Independent MLA Drew Barnes' decision to invite convoy protest leader Tamara Lich to the Alberta budget reading fell flat with many, but his would-be opponents in Cypress-Medicine Hat say they have bigger fish to fry.--NEW FILE PHOTO
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Two candidates from opposite parties who hope to replace Drew Barnes as the MLA in Cypress-Medicine Hat this spring say his invitation to a convoy protest leader to the provincial budget was misguided, or at least badly timed.
Video of the tribute – Barnes pointing out the presence of Tamara Lich and her husband in the gallery at the opening of the Legislative session on Tuesday – circulated on social media.
“If we don’t stand up for our freedoms, we’re going to lose them,” Barnes told the News.
“Freedom of speech is the No. 1 thing protecting all of our freedoms, and Tamara has been a leader standing up for freedom of speech and the freedom to protest.”
General opinion is harshly split about the ‘Freedom Convoy’ last year and Lich, one of its leaders who was charged with mischief and faces trail later this year in Ontario.
A non-scientific web poll on the Medicine Hat News website saw an overwhelming majority of respondents state they didn’t agree with the move, and potential candidates in Cypress-Medicine Hat say they have other priorities.
“There are other issues in Cypress-Medicine Hat that people are greatly more concerned about,” said James Finkbeiner, one of two candidates seeking to win the United Conservative Party nomination in the riding now represented by Barnes who sits as an independent.
At the same time, he supports the “grassroots” nature of controversial protests, but says he’s focused on local issues.
Cathy Hogg became the New Democrat candidate in the riding in a vote of local party members on Tuesday night, shortly after the budget was announced.
She said in a statement Wednesday forwarded to the News via party officials that both Barnes and the UCP government are out of touch.
“It’s clear that Drew Barnes and the UCP are focused on the wrong things,” the statement read. “As the NDP candidate for Cypress-Medicine Hat, I am focused on connecting families with a family doctor and Family Health Team, helping people make ends meet each month, and building a resilient jobs economy.”
Barnes hasn’t formally announced his plans in the expected May election, but has said a decision could be between running without party affiliation or as part of a loosely aligned group of “freedom minded” non-UCP conservatives with candidates in several ridings.
The other candidate in the UCP race in the riding, Justin Wright, did not respond to the News by deadline.
Finkbeiner said local health care, property rights and the “just transition” and support of the oilpatch is “more what I’m focused on, and talking to people about that on the doorsteps.”
Finkbeiner also said convoy protests were more about the federal government being unable to listen to citizens and respond to what Canadians were saying, and “that’s why I was happy to join the United Conservative Party.
“We’re a grassroots party and are happy to listen to our constituents.”
Barnes was voted out of the UCP caucus in 2021 after he continued to criticize leader Jason Kenney, saying he and cabinet had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions, among other things.
Smith, who took over as leader in October, told the News last fall that Barnes could choose to seek UCP nomination to run for the party, and that he likely had “some work to do” reaching out to mend his relationship with other party MLAs in caucus.
