NDP touts candidate’s local connection to Brooks-MH

By COLLIN GALLANT on October 13, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Suddenly in a high-profile byelection against a high-profile candidate, Gwendoline Dirk says she is the local candidate who can send a message to the government on health, education and the needs of southeast Alberta.

At a press conference to kick off her byelection campaign, the teacher and New Democrat candidate said Wednesday she and her campaign are ready to face new United Conservative Leader and Premier Danielle Smith in a Nov. 8 vote.

“I’m not a born politician, it was never on the list of things I wanted to do, but I decided to step up because I’m very concerned about the province,” Dirk told reporters.

“I feel I can represent (voters’) concerns in an authentic way. I’m not stopping in to get a seat on way to the legislature. I’m here as a concerned, invested citizen.”

NDP southern Alberta lieutenant Shannon Phillips said it more bluntly, saying a Smith win would do little to improve the lives of local voters.

“Medicine Hat would not be better served now than it was under its previous UCP MLAs, when it was ignored,” she said.

Smith announced Saturday she would seek the local seat in the legislature after UCP MLA Michaela Frey resigned offering her the chance to run. Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita, of Brooks, will represent his party. Dirk was acclaimed the opposition party’s candidate in June.

Phillips, the MLA for Lethbridge West since 2015, attended that nomination spring event to bolster local organizers. She said at the campaign kickoff in Crescent Heights overlooking the river valley Wednesday that a localized, hardworking campaign can win in a traditionally conservative small urban centre.

As well, Phillips said Hatters shouldn’t believe the idea that having the premier represent the riding would provide a windfall of action on local issues.

“As for being able to deliver for Medicine Hat and southern Alberta,” said Phillips. “I’m not convinced that (Smith) who is not from the area, who doesn’t know the issues, who has to be introduced to the city at the tourism booth, can understand the challenges of local health care, economic development, post-secondary system, the infrastructure needs, or housing needs.”

Smith told a press conference after her swearing in Tuesday that she saw air ambulance service, Highway No. 3 and rural crime as byelection issues, but that generally the concerns of rural Albertans are similar. Smith, a High River resident, said rural voices were undervalued by Premier Jason Kenney’s cabinet, and she campaigned heavily in the party race on standing up to Ottawa and decrying COVID health mandates.

Dirk said voters in Brooks-Medicine Hat are more concerned with day-to-day issues, and the NDP would bring in stability.

“The No. 1 issue is not being able to find a family doctor,” she said.

“No. 2 is affordability. Rural Albertans and Medicine Hatters are struggling to make ends meet at the end of the month. No 3 is just the chaos and instability in the government. People want a government in place that’s willing to step up and govern, rather than create more conflict.”

Voting in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection will take place on Nov. 8 with advanced voting from Nov. 1-5. The list of official candidates will be finalized Oct. 21.

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