Danielle Smith speaks to a crowd of supports at her byelection office at the corner of Division Avenue and Third Street SE in Medicine Hat on Wednesday.-- News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Danielle Smith is promising an open ear toward promoting the region if she becomes a local MLA in a Nov. 8 byelection, and asked supporters Wednesday to send a message for conservative unity and against her opponents in other parties.
The new leader of the United Conservatives and premier arrived in Medicine Hat on Tuesday and will hold events through the weekend as a byelection campaign plans to blitz Brooks-Medicine Hat in the last two weeks of the campaign.
“I know that you all have a lot more to tell me, but I have to let you know how important it is that this riding stays UCP,” Smith told a noon-hour crowd of about 150 people at her campaign office near downtown Medicine Hat
“Because if we end up with the alternative – the other guys, the NDP – you can only imagine what that would do to our province. If we see a track where the NDP are gaining ground, we’re going to see a reversal on all the things we care about so much.
“Let’s send a message to the NDP to the rest of the province that we’re not going to have a reversal, that we’ll keep on forging ahead and make this province as great and free as it can be.”
Smith won the party leadership on Oct. 6 as the only candidate without a seat in the legislature. Last week, she took part in a caucus retreat toward resetting cabinet and priorities as she took over leadership of the party.
Opposition leader Rachel Notley and a parade of New Democrat MLAs have been through town to support local candidate Gwendoline Dirk. They have been quick to paint Smith’s decision to run here as opportunistic, and criticized her as an outsider.
The crowd of conservative supporters at Wednesday’s event told the News they were excited for the potential to have a premier representing this riding, and felt the riding’s needs would get fair hearing in Edmonton.
After just two weeks, the byelection period is already half over, with Smith supporters expecting a high-tempo campaign to the end.
Campaign sources say Smith plans to spend nine of the next 12 days leading up to the Nov. 8 vote in the riding, including two public meetings this weekend, and three forums next week.
Michaela Frey held the riding for the party after the 2019 election but, having already announced she wouldn’t seek a second term, resigned her seat Oct. 7, providing a way for Smith to enter the legislature.
“Byelections are always a bit different and compressed,” said Frey at Wednesday’s event. “That’s a good thing, in that we get her representing Brooks-Medicine Hat faster, and, (Smith being) premier makes (the schedule) a bit more complex.
“We’ve had a great reception at the doors. The message of unity that Danielle Smith if putting out there is resonating.”
In an interview Tuesday, Smith told the News her position as premier requires she take part in briefings, meetings and responsibilities in Edmonton, but she’s dedicated to issues of rural Alberta generally and the southeast region specifically.
On Wednesday she said she is enjoying learning about local organizations.
“I’ve got some great feedback from the business community and my heart is warm from the wonderful community groups here,” she told the crowd, before detailing some of those discussions, including the need for greater transportation routes and support for charities and faith-based groups.
She has met with Chamber of Commerce officials, HALO air rescue ambulance, the Root Cellar (food bank) and was scheduled to tour the CORE Association facilities in the afternoon.
The campaign has also announced two large events this weekend open to the public.
Smith will host a public rally at the Heritage Inn in Brooks on Saturday and at the Medicine Hat Lodge on Sunday. Both events run from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, cabinet ordered the legislature session that was to begin on Oct. 31 would instead begin Nov. 29, giving enough time for local results to be certified, and therefore the local contest winner to take part.
