Candidate Recap for Camrose Constituency
It’s officially election day in Alberta. All Election Day voting locations are open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Monday, May 29.
For the past two weeks, we have profiled the four candidates for Camrose Constituency.
Scroll to recap the candidates below and go out and vote for the candidate and party that you feel will best represent the local area.
Jackie Lovely, MLA Incumbent, UCP Party
Camrose UCP Candidate Jackie Lovely is preparing for the upcoming election by talking to as many people as she is able, she says.
She is hoping to have the opportunity to again represent the people in the Camrose Constituency.
Lovely makes her home in Camrose. She has two grown children; her son, who also lives in Camrose, where he operates a business, and her daughter, who is a registered nurse. “I’m very proud of them both,” she says.
Lovely was the eldest of six children, a farmer’s daughter, in southern Saskatchewan.
She left after school, and has spent her career primarily in business; first in property management for her family’s business.
She has her MBA, and also worked in the hospitality and tourism business.
Lovely says when she turned 50, she started looking for more meaningful work, and turned to the Good Samaritan Society. She travelled throughout the province with the organization.
Lovely is also proud of having been host mom to 56 international students, and working as a voluntary ESL.
Lovely’s father and grandfather were elected officials, but it’s not something she thought of until her children were grown.
She says her father suggested she go to a conference, and Lovely attended a Wild Rose Party conference where she met Danielle Smith for the first time. “I felt she had great ideas on how to move the province forward. I wanted to be part of making sure we have an Alberta that is as good or better than what I experienced.”
Lovely says after that she decided to run as a candidate, in 2012. “The experience was very interesting.” She was not elected.
She returned to run in 2019 as the UCP Candidate in a new Camrose Constituency.
Lovely says one of her favourite things about campaigning is door knocking. “I ask everyone, ‘What’s keeping you up at night?’
“Through those door knocking conversations, I start to see patterns. I have the most rich conversations with voters this way. I’m honoured to have their trust, and their confidence.
“Most times we can find a solution, in many cases a program exists that we can guide them to or get them a referral.”
Lovely says this time around, she’s hearing from constituents that affordability is the biggest issue. She points to the UCP’s affordability program, removing the provincial fuel tax, and scrapping the provincial carbon tax as things her party has done to make life more affordable for Albertans.
Lovely says that she’s meeting many people who have moved to the region from Ontario and BC; “It’s affordability that’s bringing them here, is what I’m hearing.”
She says she’s also hearing about healthcare concerns, adding that she meets regularly with the person in charge of hiring doctors for the province, with three new doctors coming into the constituency recently.
Lovely says, “Rural Albertans need the opportunity to enter the healthcare field.
“Where there is opportunity for rural Albertans, if we train rural students to become doctors, they are more likely to stay.”
She talks about the province’s rural nursing shortage, and what she’s done locally. “We are trying to bring a program similar to what’s happening in Wainwright to Camrose. I’m hoping to get re-elected to keep working on this.”
She says three new Augustana programs: Speech Pathology; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy are very exciting to her. “We need to provide opportunity, that’s what I’m constantly looking for.”
She points to a private member’s bill she put forward to increase the number of veterinarian spots in the province, from 50 to 100. “I was hearing from constituents that there is a shortage of rural veterinarians.”
It’s one of the highlights of her first term. She also tried to bring forward a bill declaring rodeo and chuckwagon racing as Alberta’s provincial sport.
It didn’t pass, but she says it received a lot of rural support, and she said the number of people who came to the legislature made for a very proud moment for her personally.
Lovely says another big thing she’s hearing is, “The majority of the people I speak to are unhappy about our federal government. We need a strong premier who will push back against Trudeau’s interference in provincial jurisdictions.”
Lovely says she doesn’t concern herself with her opponent’s views. “I’m not focussing on dissing others. I’m running a clean campaign, a positive campaign.”
Lovely says throughout her term as MLA and through her current campaign, she’s made a conscious effort to be in all communities. “People say my picture is in the paper too much, but I’m not going to apologize for being available and accessible.”
She points to the number of times she’s invited provincial ministers to the Camrose Region, like bringing Nate Gublish to Killam and two energy ministers to Hardisty. “That’s where important conversations happen. I and the ministers have the opportunities to ask questions, or hear meaningful advice. I’m invested in our communities, versus sitting in my office.”
She says her team just finished their seventh round of door-knocking, through every part of the constituency.
“My regret is that I still haven’t met everyone.” She’s even tried some door knocking in farmyards, something she says has been very positive.
