Alberta Party leader Barry Morishita, who finished third in the Nov. 8 Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection, is optimistic about the future as his party will now ready itself for the May 2023 general election.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
Leader of the Alberta Party Barry Morishita knows there is still lots of work to do before the provincial election in May but he is optimistic moving forward.
“I’m positive we’ll have a candidate in all 87 ridings. We’ve had lots of people reach out to us during the byelection and subsequently about being involved. Memberships are up, fundraising is up, interest is up.
“There are lots of people looking at the Alberta Party right now as an option to what’s been going on. We have lots of people to reach out to and talk about becoming candidates and becoming involved.”
Next up for the Alberta Party is its AGM, which will be held in Edmonton in early December. It was originally scheduled for October but had to be delayed due to the byelection.
“We will get through that and we will keep recruiting candidates and getting ourselves ready for the election, providing it’s still going to be called. We keep hearing rumours but you know (Premier Danielle Smith) said she would, but she said she would do lots of things. We will be ready for the election in May.”
Morishita understands why voter turnout for the byelection was low and believes people are tired of what has been going on. He also knows that people still don’t know much about the Alberta Party.
“We are a different option and different way forward, and perhaps that will attract more people to vote.”
Morishita came in third in the byelection with 2,098 votes compared to Smith with 6,923 and NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk with 3,393.
For now, it is still a wait-and-see period. Morishita has concerns about decisions Smith is making, both for the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding and how she is choosing to run the province, and believes many others share that view.
As it stands now, Morishita intends to run in the Brooks-Medicine Hat riding in May.
“I don’t have any reason not to at this point. I live here, my plan is to continue living here, as long as those things stay together then we’ll continue down that road and get ready for May.”
Morishita wants to thank everyone who voted and supported him during the byelection. He encourages people to check out the Alberta Party (albertaparty.ca) to see what it has to offer.
