Flagstaff students ask frank questions of Battle River-Wainwright candidates
Three of the four Battle River-Wainwright candidates participated in a forum hosted by Killam Public School, with Sedgewick and Forestburg students participating electronically.
KPS teacher Gary Smith, who organized the event said, “We feel very privileged to have the candidates here with us today; thank you for making time in your busy schedules.”
Smith talked about the importance of voting, and said students will be participating in the Alberta Student Vote project.
He introduced the candidates, with Ron Williams representing the Alberta Liberals, Wes Taylor from Wildrose, and Blake Prior from PC Alberta. Smith said NDP Candidate Gordon Naylor was unable to attend and sent his regrets.
Candidates were given a list of prepared questions prior to the forum, with half coming from Smith, and the others coming directly from students.
“Students, your job is to listen closely,” he said.
The forum started with each candidate being given five minutes for an opening statement.
Prior spoke first, telling a little about himself. He was born and raised on a farm north of Irma, which was recognized as a five-generation century farm in 2010. “I’m married, with three kids, my youngest son is in Grade 11, my daughter attends University, and my oldest son works in Hardisty.”
Prior told students he has farmed and worked in the oilfield for 20 years.
“I want to emphasize, the more you students become engaged in the political process, the better off you will be. As a population, we seem to get more and more disengaged, and that’s unfortunate.”
Prior said he got his start in politics when he ran for president of the Student Union in Grade 11.
He stressed the importance of voting, saying that in many countries there isn’t a democratic process. “People don’t have the chance to vote, so it’s very important that we do. We vote for the parties who we think will best represent our particular views.”
Taylor went next, telling students, “We’re really lucky to live in a democratic country, a place where we can still choose. Men and women died to give us this right.”
Taylor described himself as a proud Albertan, dedicated to serving his community in an open, honest, and transparent manner.
He told students a little about himself, saying he was a businessman, and had his Bachelor of Education; married, with three children.
He talked about the Wildrose party, saying the party has five priorities: patient-centred Healthcare and Seniors; world-class education; democracy and accountability in government; standing up for rural Alberta and its natural resources; and lower taxes.
Ron Williams opened last, joking that he found the first instruction, keeping to five minutes, the most difficult thing. “I taught for 34 years; it’s difficult for a teacher to confine themselves to five minutes!”
Williams told students a little about himself, saying he is a local person, currently the Mayor of Strome, adding that he held the position of the last Chairperson of the Flagstaff Board of Education.
“You are choosing a local representative, and also a member of a political party. You are sort of making two choices in one,” he told students.
Williams said the Alberta Liberals main issue is the necessity for change. “One party for 44 years… The PC’s were elected forcefully for change, but that was in 1971. They have introduced forward-looking change, but from millions of dollars in oil revenue, what has been accomplished?
“What of the Heritage Trust Fund? $17 Billion is not much of a cushion with a $7 Billion deficit,” he said, comparing that to Norway’s oil revenue saving fund of $1 Trillion dollars.
“We could have had a similar amount, but we don’t. We are told that we have the best Healthcare; it’s certainly the most expensive, but wait times put us near the bottom.
“We need a new broom to sweep away incompetent, wastefulness, and extravagance. We need a government to serve ordinary Albertans, not big fat cats.”
Each candidate was then given two minutes to answer a number of questions, going in different orders each time.
The first question was directly about Education spending cuts and bigger class sizes.
Taylor responded that “Education is one of those things you have to get right; funding has to be set aside.” He also made reference to the PC freeze of teacher hires, saying this will naturally increase class sizes.
Williams said, “Cancelling proposed cuts is the first step. Remove the cap on teacher hiring, more students will increase class sizes with it in place.” He also talked about the importance of restoring local authority, “Who knows more, your parents, or bureaucrats arbitrarily deciding things? There should be a partnership between parents and educators.”
Prior talked about the importance of keeping schools open in the Battle River-Wainwright constituency, and avoided amalgamation by introducing technology into classrooms, like teleconferencing. He said the PC party has a plan to improve education, adding 200 new schools and 160 portables, and by investing in teaching excellence, by providing funding to keep teachers and teacher’s aides. He talked about improved post-secondary access that comes from long-term, stable student financing, as well as investing in early childhood development integrated into education. “That’s our priority.”
Students also addressed Healthcare in their questioning, with all three candidates agreeing that more funding needs to go directly into front-line care, and more regional-centred care.
Smith told the candidates that students have noticed that all parties’ platforms include cutting government waste, and asked candidates to elaborate on those plans.
Other questions asked about plans for tax increases and cuts, and specifically about tax relief for families.
The hard questions came out when students addressed candidates directly, with the first question directed at candidates being, “Why did you choose to represent your party?”
Williams said, “I chose a public life to make a positive difference.” He called the Liberal party the “party in the middle.”
Prior said he chose the PC party because he believes that governments should be facilitators. “They should provide you with the opportunity to succeed,” adding that he felt the stability of the PC party makes them the right choice to lead the province.
Taylor said he chose Wildrose because, “I’ve been looking at the budget. I balanced the budget in my business, and I was fed up with the PC party. I was able to balance year after year. I believe in lower taxes, and smaller government. You have a better way of spending your money.”
The next question was blunt, “Why should we trust you?”
Prior said, “My trust in the PC, in Prentice came down to four or five issues that I felt needed to be changed that he has since changed.”
Taylor said, “We have to earn your trust, every day. We can’t please everyone, but we can listen to grassroots opinions, and find out what people want. Trust is gained, not given.”
Williams said, “Look at my record of public service. I’ve served as Mayor of both Heisler, and Strome. You can judge my character from my service. The Liberal party is doing what they can to make life better for ordinary Albertans.”
Students asked candidates about their plans for rural Alberta.
Taylor talked about municipal funding, and land use bills.
Williams talked about decision making and funding that treats municipalities as full partners in what’s needed.
Prior talked about the importance of keeping small business taxes low, saying the lower the taxes, the more communities can thrive, as well as protecting schools and healthcare facilities. “Keeping those three together help sustain rural communities.”
One final question asked candidates what would happen if oil royalties dried up completely, with all three candidates stressing the importance of developing diversity in revenue sources.
Candidates were then given a summing up period of two minutes.
Prior told students, “When you are choosing a party, spend some time looking at party policies directly. Do your own research, and look at actual figures.
“Access all the available information to make your own decisions to decide who will lead our province.”
Taylor talked about smaller, more efficient and transparent government; about taking care of Healthcare and schools, and about lower taxes.
Williams talked about the need for change, and the need for government to be accountable. He said, “Government needs to make decisions public, and make all finances public, so people know where the money is going.”
Smith wrapped up the forum, thanking the candidates, and presenting each with a KPS pin.
He closed by telling students, “Even if you don’t always understand every answer fully, you take away what you can, and you make a decision.”
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
