Campaigning begins

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean was in Strathmore following Premier Jim Prentice’s election announcement on April 7. This was the first stop on the campaign tour, and was done because Strathmore is the heart of Wildrose country, said Jean. The next few weeks will see candidates from across the board vying for your vote, and the decision on who to vote for will be a tough one for some.
When asked why constituents in Strathmore-Brooks should vote Wildrose, Jean’s response was that they offer a clear alternative to what’s been happening over the last 44 years and especially the last 10 years. One example is the 59 new taxes that were brought in late last month.
“That’s why they should vote for us because we actually are making it possible for people to have a different option than to have an option that isn’t a better quality of life,” said Jean.
“That’s what it’s all about, politics is not about social issues, it’s about making sure people have jobs, making sure people have a better quality of life, making sure they feel safe and secure in their homes, that’s what it’s about, and that’s why it is called public service.”
On April 9 Jean released the Wildrose budget proposal, which can be found be found by going to www.wildrose.ca/standing_up_for_albertans_jean_releases_wildrose_balanced_budget_and_savings_plan.
“It’s a good plan, and a plan where we will see less hurt, a lot less hurt than what the Prentice PCs are providing to Albertans,” said Jean.
Wildrose will restore accountability and transparency, they will clean up the health care system, will restore world-class education to schools for future generations, protect property rights appropriately, stand up for the environment and stand for all things near and dear to Albertans, said Jean. His plan is to fight for it every step of the way, whether as the government or opposition.
“We believe opposition is exactly what the PCs need and if Albertans decide that’s the right thing for us to have, to be in opposition, we’re honoured to be there for them, and we’ll make sure we fight for them,” said Jean.
Here in Strathmore-Brooks and everywhere in between Derek Fildebrandt plans to continue campaigning, and said he will run like Wildrose is 10 votes behind, right up until the election.
“We’re not taking anything for granted, but what I’m hearing at the doors is people are fed up with PC entitlement, and they want change and at the very least they want a strong opposition that can hold the government’s feet to the fire,” said Fildebrandt.
“People here do not want to give Jim Prentice a blank cheque to continue the cronyism and entitlement and tax hikes of the PC government. We need real, fiscal conservatives and there’s only one fiscally conservative party in Alberta.”
The election will be held on May 5. Head to Page 8 for more election coverage.