Conservative candidate Glen Motz speaks will attendees of his campaign office grand opening on Aug.25. The federal election is heading into its final weekend before voting takes place on Monday.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Near the end of a low-key federal election in southeast Alberta, local candidates are hopeful their parties will make big waves on election night where the result is far from certain.
With national polls tightening – and some even changing leads – among the front-running Liberal and Conservative parties, local supporters are hoping to form a government after Canadians vote on Monday.
A strong showing for other established parties – the New Democrats and Greens – could translate to influence in a potential minority situation, and two other upstarts looking to make space in the national conversation.
“I’m not a poll-watcher, but I’m very hopeful that we’ll see change nationally,” said Conservative candidate Glen Motz on Wednesday. “The message we hear on the doorstep is the same (as 2019); that we need to get rid of the Trudeau government and just can’t afford another term.”
Voters returned Motz during the 2019 vote with almost 80 per cent of the ballots cast in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.
Topping that mark again would be a difficult feat, made harder this election by challengers on the right side of the political spectrum.
Brodie Heidinger, the local candidate for the People’s Party, told the News he his hoping to build on momentum seen in strong polling during just the party’s second national campaign.
He says the party is polling about six per cent nationally, up from the 2019 election, and currently runs as high as eight to 10 per cent in Alberta.
“They’ve shown a surge in the polls and we’ve seen that at the door,” said Heidinger, who attributes that to the party’s strong stance against “mandatory vaccines” and the use of “vaccine passports” in businesses and sporting events.
“People do not want the government to tell them to take a vaccine,” he said,. “(On passports) people don’t want to see a segregated Canada.”
The People’s Party will be looking to elect its first MPs on Monday night. The Greens, represented by Diandra Bruised Head locally, will look to retain their seats nationally.
Liberal candidate Hannah Wilson told the News this month that her party will run on its record of action to support Canadians during COVID, climate change and the economy, and that Canadians will respond to its platform for the future.
The New Democrats will be looking to pick up seats and could likely wield the balance of power in a minority parliament.
“The saying is that in politics there are show horses and workhorses,” said local NDP candidate Jocelyn Stenger, stating that her party proved in the last parliament it can drive policy changes that help Canadians.
She said Wednesday the public sees the need for a strong presence from the NDP, which is now polling in second place federally in Alberta, and a strong third place across the county.
“People are looking at the NDP as a credible option now, and they’ve realized the policies and plans of the other parties aren’t working.”
With the top parties heading into the final weekend essentially tied, several scenarios involving a minority mandate for either party are possible.
Considering heavy voting in advanced polls, a higher number of special ballots, who will form government may not be known on Monday night.
“I think the end result is that we’ll be back having an election in two years,” said Geoff Shoesmith, running locally for the one-year-old Maverick Party. It is trailing well back in Alberta and is only running candidates in the West.
“It’s an easy product to sell, because it makes sense,” said Shoesmith, who said his campaign has been “absolutely” well received, and has formed a base to build on.
