Candidates face off at byelection forum

By Toyin Obatusin - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on December 12, 2024.

Lethbridge West candidates John Middleton-Hope of the UCP and the NDP’s Rob Miyashiro went head to head in debate Tuesday during a candidates forum at the main branch of the Lethbridge Public Library.
Alberta Party candidate Layton Veverka was unable to attend but a statement about his platform was read to the audience which filled many seats in the theatre gallery.
Advance polling is open until Saturday at two locations from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Those stations are Melcor Centre downtown at #236 200 4 Ave. S. and University Drive Alliance Church at 55 Columbia Blvd. West.
Both Middleton-Hope and Miyashiro, who sat side by side at a table facing the crowd, showed concern for issues raised by panel members Al Beeber of the Lethbridge Herald, Hal Roberts of Bridge City News, Justin Sibbet of Global News and mediator Stephen Mogdan, a Lethbridge lawyer who made sure candidates didn’t talk beyond their allotted time. He also made sure members of the public asked their questions promptly.
Many community members stood up at a microphone and questioned the candidates on legislation and needs of the riding residents.
“We the voters have a choice to vote for someone who has decades of experience in public service, the expertise and the energy to represent Lethbridge-West in government, as a member in caucus,” said Middleton-Hope.
Miyashiro, who unsuccessfully sought election for the NDP in Lethbridge East during the 2023 provincial election, said he was running “because I care deeply about our city, and I care deeply about the future of our province, because after five years of the UCP, things are worse than ever.”
The amicable debate was met with resistance from crowd members who didn’t necessarily agree with rebuttals or responses from either candidate.
Candidates welcomed audiences by thanking them for their support and reiterating the hard work that goes into campaigns.
Subjects ranging from the state of the provincial health care and education systems to affordability issues and the potential contamination of the Oldman River by selenium from a Grassy Mountain coal mine were all addressed.
Candidates were also asked about the Lethbridge & District Exhibition financial situation with former city councillor Miyashiro telling the audience that the present council of which Middleton-Hope is a member is responsible for a lack of financial oversight. The UCP candidate countered by saying council during Miyashiro’s term didn’t have a member on the LDE board.
The LDE situation “was mismanaged from the very beginning,” said Middleton-Hope.
Both candidates were asked for their opinions on supervised consumption sites and Miyashiro – who was on council when the first site opened here – said “times have changed, and I wouldn’t support the kind of supervised consumption site that we had five years ago.”
Middleton-Hope, a former chief of Lethbridge Police Service who had a long career in law enforcement, noted that “the consumption of drugs has changed dramatically over the course of the times since the supervised consumption site, which candidly, was an unmitigated disaster for this city.” He said more than 36,000 needles were found on city streets each month the site was open.
On the subject of coal mining, Miyashiro said he was opposed to mining activity on the Eastern Slopes because of the potential impacts downstream.
Middleton-Hope said the UCP isn’t committed to development of a mine on the Eastern Slopes and in reference to the non-binding referendum held last month by Crowsnest Pass council, said “the wrong people were at the table,” pointing out that the Grassy Mountain site isn’t even in the Municipality of the Crowsnest Pass.
Both candidates also talked about the work of the teams of volunteers who have been supporting their campaigns, telling the audience they wouldn’t be in the positions they are without their support.

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