OLDS - About 160 people attended the Oct. 9 Red Deer-Mountain View constituency election forum at Olds’ TransCanada Theatre, with four of the five candidates in the riding laying out some of their plans and aspirations.
Candidates in attendance were Earl Dreeshen (Conservative Party of Canada), Conner Borle (Green Party of Canada), Paul Mitchell (People’s Party of Canada) and Logan Garbanewski (NDP). Liberal candidate Gary Tremblay did not attend.
During the forum, candidates answered a total of 10 questions submitted by audience members. They also made brief opening and closing comments.
A change to a Conservative government is needed to protect Alberta’s oil and gas and agriculture industries, said Dreeshen.
“Our country has never so polarized,” said Dreeshen. “We have to do away with this politics of division which has been the hallmark of the current prime minister. Justin Trudeau is dividing Canadians at every opportunity. He’s pitted region against region, Canadian against each other.
“We need to bring that hope and unity and that sense of community and I know that our Conservative team can do just that.
We must do all we can to ensure that Justin Trudeau is a one-term prime minister. I’m focused on what unites us.”
Mitchell said if he is elected he plans to spend a good deal of time in the riding.
“If elected you will see me regularly and I will listen,” said Mitchell. “Your vote can change our country. Your vote can win the balance of power for the People’s Party and will leave Alberta holding all the cards.
“I will build a coalition to support my private member's bills on rural protection and property rights so you will finally have the law on your side and not on the side of criminals. We will fight one battle at a time and we will not stop.
“It’s time for bold reform and not excuses and not politics as usual. It’s time for a new common-sense revolution.”
Garbanewski said it was time for Canada to “stop bouncing back and forth between Liberal and Conservative governments.”
“It’s time we made life more affordable for you and not the corporate elite who cozy up to the elite of the Liberals and Conservatives,” said Garbanewski. “It’s time to make different choices. It’s time for a government that is actually working on the side of Canadian farmers, producers and farm families.
“It’s time to expand our healthcare to cover all the needs. It’s time that we rebuild our economy and let small businesses once again thrive. It’s time we lead the world in protecting the environment. It’s time for a government that is in it for you.”
Borle is elected MP he “won’t concern myself with the pomp and circumstance and the customs of elected office.”
“As an elected official my job will be to represent you,” said Borle. “I’m not always going to say exactly what you want to hear or what will get you to cheer for me because what I’m seriously concerned about it telling the truth, about discovering the most basic needs of our constituents.
“Nothing will distract me from representing you. If I was your representative I would hold people accountable. I won’t be ignored because democracy should represent its people.”
The forum was sponsored by Olds & District Chamber of Commerce, Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce, Carstairs Chamber of Commerce, Community Learning Campus, Mountain View Publishing, 96.5 CKFM, and Rock 104.5.
Olds College president Stuart Cullum moderated the forum.
During the 90-minute event, candidates answered questions from the floor on a variety of issues, including their respective plans to support agriculture, fight rural crime, support the energy industry, promote health care, and help veterans.
Regarding health care, Mitchell said a People’s Party government would provide more support to provinces so they can in turn support health care.
“We are going to take the handcuffs off the provincial governments,” said Mitchell. “Right now the Canada Health Act prevents a lot of the types of innovation that work extremely well in other countries.
“We are going to allow the provincial governments to cherry-pick the best ideas that are working right now in other countries. We will give them the tools they need to make sure Canadians get looked after.”
A Conservative government would “put dollars into the health system to reduce wait times,” said Dreeshen
“This isn’t going to solve all of the problems (but) if you do that you are going to reduce the acuity of the patients by getting them into the hospitals quicker,” said Dreeshen. “If you can reduce that you are going to reduce the costs and the stress you have on the hospitals.
“We have to make sure that we give the provinces that flexibility to make the best decisions for their own people.”
A Green Party would make changes to support the health-care system, said Borle.
“On the topic of social issue in this riding, obviously medical care is absolutely a huge one,” said Borle. “We want to make pharmacare universal. We believe that would take off a large burden on those who are having to get their medication through other means. We want to invest in health care.”
Garbanewski said an NDP government would work with provinces and territories to address wait time and other health concerns,
“We will fight to expand medicare to include quality drug prescriptions for everyone,” said Garbanewski. “We will identify gaps in human health resources and make plans to recruit doctors and nurses and other health-care professionals that Canadians need.”
Regarding agriculture, Dreeshen said a Conservative government would stand up for agricultural producers.
“We have to make sure that we work with groups such as the Olds College,” said Dreeshen. “If we aren’t careful we are going to have the same situation in agriculture as we had with oil and gas where outside forces are the ones that believe that they know best for Canadians.
A People’s Party government would work to repair relationships with the U.S. and China in support of the agriculture industry, said Mitchell.
“The reality is our agriculture sector is really dependent on getting these relationships rebuilt and that’s we are going to focus on,” said Mitchell.
Borle said a Green Party government would work to support local farmers and agriculture education.
“The Green Party realizes that it’s our local farmers who are the initial environmentalists,” said Borle. “There is nobody that cares more about water quality, soil quality, air quality than farmers.
“The Green Party wants to recognize that way too much of our food supply comes from international sources and multi-national corporations. We want to change that so more of our food supply comes from local, small farms. We realize that that food is healthier and better for our environment and economy.”
In a phone interview on Oct. 10 Liberal candidate Gary Tremblay said he did not attend the Olds forum because he was working on another Liberal candidate’s campaign in Calgary.
Canadians go to the polls on Oct. 21 with 338 seats up for grabs.
