Cypress-Medicine Hat Alberta Independence Party candidate Cody R. Both (right) and UCP candidate Justin Wright take part in a Chamber of Commerce debate on Thursday night at Crescent Heights High School.--News photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The Alberta Independence Party agrees with a number of things in the UCP platform presented by Cypress-Medicine Hat candidate Justin Wright at a two-way forum on Thursday night.
But Wright was also working to steer clear of the more controversial points put forward by independence candidate Cody Ray Both, like his party’s objections to pandemic measures under the UCP, renewable energy, criticism of local city hall and a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada.
“We pretty much have the ideal province already … but it’s important to have a dialogue about change,” said Both, the owner of a local business specializing in IT.
Wright stayed close to his party’s platform, lauding his government’s recent budget, and what he says are plans to diversify the province, specifically the south.
“We have to do it today,” said Wright. “We keep taxes low, keep generating jobs and keep investing in health care and education and mental health.”
Absent was Alberta New Democrat candidate Cathy Hogg after the school board trustee missed a registration deadline this week and then was denied a late entry exemption by the registered candidates.
Another candidate in the May 29 election, Matt Orr of the Wildrose Solidarity Party, lives near Fort Macleod and is not running an active local campaign.
Only about 50 spectators attended the local event that began at 7 p.m., just as the televised provincial leaders’ in Edmonton concluded.
Wright said a major local health issue for him is to reopen a form of the Medicine Hat maternity clinic, closed two years ago, and in general, low taxes to draw industry is a sound plan for a stronger economy.
“We’re beginning to diversity, we have hydrogen industry developing in central Alberta and we’re getting more out of our existing oil and gas centre,” he said.
“Talking about the entire economy, the best route we have is to continue with research and development (sector) while getting new pipelines for our oil and natural gas.”
Candidate Both stated more focus is needed for local businesses, tackling crime downtown, upgrading our fossil fuel electricity production and an Alberta-first business strategy.
He wants higher salaries for teachers and health-care workers and mass consultations with those suffering from drug addiction.
Both said the local business sector is still hurting from the pandemic policies enacted by former UCP Leader Jason Kenney.
“I’m a business owner and I still feel the effect of COVID (measures),” he said
“The UCP is here saying that they support small business, but they brought in COVID lockdowns; how does that help business?”
Wright responded that he too opened a business in the last three years (a food service and catering company), the government is supporting business and its health philosophy has changed.
“Our new leader has already said we’re not going there (with lockdowns),” he said of leader and Brooks-Medicine Hat candidate Danielle Smith.
