Less than 24 hours after participating in the televised leaders’ debate, Wildrose Party leader and Alberta premier hopeful Brian Jean brought his campaign through town on April 24.
Jean attended as keynote speaker of local candidate Glenn van Dijken’s campaign fundraising dinner, which saw approximately 150 Wildrose supporters pack Memorial Hall.
Reassuring his party would not raise taxes, promising to cut school fees and government costs, while helping to build rural Alberta were key messages delivered by Jean during his 40-minute talk.
Jean said his party would help rectify the neglect to northern and rural Alberta.
“It’s important to fix the issues right across the province, whether it be in communities like Edmonton or Calgary, Lethbridge or Fort McMurray, or Westlock — the truth is this government has ignored rural Alberta for a long time,” Jean said. “Especially for things like ambulance services, and roads and streets. If it wasn’t for the federal government investing in the economic action plan, I don’t know if some of the areas around northern Alberta would have water and waste water (services).”
Jean took the opportunity to address criticism he’s received from his performance at the leaders’ debate.
“[The PCs] have $8 million to find one sentence so they can spend $8 million on making sure they discredit us right across Alberta, that’s the way they play,” Jean said. “So when you see me read a script, and make sure that I read it word for word, I’m doing that because I don’t want to screw up.”
As for what he’s heard from Westlock residents, as well as others along the campaign trail, Jean said it’s simple.
“Low taxes and a balanced budget — they’re sick of things they don’t get services for. We know [Alberta] is the most expensive government in Canada, we know they’re wasting money, and we think we can do a better job.”
Jean also assured those in attendance that the over 100 new schools promised by the PCs will be built. He also said he would rectify issues with the healthcare system.
“We’re going to fix our hospitals. In some places we have mould on ceilings, flooded kitchens and different problems and that’s got to end,” he said.
Jean expressed confidence his party is ready to form government and give the PCs a run for their money May 5.
“We’re not going to win in some places, that’s just the way it is, but we can win in a lot of places. We have a lot of strength in Calgary, we have a lot of strength in Edmonton, Fort McMurray … right across the province and that momentum is building.”
