest in October.
"I thought a lot about my political comeback, which this is,” Jean said.
The former Wildrose leader re-entered politics under the UCP banner by winning a byelection in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche this past March, with his sights set on replacing Premier Jason Kenney.
Kenney would announce his resignation as premier and party leader of the UCP party in May, however he remains at his post until the leadership race is decided.
Seven candidates are running for UCP leadership, including Danielle Smith, who has said she will contest High River’s riding of Livingstone-Macleod, currently held by MLA Roger Reid.
MLA Travis Toews stopped in High River on July 22 as part of his leadership campaign.
-with files from Lauryn Heintz
