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Glenn van Dijken rolls to third term

UCP incumbent defeats NDP challenger Landen Tischer by more than 10,000 votes
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken
Glenn van Dijken was the overwhelming choice for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock voters in the May 29 provincial election, outdistancing his only rival by more than 10,000 votes.

ATHABASCA-BARRHEAD-WESTLOCK – Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock voters overwhelmingly decided May 29 to send United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate Glenn van Dijken back to the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton for his third-straight term. 

van Dijken easily outpaced his NDP rival, Landen Tischer, by a margin of more than 10,000 and received 15,628 votes compared to Tischer’s 5,406. 

Voters first selected van Dijken to represent them in 2015 when he was still part of the Wildrose Party in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock riding, before the constituency's borders were redrawn for the 2019 election. He then resoundingly won re-election that year. 

His re-election was part of a blue wave that dominated rural Alberta, helping the UCP to win its second majority government 49 to 38. No other parties won seats.  

However, voters elected independent candidate Funky Banjoko in Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo and Jennifer Johnston, who ran under the UCP banner, convincingly won Lacombe-Ponoka. Premier Danielle Smith has stated that she will not be part of the caucus due to controversial statements Johnson made at a September 2022 speaking engagement comparing transgender students in schools to feces in food. 

It is also worth mentioning that candidates have eight days to challenge results, and two Calgary ridings are undergoing mandatory recounts as the difference in victory was less than 100. As a result, the final seat totals will not be known until June 8. 

Regardless, van Dijken was pleased with the result. 

"I think what Albertans decided was to trust the government that put the province in a good position in the last years and did not want to risk going backwards with the NDP and tax policies," he said in a June interview. 

Rural representation 

Having said that, van Dijken admitted that the UCP lost some talented people but believed they had the bench strength to fill the vacancies.  

Kaycee Madu in Edmonton-South West, Jason Copping in Calgary-Varsity, Jason Luan in Calgary-Foothills, Nicholas Milliken in Calgary-Currie, Jeremy Nixon in Calgary-Klein, and Tyler Shandro in Calgary-Acadia were all defeated, though Shandro’s loss was by seven votes and is subject to a recount. 

Two others with cabinet experience under Jason Kenney, Prasad Panda and Josephine Pon, also lost their seats, as did former minister Whitney Issik, who lost by 30 votes in Calgary-Glenmore pending a recount. 

"I am quite confident in the premier's ability to identify who suits the roles in the best possible way," he replied. "Rural Alberta was well represented in her first cabinet and will be well represented in the upcoming cabinet." 

Ending divisiveness 

In her election night address, Smith noted the need for Albertans to move forward together and that the UCP would serve all Albertans regardless of political stripe. 

van Dijken said while the election campaign was heated and even nasty at times, referring to the NDP's attack ads against Danielle Smith, he agrees with the premier that there is an opportunity for the parties to work together.  

van Dijken has experience working with NDP MLAs to resolve constituents' issues, specifically a 2016 situation when he was in Opposition and worked with former transportation minister Brian Mason to ensure that the Klondyke Ferry would begin operation on time. 

He replied that it isn't uncommon for MLAs of all political stripes to work together to solve constituents' concerns. 

"Those are the types of things that affect the everyday lives of Albertans," he said. "I think we all recognize whether we are in government or opposition is what we are trying to make decisions that help people in their day-to-day lives." 

Plans out the gate 

As for what the UCP will do first, van Dijken said the premier has been very clear about her plan to lower taxes. 

"We started the campaign to cut taxes for Albertans, and we will deliver on that," he said. "We believe that low taxation will spur on economic activity, job growth and keep the economy strong." 

van Dijken said to prove how serious they are about lowering taxes, the first bill the government will introduce will be the Tax Protection Amendment Act

The act would prevent future governments from increasing personal or business taxes without Albertans’ approval through a referendum. 

"It is a mechanism that challenges all governments going forward to bring to Albertans whether they are really onside with the monetary policy and the decisions the government is making," he said.  

Standing up to Ottawa 

van Dijken noted the premier in her election night address reiterated her plan to stand up to the federal government on its plan to require electrical grids to be net-zero by 2035. 

"It is not realistic," he said. 

To reach the target, van Dijken said, the province would have to shutter all of their natural gas electricity generation plants. 

"Replacing them with what? (Net zero) will rapidly increase the cost of electricity in the province," he said. "It is up to the province to protect Albertans from policies from the federal government that interfere with our jurisdiction." 

van Dijken noted one of the tools they could use to fight the implementation of net zero is the Sovereignty Act. 

"Any policy that the federal government brings forward will go under the lens to determine if it is constitutionally appropriate. That's the Sovereignty Act's purpose. It gives us a tool, to allow us as a government to stand up when Ottawa when they cross the line in the sand and impose on provincial jurisdiction." 

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com

 


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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