All three declared candidates in the Rocky Mountain House-Rimbey-Sundre riding in the 2012 provincial election say they plan to take part in all forums and debates during the campaign.
Sixth term Conservative MLA Ty Lund is facing off against Wildrose candidate Joe Anglin and NDP candidate Doreen Broska.
Liberal and Alberta Party candidates had not been nominated in the riding at press time Monday. However, both parties are expected to nominate candidates in the riding, officials said.
On Monday Premier Alison Redford announced that voters will heading to the polls on April 23.
NDP candidate Broska, 67, who has previously held public office as a Rocky town councillor, says if she is elected in the riding she will make the providing of good health care services for seniors a top priority.
“The whole issue of making surer that our seniors are protected it pretty important to me,” said Broska. “We need to look at adequate long term health care for seniors in our area. Whether that means more spaces in long term care or whether it means assistance for seniors so they can live in their own homes, that is important and we can't lose track of that.”
Ty Lund, who was first elected in the riding in 1989, said if he is re-elected he will work to implement current government plans to support seniors' health care needs.
“In the budget there is increased funding for home care, which will hopefully help keep more seniors in their homes,” said Lund, 73. “We passed legislation that allows reverse mortgage for their taxes. The details of that aren't finalized yet, but what that means in seniors staying in their own homes will have the ability to have more cash. Those numbers have to be flushed out.”
Wildrose candidate Anglin said if elected he would push more better overall management of the health care system.
“When you take a look at health care, and the whole issue of backing up our emergency rooms, we've known about this for a long time and we've not done anything in 20 years to fix it,” said Anglin, 57. “We are talking about proper management. What you need to do is get the local public involved, and the local doctors and nurses.”
The candidates say other key issues facing the riding include energy costs, education, the environment and property rights.
As of press time Monday, no date been announced for a candidate forum or debate in Sundre.