“There are no trivial issues.
“I think it’s so important to hear and listen; it’s important that politicians listen to what people need.
“Building relationships is important as well.”
Lovely says, “In this election, voters will decide who they want to hold their wallets at the end of the day. That’s the ballot decision for us this election.”
Bob Blayone, Independent
Bob Blayone says he wants to open up the political discussion so everyone can get a chance to provide input on issues of the day.
The 55-year-old candidate is running as an Independent in the Camrose riding during the Alberta provincial election. And he is deliberately running separate and apart from several parties in which he used to participate, having become disillusioned with the party system of governance.
“I was born and raised in Alberta, growing up poor and finding success through Alberta oil and gas. Dana and I have been married 32 years and have two grown children, and both Dana and I come from farming families,” he said, by way of introduction.
“As an Independent MLA I’ll not be working for a political party,” he said.
“I’ll be working for the people in the Camrose region and will work to get the provincial discussion going.
“I’ll not be answering to political parties, politicians, or bureaucrats,” he explained. “I’ll be answering to the people. I’ll be free to represent people, businesses, farms, and families.”
Currently living in Peace River, Blayone is making plans to move to the constituency in which he is running, and hopes to represent after the May 29 provincial election. At the moment, he is favouring the Kingman area.
Blayone ran for the Independence Party of Alberta in last fall’s by-election against Premier Danielle Smith. Smith won the riding in a landslide to become MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat.
Asked his opinion about Smith as premier, he replied: “Not good.” Then he clarified that he holds no bad feelings for anyone. “I have nothing against Jackie or Richard,” he said, referring to UCP incumbent Jackie Lovely and NDP candidate Richard Bruneau, both running in Camrose.
However, Blayone says these other candidates “are too beholden to their parties,” and have to stick to the party line to remain in good standing with their power bases.
According to polling he is following, Blayone believes the province is headed into a minority government situation.
He hopes two or three Independent candidates will be elected to demand certain initiatives such as auditing Alberta Health Services and other government departments, ending nepotism in hiring practices, and holding town halls for public awareness and input.
“We could hold the balance of power,” he said, if enough independents were elected to office.
Blayone spoke of his disillusionment regarding previous parties he had volunteered with, including the Wildrose Party, UCP and, most recently, the Independence Party of Alberta.
He left this last party when it summarily removed former leader Pastor Artur Pawlowski.
“I’m done with political parties,” he said. “I want to represent a community, that’s why I am coming to Camrose.
“We could open up discussion,” he said, and have town halls where people with knowledge in certain areas could talk with community minded people.
Blayone wants input from people other than the standard spokespersons for prevailing issues like climate change, the pandemic, and scientific responses.
“I give information, I don’t go out and stump it,” he said, and prefers “public open town halls (and) honest discussion with the citizens.”
Blayone also defends the oil and gas industry, having ran an oil and gas service company for 21 years (1993-2014) in Peace River. More recently, he said, the couple have been in Camrose.
“We’ve been renting for the past two months in Camrose,” he said, “but I’m looking for property,” in the riding. With a daughter in Edmonton and a son in Calgary, he said the location was ideal.
After selling their oil service company in 2014, Blayone soon got involved in politics by volunteering for the UCP. His MLA Don Williams helped get him “inner circle access” where he witnessed the inner workings of a political party in action.
“It was an opportunity to receive an education on what happens behind the scenes in politics and government,” he said.
“I was so passionate about defending our oil and gas,” he said. He worked “behind the scenes,” adding: “I had no intention of being a politician.”
But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Blayone said he “got really upset,” telling then premier Jason Kenney that the party had “an inner circle of power and the others (MLAs) were whipped.” Then he heard that “Covid wasn’t what it seemed to be,” but the government kept going with the same pandemic response.
“That’s when I shut the door to politicians,” he said, after being disillusioned, “from heavy handed governance of the UCP.”
He left the UCP in 2020 and travelled across Alberta at his own cost for three years hosting town halls.
He tried joining the Wildrose Party but only stayed briefly. “I saw the top down heavy handed governance in that party,” he said.
Then he lasted a year in the Independence Party of Alberta before leaving for the same reason.
“They were not listening to the membership.”
Now as an Independent candidate he wants to represent Camrose with no party affiliations to hold him back.
“I’ll challenge nepotism in government agencies, climate change/carbon tax fraud and the overreach of government and public health through Covid,” he said. “I’ll audit the government’s involvement with the United Nations global organizations WEF and WHO.”
