Thomas Lukaszuk, the former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, says he will vote NDP in the election and specifically is endorsing local candidate Cathy Hogg, he said Friday at her campaign office.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Hoping to reach disaffected conservatives, former PC cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk is in Medicine Hat this weekend to endorse and door knock for New Democrat candidate Cathy Hogg.
Some prominent local supporters of the UCP and leader Danielle Smith say however, he’ll receive a poor reception.
“I’m more concerned about the future of this province than I am about silly partisanship,” Lukaszuk told a noon-hour event at NDP campaign headquarters in Medicine Hat.
“The vision that is articulated by the UCP and particularly Danielle Smith is not the Alberta that I want to live in or have my daughters grow up in.”
The former deputy premier and MLA from St. Albert said conservatives are concerned about control of the party board by extreme right activists and libertarians.
He said Smith’s conservatives are intent on tearing down parliamentary practice and public institutions, and that will cause economic uncertainty.
Notley, he said, is a capable, predictable leader, and better aligns with what he considers to be “progressive conservative” values.
“We need a government focused on running this province, not fighting party battles,” he said. “So I’m lending her (Notley) my vote. We need stable government right now. The report card will come in four years.”
While Lukaszuk is generally supporting the NDP this year, he is actively endorsing several specific candidates, including Hogg, who he knows through his work as a former education minister.
Hogg, a regional school division trustee and one-time head of the Alberta Public School Boards Association, is on a leave of absence while running in the election.
“Certainly I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to engage with folks,” said Hogg. “Some people have their heels dug in, but I’ve seen some folks budge a bit.”
She faces Justin Wright (UCP), Cody Both (Alberta Independence) and Matt Orr (Wildrose Solidarity) in the Cypress-Medicine Hat constituency race. The general election is May 29.
At the same time, a large majority of local UPC members and notable conservatives in the area are solidly behind their leader.
The UCP clearly wants to pose the election as a question as a choice between their economic plan and the potential return of Notley, who was premier from 2015 to 2019, and who conservatives say would harm economic growth.
Former MP Lavar Payne was an early Smith supporter following his advocacy for so-called freedom causes over several years.
He’s confident the vast majority of conservative-leaning voters will back the UCP this month and that Smith will bring stable leadership to the party and province.
“I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s admitted that she made a mistake crossing the floor (in 2015 to the Progressive Conservatives),” said Payne on Friday.
“I’ve said ‘that’s the past, and I’m going to support her. “She’s done a lot of good things with health care, and now crime. And there’s a lot more to be done.
“We need the stability over another conservative government.”
Smith has consistently drawn crowds of familiar conservative voters at events both in the fall byelection and the current campaign.
Michaela Frey strongly supported Rebecca Schulz in last year’s UCP leadership contest, but having already announced she wouldn’t run in 2023, stepped down early to allow Smith to run in the riding.
She is now an adviser in the premier’s office and head of the local re-election campaign.
Another local MLA from the last term, Drew Barnes, sat as an independent after criticizing former UCP leader Jason Kenney, then chose not to seek the UCP nomination or re-election, stating party discipline stifled his ability to advocate for local issues. He has not endorsed any party.
As well on Friday, former PC-era cabinet minister Doug Griffiths endorsed two specific NDP candidates in the Edmonton-area and Camrose without specifically mentioning party affiliation.
