James Finkbeiner is seeking to become the United Conservative Party nominee for the Cypress-Medicine Hat riding.--Supplied Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
One hat is in the ring to become the United Conservative Party candidate in Cypress-Medicine Hat: Redcliff native and Western Standard business manager James Finkbeiner has announced he wants the job.
Finkbeiner told the News on Tuesday his focus is completing a move back to the area begun in the summer, and aiding Premier Danielle Smith implement her wide-ranging agenda.
The Western Standard is an online news provider created by former Wildrose MLA for Brooks-Strathmore Derek Fildebrandt, which at times has hosted Smith’s radio-styled talk programs.
Finkbeiner, who left the organization last week, acted as an executive producer among other duties, and worked with Smith closely, he said.
“I got into politics when she led the Wildrose party and was a big supporter, and got into the Unite the Right movement,” he said. “I’ve listened to lot of conversations with Smith – I know where she’s headed and I know what she’s got planned. I’m very excited to get involved and help her achieve those goals.”
He also said he planned to run locally since before the end of the UCP leadership race early last month, and will challenge current MLA Drew Barnes, regardless of his status in the party.
The three-term MLA was removed from caucus last year after criticizing cabinet decisions, and has remained on the outside one month after Smith replaced Jason Kenney as leader and premier.
Smith, now the MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat after a byelection win last week, had said Barnes can run to be the party’s candidate in a nomination contest before the May 2023 election. No dates have been officially scheduled by the party.
But, Smith stressed, nominations need to proceed soon.
Last week Barnes told a business breakfast that while he was excited for Smith to guide the government, he was still contemplating his options.
“If Drew is welcomed back to the party, I’ll still be running against him in the nomination contest,” said Finkbeiner. “It is the only path forward for a strong, united UCP and for a strong conservative voice in this region.
“(Barnes) still seems adamant that the UCP won’t work. I disagree. Jason Kenney’s approach didn’t work. If (Barnes) decides that he is in a ‘united’ party, then I’d like to challenge him on some other issues.”
The nomination process is expected to garner a lot of attention, considering it is a generally safe seat for the conservatives, Barnes’ relationship with the party and, with the potential of the winner to act as a point person in the region for the premier in the next riding over.
Smith says she plans to move forward quickly on a sovereignty agenda that includes bringing policing and pensions under full provincial control, as well as major infrastructure spending and reform of the health-care system.
Finkbeiner said health aspects of Smith’s platform are what encourages him most, especially expansion of capacity outside Calgary and Edmonton.
“Access to a wait list is not access to health care,” he said.
Finkbeiner, 35, grew up in Redcliff and worked in a variety of family-run businesses, including D&D Oilfield Rentals, before they were reorganized into its current form of a trucking and equipment rental firm.
In a varied career, he also handled a Western Canadian sales area for scrap metal industry, and since 2021 worked with the Western Standard.
He joined the media, he said, to address his concern that rural issues were underrepresented.
“There was a lack of rural voice in mainstream media, with major publications focused on the major urban centres,” he said. “I wanted to work with an organization that was giving a voice to the grassroots and small towns.”