Blayone also promised to “hold transparent public conversations using town halls, surveys and polls, providing the people transparent discussion and debate.
“I’ll defend citizens from government overreach so that it does not supersede the people’s rights and freedoms personally, in business or on the farm.”
He also said that, “Albertans are facing serious challenges, as taxes, energy and food prices increase, people are struggling to make ends meet. It’s unacceptable to me that seniors, single parents and families are having to choose between heating their homes or food.
“Our healthcare system is ranked one of the most expensive, yet provides one of the lowest levels of service, as doctors and nurses are silenced in offering solutions.
“All government agencies are failing. It’s time we had an honest conversation and solved these issues.”
He noted that Independent MLAs are given dedicated time to speak in the Alberta Legislature.
And, if elected, he said: “I’ll ensure the voice of the people will be heard once again.”
Richard Bruneau, NDP Candidate
Richard Bruneau, 45, spent several years working with the Canadian Diplomatic Service as an officer of the government in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
Now he’s entered the shark-infested world of provincial politics as he tries to unseat Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely in favour of the opposition NDP, the party he’s running for in the constituency.
“This is the first time I’ve run for office so it’s a new thing for me,” he said. “It’s been a really great experience so far.”
Bruneau grew up in Camrose and went to Augustana University. He did development work in Latin America, later becoming a Canadian diplomat and working in various embassies around the world.
“I came back to the constituency about 10 years ago to help my wife run a cow/calf operation near Kingman,” he said. “I’m also a businessman running a cafe in Camrose for about five years.”
Bruneau has a young daughter who attends kindergarten in Round Hill.
“I chose the NDP to run for because it represents my values and what I want my daughter’s future to look like.
“I base my political values on compassion and caring for people and communities,” he said. “I want to see governance based on competency and integrity, something I feel has been lacking over the past few years.
“I want to be a politician who is a public servant,” he concluded. “I want to serve the people who I represent. If I can bring those characteristics back to the legislature then I will be happy. I feel the NDP also represents those things.”
Bruneau feels the issue in the Tofield, Ryley, and Holden area is the healthcare system.
“The Tofield Healthcare Centre has closed its emergency room due to a shortage of doctors and nurses,” he said. “Healthcare is something I’m hearing about across the constituency.
“You hear of late times for surgeries when you can get in, troubles in getting an ambulance… those are things we have to find a way to bridge.”
“Much of this has been caused by the negative relationship between the UCP and the doctors and nurses and it’s something the NDP wants to fix.”
Bruneau added he had also heard about the education system and teachers facing large classrooms with kids with complex needs that they aren’t able to address.
“It’s been making their jobs that much more difficult and unsustainable… these are things I’m hearing about quite a bit.”
He adds affordability is another big issue he’s hearing about.
“In Beaver County, I’m hearing about how many costs have been downloaded on to the municipality whether it be policing or infrastructure, it’s making it really hard for them to deliver the same level of service for the community and residents without raising taxes.
“I’m a taxpayer in Beaver County and I’m well aware of this.”
He stated the NDP wants to fix the relationship between the province and municipalities which he feels has really eroded under the UCP.
When asked if all the NDP policies would result in tax increase he said it really wouldn’t matter which party forms government taxes will be raised. Bruneau added it’s about spending tax dollars “on the right things.”
“It’s about spending money on the right things for Albertans.”
Bruneau pointed to the UCP so-called war room where he said millions of dollars have been spent, where that money could have been channeled to more worthwhile and beneficial outcomes such as doctors or nurses.
“There’s so many things that are left unfilled,” he said.”We can do so much better by our kids and our seniors and the people less fortunate in our province and I think that best represents our NDP values.”
He said he had been to several events in the area including the recent 4-H Beef Show and Sale in Holden.
“My in-laws have been involved in this event for years and it was something we wanted to introduce our daughter to,” he added.
“You know what,” he said. “The reception has been really positive.”
“When folks find out I’m a farmer and have strong connections to the community they really enjoy chatting.
“I know what rural life is like and know what the challenges are and people see themselves represented in who I am. I’m optimistic. Rural folks aren’t being represented by the UCP. It’s time to change that.”
He added he has lots of signs going up and large ones going up on people’s private property not on public land.
Bruneau said his early Latin American work was for non profit organizations working Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay and Bolivia.
“Later I became a diplomat with the Canadian Foreign Service, now Global Affairs Canada,”
He was, over a 10-year-period, posted in Afghanistan, New York, Jordan, and in the Palestinian Territories where in his last posting he served as the Deputy Head of Mission.
