Residents had a chance to get to know provincial candidates in Lethbridge-West at an all-candidate forum on May 9. Pat Chizek (Liberal Party), Shannon Phillips (NDP) and Cheryl Seaborn (UCP) took questions from a media panel and the audience at the Lethbridge Public Library.
The discussion covered many topics including healthcare, supervised consumption sites and party politics.
“Throughout our discussions today, we have explored a range of topics that impact our community,” said Seaborn in her closing statement. “It is my sincere hope that we have fostered an atmosphere of understanding, empathy and open dialogue. Together we can lay the foundation for positive change. I am deeply committed to promoting a climate of respect, collaboration and progress by working together, listening to one another’s perspective and seeking truth amidst the noise—we have the power to shape a brighter future for all.”
Phillips said she believes this election is about better leadership. “Albertans deserve better than what they are getting and right now the leadership is too risky—it’s too unpredictable. It is too focused on the wrong things,” she said. “We need to make sure that we protect your pension, that we make sure there are clinics here in Lethbridge with new family doctors. We need better healthcare that will connect more Albertans with their family doctor. We need action on affordability, lowering the cost of living through capping electricity and insurance rates. We need to focus on incenting those good paying jobs and attracting that new capital investment from the private sector and we need to focus on better education where we support students, build schools and deliver a modern curriculum.”
Chizek began her closing statement by pointing out how much voter apathy there is. She said she was surprised when she heard many young people do not even know there is an election coming and pointed to voter apathy as a big problem. “I hope you noticed that tonight a lot of my positions were not really on the left, not really in the centre but they are kind of in between,” she said. “I am asking you to get out of your comfort zone and consider something other than the same old UCP or NDP. There are other parties. Expecting something different but voting for the same old party does not work. Why not demand that your representative support all the constituents and not just their party? Demand they put you first and their party last. Can they do that? As I said in my opening, can they vote against their party if it is going to hurt Lethbridge? I am not going to hold my breath on that one. We need a government that is accountable every day, not just at election time. I would hope that we can get other parties in our legislature, for we have got a lot of voices out there that aren’t being heard.”
Alberta Party candidate Braham Luddu was not at the forum.
The next all-candidate forum will be hosted by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce on May 16 at the Enmax Centre.
ALSO READ: Lethbridge-East candidates questioned on healthcare, SCS
You can also read about each candidate here:
Lethbridge-East NDP candidate focusing on how policy affects individuals
Lethbridge-West UCP candidate focused on healthcare, economy
Phillips focusing on healthcare, economy, and leadership
Neudorf focusing on affordability, jobs and healthcare
Alberta Liberal candidate for Lethbridge-West hopes to see new voices in government