It came as no surprise Saturday morning when Premier Danielle Smith announced the provincial election will be held Monday, May 29.
Campaigning had begun in earnest long before the premier made the announcement in Calgary, confirming what everyone expected.
Smith wasted no time in firing a shot across the bow of New Democrat leader Rachel Notley.
“Albertans have a choice to make on the direction of our province,” Smith said in an announcement that was live-streamed. “On one hand, there is the United Conservative Party, who are relentlessly focused on moving Alberta forward and will continue creating opportunities for all Albertans with more good-paying jobs, low taxes, and a strong economy.”
“On the other hand, Rachel Notley and the NDP will take us back, making life more expensive by raising taxes, spending recklessly, and making promises they can’t keep.”
“This election is about whether we want to keep Alberta moving forward. Whether we want Alberta to be stronger, safer, and more affordable. Or whether we want to go back.”
Notley said the NDP will move Alberta forward — not back.
“Albertans’ priorities are our priorities,” Notley said. “Our message is reaching a growing number of supporters each day.”
“We will deliver better public health care and education, make life more affordable and create more good-paying jobs.”
In the Livingstone-Macleod riding, Chelsea Petrovic is the new United Conservative Party candidate replacing Roger Reid who decided not to seek re-election.
Kevin Van Tighem is the New Democrat candidate, while Kevin Todd is representing the Alberta Party.
Corrie Toone is the Independence Party candidate, and Dylin Hauzer returns as the Alberta Liberal Party, after campaigning in 2019.
Livingstone-Macleod residents will have a chance to see the candidates in action at an election forum on Monday, May 15.
The Chambers of Commerce from Nanton, Fort Macleod and Claresholm are jointly hosting the forum.
The forum is from 7-9 p.m. at Claresholm Community Centre. It will also be live-streamed.
In the 2019 provincial election, the United Conservative Party led by Jason Kenney earned close to 55 per cent of the vote while winning 63 seats.
The New Democrats, who received almost 33 per cent of the votes, elected 24 MLAs and formed the Official Opposition.
No other party elected an MLA in 2019.
In the Livingstone-Macleod riding in 2019, Reid received 17,644 votes compared to 5,125 for Cam Gardner of the NDP, 1,276 for Tim Meech of the Alberta Party, 430 for Vern Sparkes of the Alberta Independence Party, 258 for Dylin Hauser of the Liberal Party and 244 for Wendy Perfentile of the Green Party.
