A student-directed election candidates’ debate took place a Mecca Glen School on Wednesday, April 22 with students in grades 6 to 9 questioning the candidates on their beliefs and party plans.
New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Doug Hart, Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Peter DeWit, Alberta Party candidate Tony Jeglum and Wildrose Party candidate Ron Orr all answered a series of questions on topics ranging from education to what makes a good representative of the people to the importance of agriculture.
When asked the qualities of a good representative, each of the candidates touched on actually representing the needs of the constituents.
“I believe one of the qualities a candidate has to have is you have to be a good listener,” said DeWit.
Being a businessman in the community, he says he sees the government as a business in place to provide essential services at an affordable cost. He feels there is no possible way to please everybody but a good candidate will make realistic choices.
Hart feels the provincial government has run on a business model too long and believes the government only sees constituents as cost centres and consumers.
“They forget they’re public servants,” said Hart.
He believes the essential traits of a candidate include mediation and co-operation.
“A good representative, I think, represents the constituents to the legislation,” said Jeglum.
He believes sometimes parties are able to influence local representatives to put the needs of the party first and the needs of the constituent second. “You should be able to say this is what’s important to me, this is what’s important to the constituents.”
Orr feels candidates should begin to consult with the people more when representing them, in order to build a networking society.
“We also need a strategic ability. What are the solutions and how do we fix them now?” Orr elaborated.
“I think it’s also about honesty,” he added.
In times of economic downturn small schools such as Mecca Glen, which already face challenges due to low per capita funding find it even tougher to keep their doors open. The students of Mecca Glen wanted to know how the candidates would be committed to keeping small schools open.
“We will not cut funding that has been frozen,” said Orr. “More important than that, Wildrose is a grassroots party.”
He believes small, rural schools such as Mecca Glen are not just schools; they are the heart of rural communities. He does not feel it is appropriate for such schools, with rural needs, to be governed from Edmonton under urban authorities that do not understand those needs.
“The PC Party is completely committed to quality education in Alberta,” said DeWit.
When the education budget was released, DeWit says it was actually increased, not decreased. “The misunderstanding was the reduction was in the administration of the schools not in frontline teaching positions.”
“You have a strong school here, you serve a local need and I think that needs to be supported by the Alberta government,” he added.
Jeglum feels, with the Internet so accessible these days, going forward, it will be easier to keep smaller schools open. With so much knowledge on the Internet classes won’t always need a physical body in front of them to receive instruction.
“It doesn’t matter what grade you are in, what subject you are in you can pull up a world renowned scholar . . . which I think bodes really well for small, rural schools,” said Jeglum.
Hart says if small, rural schools continue to be funded based on population, it is imminent that they will close.
“We have to separate our heads from our hearts and base our decisions on community needs,” said Hart.
Wait times in hospitals was also on the radar at the school and Jeglum took to the microphone saying he had never worked in healthcare and did not know exactly how the system works. He says Alberta ran into trouble over the last 20 years because those in control are politicians claiming to be experts on Alberta Health Care. “And they get in there and they meddle.”
However, Jeglum added, to decrease wait times would mean making an investment in health care and training more doctors in Alberta and having them stay in Alberta.
Orr’s solution is choice and competition. Allow people to choose where they are treated, whether it is in Alberta, in Canada or elsewhere. This will free up time in hospitals, as the number of people waiting for the same service will decrease.
“Wildrose is 100 per cent committed to keeping the Canada Health Act, which basically gives us a national health insurance plan,” he added.
DeWit feels the Government of Alberta needs to make local health boards a priority. “I’m also aware we need to look at efficiencies as well.”
“As a matter of fact we’re doing a review of the whole health care system,” he added.
The students also wanted to know how the candidates plan on addressing the issues agriculture is facing.
“I’m very passionate about agriculture I grew up in that world,” said DeWit. “First of all agriculture is doing very well.”
“There’s still some bright spots and one of the bright spots right now is agriculture. A lot of people are still employed by the farming community. They turn over a lot of dollars in the local economy, and we don’t always appreciate them enough so I think we need to change that,” added.
He feels international issues farmers are facing are international trade agreements. “That’s, in a way, some things we need to pay close attention to.”
Jeglum says more money comes from oil than grain and farmers are not able to easily sell their grain. “(Canadian National Railway) and (Canadian Pacific Railway) can make more money hauling oil than they can by hauling grain,” he commented.
The Alberta Party supports the development of short-line railways so help act as a solution.
Hart says the issues came from the dissolution of the Canadian Wheat Board. “It’s been curious to see the percentage of the money that’s collected for the sale of grain to Europe that goes to the farm.”
“When we had a single desk grain sale system over 90 per cent of the price of the grain after transportation costs went to the farm,” he added. That has dropped to approximately 50 per cent.
Orr believes there needs to be a complete regulatory review. A review of tax structures that affect the farming industry also needs to take place, in conjunction with the federal government. “They aren’t necessarily farming friendly.”
The provincial election takes place Tuesday, May 5.