The Fair Deal Panel listens in on the first speaker of the night Friday at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
Hundreds gathered Friday evening at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede to listen to and speak with the United Conservative Party’s Fair Deal Panel.
The panel held the event to give people in the region the opportunity top share their thoughts on whether Alberta is getting a fair deal in federation.
People registered before the event if they wished to speak in front of the audience and each person had exactly two minutes to share their thoughts on the matter. The emcee told the audience before the event that it was not the time and place to talk about the provincial budget.
“These have been very, very interesting,” said Donna Kennedy-Glans, one of the panel’s members. “We’ve been travelling for these in the depths of winter and it’s been wonderful to hear from the province about what a fair deal looks like for them.
“It varies from community to community.”
Medicine Hat was the ninth stop of the panel’s tour. Kennedy-Glans says they are hearing certain ideas at every stop along the way.
“We hear a lot about Albertans’ voice in Ottawa – representation,” she said. “We also hear a lot of ideas about the economy.”
Kennedy-Glans said before the meeting that she expected a lot of honesty from Hatters.
“Medicine Hat is one of the most honest places in Alberta,” she said. “I quite admire it here and always enjoy visiting.”
The night featured more than 20 speakers from the community, each sharing thoughts on the subject matter of the night.
There was much talk about the provincial government pulling out of the Canada Pension Plan to create an Alberta Pension Plan.
Some speakers questioned why the government would choose to pull out of the current plan.
“If it’s not broken, why fix it?”
Other speakers talked at length about the economy and the need for pipelines.
Alberta separation came up at times, as did the idea of an Alberta police force to replace the RCMP.
The panel continued its tour across the province even after the sudden death of member Jason Goodstriker.
“Jason was a blessing to sit alongside,” said Kennedy-Glans. “It’s going to be difficult to sit there tonight with his cowboy hat and know that he is not with us.”
The panel has a due date in March to present findings to the rest of government.
MLA Michaela Glasgo was on hand to show support to local MLA Drew Barnes, and she is hosting a town hall event Monday at the public library.
The News will catch up with Barnes to hear his thoughts on the evening this weekend.
