Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson's visit to Olds last Wednesday July 12 was part of a provincewide tour of small communities.
During an interview with reporters, he was asked if that tour is part of an effort by the NDP government to win over residents of small communities which voted overwhelming for the right-wing Wildrose Party in the last election.
It was suggested to some extent he was heading into "hostile territory" by doing so as a member of the left-wing NDP.
"No, because I've been doing this since I was actually elected. But now, as the minister, it was something that was important to me from the start and so it's something that we talked about," Anderson said.
"But there is that perception out there that sometimes rural voices aren't heard. And it's not just our government; the previous governments before, it was felt that they didn't always listen to the rural folks either; there wasn't a voice there.
"So it is important for me; it's important for the premier to get me out there and get all of our ministers ñ I know the minister of labour is out doing some tours too. It's more of an all-province thing. We just want to make sure the people are heard," he added.
"I think that, like I said, the big cities are great, but we're a huge province and I think everybody's voice counts and that's kind of the point of this.
"And really, to be honest, it's to promote what's going on in this province and how many positive things are happening. Because sometimes on social media and things like that you hear negative things and that's all people focus on.
"But I tell you what ñ there are a lot more positive things going on in this province than negative.
"As far as hostile territory goes, there's no hostile territory for me. I like going into small towns, villages, hamlets. When you get to actually talk to people and understand who they are and they understand who you are, you know what? We've got a lot more in common than we don't.
"So it's good to have those conversations and yeah, we might disagree on certain things, but I tell you what, getting out and actually shaking a person's hand and looking them in the eye is very important for us to do ñ and for me. That's how I was brought up and that's what I'll continue to do," he said.
"When you get to actually talk to people and understand who they are and they understand who you are, you know what? We've got a lot more in common than we don't."SHAYE ANDERSON MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS MINISTER
