From left, UCP leader Danielle Smith, Alberta Party leader Barry Morishita, WRIP candidate Jeevan Mangat, NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk and Independence Party of Alberta candidate Bob Blayone participate in a byelection forum hosted by the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce at the Medicine Hat College theatre.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The high-profile, though sleepy byelection woke up Thursday night as all five candidates debated issues at Medicine Hat College Theatre, trading barbs with each other’s parties. The third forum in three nights was also the last major debate in the 28-day byelection called by Danielle Smith, the UCP leader seeking to enter the legislature.
She was challenged by two main opponents on her United Conservative Party’s record and her plans moving forward as premier , while two others made their case that the province should vote to separate to force Ottawa’s hand.
Smith, though, kept to talking points and priorities that won her the UCP leadership, and touted her abilities handle both responsibilities.
“I plan on being here to represent the riding because that’s what the MLA does,” said Smith, adding that she’s gotten to know the region over the campaign and can handle the task of MLA and premier. “I’m delighted to attempt to get a seat as fast as possible … (An MLA has) to be able to elevate the local issues and I’m able to elevate and act on the issues because I’m the leader of the government.”
Both New Democrat Gwendoline Dirks and Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita pointed out their long-standing connections to the community.
For Dirk, Smith was creating havoc and her party would bring stability, while Morishita said both parties in the legislature are gridlocked, and only promising more of the same.
“This election is about who’s best to represent this riding,” said Morishita, a former mayor of Brooks, who touted his record saying collaboration meshes with party principles to engage local communities.
Dirk provided a more spirited performance than the previous evening, injecting jabs at Smith throughout the night on her views on COVID, coming from outside the riding and defending her party’s recent term in government.
The debate, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, only drew about 250 spectators to half fill the theatre. Questions focused on business regulations, education, health care, mental health and fiscal accountability.
The exchange on climate change and Alberta’s economy led to five-way discussion, but with Smith and Dirk training on each other.
“We can address (climate change) this by diversifying our energy system … let’s get off the boom and bust cycle,” said Dirk. “Yes, let’s get as much oil to market as we can, but what about renewables and hydrogen?”
Smith, who plans greater legal challenges on federal regulations, responded.
“There’s a right way and wrong way to reduce emissions, and the wrong way is the (federal) NDP-Liberal coalition,” she said, arguing private industry is already addressing decarbonization.
“The carbon tax will be crushing … and this is what the NDP wants, so no wonder they don’t like the Sovereignty Act.”
Dirk said earlier the proposal would cause business uncertainty, and a larger cabinet chosen by Smith is top-heavy despite promising local decisions.
“The NDP is the only government in this country that got pipeline to tidewater built in the last 50 years,” said Dirk, of the Trans Mountain Expansion agreements between then-NDP-led Alberta and Ottawa, in response to Smith.
Morishita interjected that the Alberta Party would try to break through the battle to find solutions with industry and all levels of government.
“It was a question about how to help business and Albertans, and now we’re saying who did this or that, and trying to score political points,” he said.
“We’re a carbon intensive province and we’re lucky to have that resource, but we can help industry reduce emissions if we give them a long runway,” said Morishita.
“We have to create certainty for (companies) making business plans … They want governmental (policy) security.”
All three generally agreed on developing renewable power, hydrogen and value added petroleum industries.
Independence Party of Alberta candidate Bob Blayone received one of the largest cheers of the night for his position.
“I see taxpayer funded subsidies going into these renewable projects, raising costs and causing energy insecurity,” he said. “Lets’ stop the nonsense. We deserve a conversation on climate change.”
So too, Blayone challenged Smith to bring prominent anti-vaccine advocates for discussions on how the Alberta Health system reacted to the pandemic.
She said she planned to.
In his first debate appearance Wildrose Independence Party leader Jeevan Mangat said he believed strongly in free-market principles but increased sovereignty should underpin all solutions for the province.
“We believe in balanced budgets and can’t afford to carry the (provincial) debt, we’re carrying now,” he said. “But that’s nothing compared to the federal debt. We need to escape the claws of Ottawa hampering our development and our industries.”
Advance voting concludes Friday and Saturday at the Royal Canadian Legion in Redcliff as well as stations in Brooks and Bassano.
Voting day for all eligible voters in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding is Nov. 8.
[Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to remove place-holder text that erroneously passed through the editing process.]
