An all-candidates debate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency on April 4 touched on everything from political correctness and "communists" to sexuality and differing views on how to grow the economy.
The approximately two-hour debate, held at the TransCanada Theatre, attracted more than 200 people.
Allen McLennan of the Freedom Conservative Party expressed some strongly held views.
"There's no such thing as a CO2-driven greenhouse effect. The government wants to disarm the Canadian public, just like in New Zealand," he said.
He also said no one -- including lawyers -- really understands the Canadian constitution properly.
McLennan spoke out against political correctness.
"Political correctness is deemed more important than anything, especially when teaching children," he said.
"Now with the media monopolies and the government's subjugation of the people through taxation, governments are able to curtail freedom of speech and promote the breakdown of the authority of the family unit in Alberta, Canada and around the world," he said.
McLennan said U.S. President Donald Trump has withstood "the unprecedented onslaught" of negative coverage in the news media "with superhuman courage."
"I guarantee that everyone in this room is afraid to say what they're thinking. We're in a war unlike any other war that's occurred in history," McLennan said.
"Free speech laws are not about talking about hockey scores or parents... mass media. Movements such as gay-straight alliances. Free speech is only for unpopular speech. We will be accused of trying to change the dial leading to conspiracy theorists again not being transphobic, homophobic, islamophobic, xenophobic.
"However, you will never be accused of being Christianphobic. Only leftists and communists can be accused of Christianphobia. Free speech laws are only directed by the government south of Regina free speech and only the government is historically the worst arbiter of what free speech should entail."
Nathan Cooper, the current Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA and United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate, said his party has "a positive, compassionate vision for our province, that wants to get our economy back on track; that will be laser-focused on three things: jobs, the economy and pipelines."
Cooper followed the strategy of his party, linking New Democratic Party leader and current premier Rachel Notley to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
"We so desperately need strong leadership in this province of Alberta, one that hasn't struck a close ally with Justin Trudeau, but one that's willing to stand up to Justin Trudeau and the Ottawa Liberals and get Alberta a fair deal on Confederation," he said.
Cooper said the UCP is committed to eliminating the "job killing carbon tax, the single largest tax in Alberta's history and corporate income tax reduction by about 30 per cent, which over time, will actually increase revenue by $1.2 billion to the province."
"It's very important to note that our fiscal plan is based upon a number of things that I've spoken about this evening. One, competitive tax environment. Two, reducing the regulatory burden so that we can get our economy growing," Cooper said.
"Those things in conjunction, with holding the line on spending -- a 0.3 per cent increase in spending over the next four years and a three per cent growing economy will balance the budget at the end of the first term.
"So we're not required to make massive amounts of spending reduction. All we need to do is hold the line on current spending, get our economy growing, and we'll be able to continue to support the very important health, education, post-secondary and all of the services that Albertans have come to know and expect."
He said the UCP has a policy that should prove attractive to Olds College. If elected, Cooper said, the UCP would work on making it more attractive for people to pursue education in the trades.
NDP candidate Kyle Johnston said his party is not going to cut taxes for big corporations.
"We're not going to be cutting taxes by four per cent to the top one per cent which is going to lose $4.5 billion of income to our budget," Johnston said.
"We're not going to do that on the risk of losing our health care and our education system. We've cut taxes for small and medium businesses by a third and that's going to do more for the average person than cutting $4.5 billion to the top."
As for the economy, Johnston said, "first and foremost, we will get this pipeline built, that will happen. We're next going to focus on diversifying our economy and continue upgrading our petroleum products."
During a summary of his position, Chase Brown of the Alberta Party said voters should vote for a candidate, not against one.
"I've often heard what's really troubling. People say, 'ahh, I don't really like Kenney but I'll just hold my nose and vote for him anyway. I want Notley out. We've got to get rid of the NDP,'" he said.
"We voted against the PC dynasty. Look where it got us. We voted against something last time. Look where it got us.
"This time we need something to vote for. And I hope that if you're ready for an Alberta that's for all of us, if you're ready for somebody that's fiercely Albertan, please join me, join Team Alberta Party, and give us a shot here in this next election, because I promise I'm going to represent you with every tooth and nail and fibre of my being to the best ability that I can," Brown added.
Dave Hughes of the Alberta Advantage Party said Albertans can build their own economy by focusing beyond producing and selling oil and gas. For example, manufacturing and exporting LED lights and solar panels.
"Why can't we make solar panels and LED lights here that are affordable for all Albertans and export them around the world," he asked.
