A voter casts a ballot at advance polls in Redcliff for the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection, which concludes with general voting today. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Voters in northern portions of Medicine Hat go to the polls today to either vote for a premier, or lodge their protest against her.
New United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith told rallies of supporters and forum audiences this month that she has a mandate from her party to act on policy proposals to reform health care, take a stronger stance on federal-provincial matters and tackle affordability issues.
Her main opponents in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection say the contest has given them a platform here and more broadly to promote their parties to those Albertans worried about Smith’s platform or calling for an end to a two-party dominance.
“You may have noticed that the governing party has had a change in the past six months, so I’m reintroducing the UCP to you under a new direction,” Smith told a forum in Brooks on Nov. 2.
“We’ve had struggles over two-and-a-half years, we know that, but that’s made some of the changes we need to do more urgent.”
She has campaigned on her plans to revamp Alberta Health Services and challenge federal policies step by step with a Sovereignty Act.
She has also stressed to local voters that being leader of the government comes with the ability to immediately act and export successful initiatives here and elsewhere in the province.
Teams with New Democrat Gwendoline Dirk and Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita concluded their door knocking in a blizzard on Monday ahead of today’s voting.
Smith will spend election day in Medicine Hat, as will other candidates, including Morishita, who will vote at his home district in Brooks, then travel to the city.
The NDP in particular has focused on Smith’s platform, saying it would destabilize the economy and health-care system, which are still struggling from the COVID pandemic.
“I’m not focused on what Smith has to say – I’m focused on my campaign,” said Dirk on Monday, but added that voters are receptive based on the UCP record since the 2019 election, and the recent change in leadership.
“People are very concerned in this area,” said Dirk. “We’ve had more volunteers than ever before for a byelection, and more signs than in 2019.”
“Whatever happens, this is already a massive win for the NDP, because we have reached more first-time voters, more former conservatives who said directly to my face they can no longer support the extreme right wing of the UCP.
“People are finding a home in our more practical NDP.”
Dirk said Monday that win or lose today she will be the party’s local candidate in an expected general election in May 2023.
Smith, too, has said that if successful tonight, she would defend the seat in 2023, while Dirk and Morishita have both played up their life-long residency in the riding.
Alberta Party campaign managers said the surprise byelection in its leader’s home riding has also provided free advertising to disaffected conservatives and progressives in the rest of the province.
It also gets Morishita, a former mayor of Brooks, back in front of receptive voters and they’re pleased with three strong performances in three forums last week.
“I’ve learned a lot pounding on doors and meeting people where they’re at,” said Morishita on Monday. “We’ve had a lot of positive reaction, and now it’s up to voters to decide what their local representation looks like.
“(Provincially) we’re telling people that there is an alternative to the two parties, and we’ve done well.”
He has stressed the need for collaboration between local and provincial governments and generally turning down rhetoric in politics.
Two independence candidates – Independence Party of Alberta candidate Bob Blayone and Wildrose Independence Party Leader Jeevan Mangat – want a stronger stance against Ottawa on health, energy and climate, and would move for referendums on separation.
Smith announced Oct. 8 she would run in the riding, which former UCP MLA Michaela Frey vacated days earlier after Smith secured the party’s leadership. Frey had already announced she would not seek re-election in 2023.
After the results of the byelection are finalized, the winner would be able to be sworn in to the legislature when it resumes Nov. 29.
Voting takes place today for eligible voters in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection. In Medicine Hat, the riding includes all addresses north of the South Saskatchewan River, as well as downtown north of Third Street, Herald, Harlow and the area adjacent the Medicine Hat regional hospital.
Brooks-Medicine Hat also comprises Redcliff, northern Cypress County, all of Newell County, the City of Brooks and Town of Bassano.