“I was a political officer, in charge of Canadian political relations with other countries.”
Bruneau said his background was not only graduating with a major in physics and math from Augustana University, but then attending Ottawa University where he got a Masters degree in International Affairs.
“That’s when I discovered what a diplomat was,” he chuckles.
“It’s up to me to get out and meet with people,” he said.
He added, while he certainly sympathizes with those affected by wildfires across the province, it won’t, at this time, be affecting his campaign.
“As a farmer with a cattle operation, I know there are a lot of challenges if a fire breaks out and I can certainly sympathize with them.”
“As Albertans we always come together and support each other.”
Pamela Henson, Wildrose Loyalty Coalition Candidate
For Wildrose Loyalty Coalition Candidate in the Camrose Constituency Pamela Henson, the last few weeks have gone by in a blur.
Since the writ dropped on the Alberta Provincial Election, Henson has been busy getting her candidacy documents in. With the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition (WLC) only having been recognized May 1, her goal is now to get her name and her party’s name out to the constituency over the next few weeks.
Henson, 53, owns her own cleaning business; her husband is a long haul trucker, and they have two daughters.
She says her foray into politics began in 2015 when Justin Trudeau was elected as Prime Minister.
“We’re affected by federal policies that trickle down to the provincial level and are affecting our quality of life. I don’t believe this can keep happening to us.”
She says she was an informed voter right up until 2015, and a Conservative. “But then I broadened my horizons. I read everything I could on the federal government and provincial government. I kept finding things that affirmed what I was hearing elsewhere.”
She says she felt she couldn’t be part of a party where she wouldn’t have free speech. “I wanted the Alberta I grew up in to be available for my kids, and other people’s kids, and that isn’t going to happen under our present system.
“With carbon net-zero policies affecting our ability to pay our bills, buy food, or even go on vacation, I realized we need something to change.”
She says federal energy policies are making life unaffordable. “The carbon tax affects truckers to a degree where it’s virtually impossible for an independent owner like my husband to continue in the trucking business.”
She says those same Federal policies had a direct impact on her family; her husband sold his truck and now drives for others.
“I feel very strongly that there’s a need for us to educate the public.
“Understanding the origin of net carbon-zero; when people are educated to that, I believe they will see what we stand for.”
She says, “Our way of life is being threatened through net-carbon-zero. The Federal government is controlling us through money.
“We need oil and gas; no green-based energy can sustain our needs to maintain our current way of life. What cost are these policies having on humanity? We need fertilizer to grow our food.”
That’s a key party platform for WLC. Another is taxes.
“We think Albertans should be taxed for Alberta. We need more control over our future. We can pay for federal services that we use, like the military, but the only way to control our future is to collect our own taxes.
“We need to take our sovereignty back and stop being led by Ottawa. We need to control critical infrastructure, like healthcare, for and by Albertans.”
WLC’s Recall Pledge is a big reason why Henson was attracted to the party. “All WLC candidates have signed the Recall Pledge. We want to be accountable to electors.” She says being told what to do by a party whip is no longer serving your electorate. “It’s not democracy.”
Henson has enjoyed campaigning so far. “Door to door is the best place to talk to people; that’s where I believe you get the best campaigning done.”
She loves debate, but only when it’s done right. “You have to listen to both sides to have a proper debate; today is so ‘my way or the highway;’ that’s not right. People have different perceptions; a good debate is back and forth.”
Henson says she’s always been someone who faces challenges head on. “Once I dive in, I want a solution.”
She’s hoping that voters will take the time to check out the WLC platform, outlined on their website and social media.
Henson says she knows she doesn’t have time to reach every voter face-to-face. As a new candidate for a new party, she realizes she’s somewhat at a disadvantage, but says she wholeheartedly believes in what the WLC stands for.
Henson says she has her family’s support in her candidacy. “They know how much I’ve grown as an individual since I started this journey.
“I love to learn, that’s probably why this is so interesting to me. I’m going to learn and grow.”
Henson says she’s a people person. “I like to represent; I like to serve.
“If I was elected I would make sure I’m in the community so people could come and talk to me.”
Henson says you won’t see any signage about for her.
“That was my pledge and commitment to Mother Earth. They just end up in landfills in the end; there’s no need for them. That’s my pledge. I’m trying something different.”
Check out the profiles in the May 24 & May 17 editions of The Community Press
