Five candidates vying for the Progressive Conservative nomination in Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock took questions at a riding association forum last week, leading up to the Jan. 28 election.
Roughly 200 association members filed into Westlock’s Memorial Hall on Thursday, Jan. 19 to grill candidates on a range of hot-button issues like health care, fiscal responsibility and MLA pay.
Health care quickly became the topic of discussion and when asked how they felt about the direction of health care in Alberta, every candidate said adjustments are necessary.
“We can’t keep throwing money at it,” said Morinville Mayor Lloyd Bertschi. “It’s going to get very, very close to being half the money that the provincial government spends in its entire budget and that is absolutely unsustainable.”
Roughly 40 per cent of provincial spending is put towards health care. “We cannot afford this on a long-term basis,” Westlock County Coun. Bert Seatter said, adding he felt some sort of medical apprenticeship program might make the system more effective.
Tim Schultz, executive assistant to MLA Doug Horner, said he would like to see more responsibilities given to pharmacists and nurses.
He said he would also like to look into some sort of bonus for people taking steps to lead a healthier lifestyle, which will in turn lessen the burden on the system.
Both Town of Westlock Coun. David Truckey and Westlock County Coun. Maureen Kubinec said health care in the province is some of the best in the world, but there is room for improvement.
With a large percentage of provincial money being directed towards health care and Alberta’s economy relying heavily on the price of natural resources, one association member asked candidates if they would rather cut back spending, or run a deficit.
“By making severe cutbacks, all you’re doing is putting more people out of work, forcing more people out of the province and more stress on the economy,” Truckey said.
“If you can build your infrastructure … and stimulate your economy back into the good years, you’ll be far better off.”
Schultz, however, said by cutting back, you would cut services — something he does not feel the province should do.
The remaining candidates said they felt both cutting back and borrowing might be warranted in certain areas.
The current review on MLA pay also sparked interest amongst attendees.
“I don’t think anybody should get into the world of politics with the idea of making a bunch of money,” Truckey said, adding he felt the current review of MLA pay is well warranted.
Other candidates remained diplomatic in their answers, with Schultz and Kubinec saying they would like to see the results of the review first.
“It is under review right now and I absolutely believe that these pensions should not be gold-plated,” Bertschi said.
Other issues discussed at the forum included youth engagement, the location of the constituency offices and priorities should they make it to the Legislature.
Candidates all seemed to agree that engaging the younger generation was vital, with many citing social media as a viable means to reach the next generation — something they intend to do via Facebook and Twitter.
Truckey said the location of the constituency office is one that came up multiple times on the campaign trail in recent weeks. Four of the five candidates said they felt the constituency office should remain in Barrhead where it has for more than three decades, while Seatter said a move to Westlock would be warranted, simply for geographic reasons.
“I think Westlock is probably central so other than a branch office in the two locations … I would think that Westlock would probably be the logical choice,” he said.
In terms of priorities should the individual make it to the legislature after the spring provincial election, Bertschi said it would be too presumptuous to assume they would make it that far.
All candidates agreed that the biggest challenge would be getting elected as the PC representative for the constituency, as well as reaching out to constituents and finding the issues they feel should be discussed in the legislature.
Polling stations open at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Jan. 28 and close a 2 p.m. Voters in Westlock can cast ballots at Memorial Hall. Voters must be members of the PC party.
