Jon Horsman wants to be part of Alberta’s ‘refresh’

By COLLIN GALLANT on July 9, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Jon Horsman, the former senior bank executive and candidate to lead the United Conservative Party, says it’s time for Alberta to grow into a bigger role and grow in to its own on the national level.

And no, he’s not closely related to former Medicine Hat MLA Jim Horsman, if at all.

“I’m pretty sure I’m not a household name,” he told the News on Friday. “The conversation I’ve had with Albertans is that in my mind, we need to look forward, not who did what and what’s in the past.

“A lot of people are looking backwards, but this province is different than it was in 2019, and 2023 (election) is right around the corner.”

Horsman recently stepped down from his position as a vice-president with ATB Financial to join the race that features as many as 10 candidates seeking to be on the ballot when a new leader is chosen in October.

He said his business background and management experience position him well to help grow the economy.

He backs the idea of creating a provincial police force, its own pension plan to replace the Canadian Pension Plan and operating its own system of income tax collection rather than relying on the federal system.

That is a popular stance with some candidates and other right-of-centre parties that seek to split off votes.

“It’s time that we take care of our own responsibilities,” he said. “That’s a first step to having a more effective conversation with Ottawa. There’s a misalignment of interest and Alberta has to fight for itself, and take control of those levers.

“I’m not a separatist, but if Alberta chose that route, independence today would be an unmitigated disaster going over a cliff.”

Horsman said Alberta has a moral responsibility to produce energy and agricultural products to combat high prices and humanitarian disaster caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“What Alberta does is deeply, deeply important to the world,” he said. “But what we do well has changed over the last 10 years. How do we tackle the opportunities that are coming at us? I can be a valuable part of that refresh.”

A four-point prosperity plan, due out later in the campaign, would put equal portions of the current year’s oil-price windfall toward debt repayment, the Heritage Trust Fund, diversification programs and a direct payout to Alberta residents.

Horsman, a relative newcomer to public politics, announced earlier this week his intention to run in the race to replace Jason Kenney.

His name has led to some question in the Hat about a possible connection to former area MLA Jim Horsman, but the two men both say there’s no clear definitive connection.

Jon Horsman said his family’s fourth-generation farm is located near Indian Head, Sask.

Jim Horsman was born in Camrose but grew up in Moose Jaw. He told the News this week that he finds the potential connection interesting, but is out of politics and is staying away from commenting on the current race altogether.

“Every family has got one person that handles the family tree,” said Jon Horsman. “But we haven’t gotten to the bottom of it.”

Debates set

A UCP press release late Wednesday confirmed the debate schedule in the leadership race, first reported in the News.

The first leaders debate including all candidates who meet the contest requirements will take part in a forum at the HALO hangar in Medicine Hat on July 27.

The second will take place in Edmonton on Aug. 30. Both events will be livestreamed by the party.