A group of provincial cabinet ministers will be coming to Olds on Feb. 9 as part of a tour winding its way through various communities throughout the province.
Mel Knight, minister of Sustainable Resource Development, will be joined by Heather Klimchuk, minister of Service Alberta and Frank Oberle, Solicitor General and minister of Public Security at the Alumni Centre from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The event had originally been booked for the same time at the TransCanada Theatre.
“It's a way, prior to going into session, to get some feedback on some issues that are out in the public as well as an opportunity to dialogue with Albertans. I think it's an important opportunity to get that feedback, especially this time of year going into session,” said Richard Marz, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.
Marz said the topics up for discussion are whatever the voting public deems as important issues.
“Some people are more comfortable with a bit of an opportunity to approach a minister one-on-one; we're hoping to provide those types of opportunities as well as an open mike type of thing,” he said.
Asked if Premier Ed Stelmach's announcement that he intends to retire before the next election puts a new slant on the tour, Marz said it shouldn't, as the Progressive Conservatives still have a provincial government to run.
“I'm thinking that more legislative issues that people are interested in will still take the forefront of these cabinet tours. The premier's announced departure is probably separate…. There might be some people asking a few questions about the process of the leadership (race since) it only happens every once in awhile. That's a good opportunity to outline that for them as well,” he said.
The tour is also taking place in Sundre and Drumheller. Different ministers may attend each of the meetings.
