Election Forum
Livingstone-Macleod will have a new MLA next week.
With Roger Reid’s decision not to seek re-election after one term as United Conservative Party MLA, the field is open for five candidates on Monday, May 29.
Dylin Hauser, Chelsae Petrovic, Kevin Todd Corrie Toone and Kevin Van Tighem are local candidates in the provincial election.
Advance voting in Fort Macleod is from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 24-27 at the community hall.
Voting on Monday, May 29 runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Fort Macleod and District Community Hall, Granum Drop-In Centre and the Piikani Nation Administration Building conference room.
“This up-coming election is one of the most pivotal moments in Alberta’s history,” United Conservative Party candidate Chelsae Petrovic said.
Petrovic, New Democrat Kevin Van Tighem, Liberal Dylin Hauser, the Alberta Party’s Kevin Todd and Corrie Toone of the Independence Party took part in a candidate’s forum last week in Claresholm.
Petrovic said voters can choose to move forward with the UCP, or go back with any of the other parties.
“Livingstone-Macleod — this is where I grew up and this is where I’ve decided to call home, and that’s what this election is kind of all about,” Petrovic said. “Whether we want to keep Alberta moving forward in this same direction, whether we want Alberta to be stronger, and more affordable, or go back.”
Petrovic said the UCP has a plan to grow the economy, attract new jobs and keep taxes low.
“The choice before Albertans is simple,” Petrovic said. “We can keep moving Alberta forward with the UCP or we can go back. I believe we cannot afford to go back. Let’s keep moving forward.”
Van Tighem said during the campaign, as he knocked on doors, he found people in Livingstone-Macleod who are being left behind.
“They’re being left behind by inflation, they’re being left behind because they can’t access health care and they’ve got issues that they’re living with that nobody can tend to for them because they don‘t even have transportation.”
Van Tighem said despite the stories of hardship that he encountered, he sees great potential for Livingstone-Macleod with the right government in place.
“This is a big job, and this is a big challenge,” Van Tighem said. “This is our province, and it’s not working for everybody right now and there are a lot of issues that are effecting our lives and not for the better.”
“We need a better future. . . people are looking for change, people are looking for new ideas.”
Toone said voters need to realize they are being given a bill of goods by government. “I want to bring back common sense to politics,” Toone said. “I am so tired of the hypocritical governments.”
As an example, Toone said government decided people can’t have plastic straws or grocery bags, and yet thousands of campaign signs will end up in landfills after May 29.
Hauser said he is pleased with the engagement of people in the election campaign, and urged them to choose carefully on Monday.
“There is a person here that you are making responsible for decisions that will affect your life,” Hauser said.
Hauser encouraged voters to look beyond parties and policies and instead focus on the individual who will represent Livingstone-Macleod.
“Imagine the media attention if you guys elect a Liberal,” Hauser added with a laugh.
Todd said Livingstone-Macleod voters will get stability, predictability and maturity should they choose to vote for the Alberta Party.
Todd also urged people to look beyond political parties when making their choice for MLA.
“I think it is in our best interests to send the best person to Edmonton to make decisions for all of us,” Todd said.
