Meet the candidates in Sturgeon River-Parkland

Four federal election candidates in the Sturgeon River-Parkland constituency participated in a political forum on the evening of Sept. 30 in the Morinville Community Cultural Centre. The event was a way to help voters get to know them better, and was hosted by Morinville and District Chamber of Commerce.

Listed alphabetically by their last name, candidates at the forum were Rona Ambrose, Conservative Party of Canada; Ernest Chauvet, Christian Heritage Party; Guy Desforges with the federal NDP; and Brendon Greene with the Green Party. The Liberal candidate, Travis Dueck, who was appointed to his position a few days earlier, did not attend the forum. He contacted the local Chamber office to apologize and explain that he had a previous commitment that evening.

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Rona Ambrose, Brendon Greene, Guy Desforges and Ernest Chauvet on stage during the political forum.

Prior to going on stage, each candidate spoke briefly with me to answer three questions: 1) What do you think is the most important issue facing constituents in Sturgeon River-Parkland?; 2) What are your thoughts on Canada's military involvement in Syria?; and 3) Why should people vote for you?

Q:  Most important issue facing constituents in Sturgeon River-Parkland?

Ambrose: “The number one issue is the economy. Right now we are experiencing a downturn in the Alberta economy and we [Conservative Party of Canada] have advocated for a long time to keep on track with a Low tax, balanced budget plan to keep jobs secure.”

Chauvet: “The people whose minds are preoccupied the most in this constituency would be the link between the economy, the oil industry and pollution and CO2 emissions.”

Desforges: “Number one is medical. The fact that smaller communities right now, and the lack of having any health care up there. That's why the rolling medical Health care units that will be going into smaller communities will play a big part to this.”

Greene: “The economy and job security. That's the thing that people are talking about the most when I go door-to-door. There have been an incredible number of layoffs, the dollar is extremely low and the price of oil is extremely low.”

Q:  Canada's military involvement in Syria?

Ambrose: “You can't have humanitarian aid or help for refugees without tackling the very root of this problem which is the insurgency of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. So yes, we have to be there with our 70 other coalition partners that are over there. We absolutely have to be there, this is about making sure that we are stopping this where it's happening so it doesn't come to Canada.”

Chauvet: “I truly deplore the fact that the Conservative Party sold $15 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, which operates under Sharia Law. The rest in Syria and ISIS is more complicated. We have to deal with it, but we have to do it in a way that doesn't show how powerful we are but what we are willing to tolerate and what we are not willing to tolerate. So we have to be affirmative but not haughty.”

Desforges: “I don't think they should be there doing what they are doing, I do agree with the [NDP] party on that.”

Greene:  “Well, Syria is a tough issue and we are definitely not for expanding the military. Out of NATO there are 12 countries involved in combat missions and we believe that we should be humanitarian. We believe that we should keep it as peacekeepers.”

Q:  Why should people vote for you?

Ambrose: “I am working hard to earn the trust of voters on the doorstep and at events. It would be my absolute honour and privilege to serve the people of Sturgeon River-Parkland.”

Chauvet: “I have devoted most of my life working in the area for things that I felt were important. That definitely shows my love of the area and the people. I've been highly involved in making visible, local history.”

Desforges: “As a labour leader, I will come to you when there is an issue and I will listen and I will bring it back to Ottawa and I will stand for what you want.”

Greene:  “The number one reason is because the Green party is the only party that wants to abolish the whip system and have MPs that are ethical and not whipped. If I have an issue, I can consult my constituents and say I'm going to vote against something. The main reason is because I would rather consult my constituents before making any decisions.” © 2015 Grant Cree photos.