UCP leader debate in the Hat, July 27

By COLLIN GALLANT on July 8, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Candidates to lead the United Conservative Party and become premier of the province will take the stage in Medicine Hat on July 27, the News has been told.

An evening forum for qualified candidates in the race to replace Jason Kenney will will take place at the HALO air hangar on July 27.

It will be one of only two all-candidate debates sanctioned by the party, including another to-be-determined location in northern Alberta.

Party officials told the News that Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey backed the move to hold the debate here in the city.

The party’s Cypress-Medicine Hat riding association also spearheaded the move to stage it here, and president Alan Rose said he pleased with the party’s decision.

“The goal is to get Medicine Hat’s issues on the agenda,” said Rose, who felt the location itself would promote the region to the public and politicians, but several questions will focus on issues in the southeast.

That echoes one of the planks of his campaign for mayor last year – to earn greater recognition for the region – he said.

“We’ve been waiting for people to come to us, but roads go both ways.”

Tickets were supposed to become available today, with about 400 up for grabs for the event, which will likely also be livestreamed online. A meet and greet with candidates is also to be scheduled following the early evening forum, said Rose.

Party officials said all candidates who meet requirements laid out in the contests rules to apply to officially enter the race by a July 20 deadline will be required to attend.

Those requirements include paying a $150,000 entry fee and $25,000 deposit, presenting 1,000 signatures of party members split among five regions in the province and filing a questionnaire with the party.

This week, former finance minister Travis Toews announced he had been officially accepted as a candidate.

Others who have said they will seek to enter the race are recently elected MLA Brian Jean (former Wildrose Party leader) as well as another Wildrose leader, Danielle Smith. MLAs Rajan Sawnhey and Rebecca Schulz also stepped down from cabinet posts to campaign for leader, joined by MLA Todd Loewen, who currently sits as an independent, and Amisk, Alta. Mayor Bill Rock.

Entering the race this week was Jon Horsman, a vice-president of the Alberta Treasury Branch.