NDP candidates reflect on hard-fought campaigns
By James Tubb on May 30, 2023.
NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
Gwendoline Dirk maintained a smile during the local NDP election night campaign event, while political newcomer Cathy Hogg held back tears, with both stating they were disappointed in the results, but proud of the impact their campaigns had within the local ridingsA tired and emotional Cathy Hogg met a small but enthusiastic group of supporters at McNally’s Tap House about 10:30 p.m. on election night. In her speech she thanked her family, friends, campaign staff and volunteers.
“This is not a loss for me,” stated Hogg to her supporters. “Our party saw a significant increase in support in this riding. We did move the needle.” In a conversation with the
News, Hogg said, “I’ve met some wonderful people, I’ve had some amazing conversations. I’ve seen the best in some people, sadly I’ve seen the worst in others.”
Having seen the resiliency of the Medicine Hat region through fire, floods, drought and the booms and busts of the oil and gas industry, she feels the capacity to come back together and end the divisiveness is possible and feels hopeful.
Hogg wished Justin Wright the best in his role as MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat.
“He has said he wants to represent the conservative values and I sincerely hope he’s able to do that.”
Given the divide in the community, she says it’s important to find the centre.
“The solution isn’t in the far left or far right,” stated Hogg.
Hogg, who took a leave of absence from her position as chair of the board for Prairie Rose Public Schools, is uncertain what her next step is.
“The truth of the matter is I have seen the punitive nature of the UCP party. The last thing I ever want to do is jeopardize anything with Prairie Rose.”
If her being on the board poses a challenge, then Hogg said she will need to consider if she continues being on the board.
“It will all be based on what is best for Prairie Rose.”
Gwendoline Dirk
KENDALL KING
The atmosphere was sombre Tuesday at local NDP election night campaign event, as candidates Gwendoline Dirk and Cathy Hogg conceded both ridings to the UCP.
Despite losing the riding to Smith for a second time — having first lost during the November 2022 byelection with a total of 26.7 per cent of the vote, compared to Smith’s 54.5 per cent — Dirk remained positive Tuesday evening.
“We weren’t successful tonight but we made such an impact,” said Dirk to a crowd of roughly 40 supporters. “The number of people who are excited about the NDP is greater than it’s ever been in this area, and I know the work is not finished yet. We started a movement.”
While Dirk admitted she was saddened by the results, as were supporters in attendance, she says she is proud of her campaign’s efforts to raise awareness of the party’s platform.
A former teacher with both the Medicine Hat Public
School Division and Medicine Hat College, Dirk advocated for investments in education throughout both her 2022 and 2023 campaigns, as well as investments in public health care.
While Dirk says she has “no concrete plans” as of yet per potential election bids, she plans to stay involved in the riding through her position on the Medicine Hat Police Commission, her volunteer work teaching English to new Canadians residing in Brooks and other activities.
Following her 2022 loss to Smith, Dirk was vocal of her concerns of having a non-resident represent the riding (Smith is a resident of the High River). However, Dirk was considerably less vocal Tuesday evening, stating only that she hopes Smith “serves the people in the constituency well.”
“I hope that she comes out here and talks to (constituents), hears their concerns, takes them forward and helps the community the way that I would (have) helped the community had I been elected,” Dirk told the News.
With the NDP candidate failing to secure the seat it will remain under UCP control, as it has been since its establishment in 2019.
Michaela Frey of the UCP, held the seat from 2019 until October 2022, when she announced her resignation. The move came one day following the UCP’s election of Smith as its new party leader in a vote against then-sitting premier Jason Kenney.
Also vying for the seat was Alberta Party candidate Barry Morishita, who formerly served as the mayor of Brooks from 2016-2021.
In a statement to the News, Morishita said he was “disappointed in the result” of Tuesday’s election, but proud of his party’s commitment to fighting for its platform issues.
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