The summer has been a chance to meet with friends, family and, if you are in politics, get out and greet the constituents for an up-and-coming election. The four candidates for the United Conservative Party Highwood constituency nomination have been out pressing the flesh and talking issues with the public this summer for the future candidacy election. “I’ve had the opportunity to talk and to meet with a lot of my constituents and the issues they are dealing with and part of that process is seeking the nomination to get re-elected,” said incumbent Wayne Anderson. He said he’s been honoured to get the support from MD councillor Delilah Miller, Okotoks Coun. Ray Watrin, Mayor Bill Robertson and Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier. “I think it is important that people realize you need someone who has the experience and knowledge and understands the process,” Anderson said. He said he has also been able to connect with members of the legislature in getting things done. Anderson said rural crime is a major issue in the riding as is the carbon tax. “It has had a massive impact on a lot of people’s bills and costs in doing business,” he said. Candidate Carrie Fischer said she’s been busy attending various events and talking to people in the constituency. “It has been pretty consistent,” Fischer said of what concerns are being raised. “Carbon tax, the economy, choice in education, those are three really big things we have been talking out.” Fischer, a former Okotoks town councillor, said UCP leader Jason Kenney has stressed – if he becomes premier after the next election – the first piece of legislation he would attempt to pass is repealing the carbon tax. “In rural ridings like this one and southern Alberta the carbon tax is especially punitive,” Fischer said. “We don’t have alternatives. We have to use vehicles to get to appointments, our kids to practice… We are not moving cattle by electric vehicle any time soon.” She said there are concerns the NDP is looking at changes to education, with Catholic schools, charter and private schools. “I have been working on the issues that are important to this constituency for many, many years through my role on council,” Fischer said. “We have got water and infrastructure issues in Okotoks, the MD of Foothills, Black Diamond and Turner Valley. I can hit the ground running on that. I have been actively involved with those files.” She said she has worked on the rural crime issue since 2007. Fischer ran in the 2015 election as the PC candidate and was defeated by then Wildrose member Anderson. She presently works in Foothills MP John Barlow’s office in High River. Barlow has endorsed Fischer for the UCP Highwood nomination. Dean Leask has been a businessman in the Okotoks area for several years as the owner of Contain-A-Way Services near Cargill Foods Ltd. “We’ve been going out door-knocking, we are basically in full campaign mode right now,” Leask said. “Rural crime and the pipeline, the high taxes are the typical ones (concerns). Another big one is the debt these guys are piling on.” He said residents in Highwood are concerned about what is happening in Ottawa as well. “[They are concerned] with the transfer payments, the pipelines as much as anything,” Leask said. “Jason [Kenney] is talking tough and I expect to follow suit. “We have to find ways to change the way equalization is going and stand up a little bit more for Alberta… We haven’t been as tough with the feds as we could have.” He said the biggest difference he has over the other candidates is his business sense. “My business acumen is far and above what the others are,” Leask said. “I believe strongly that we need some business people up in Edmonton. Running this province is a business and we need to have business people run it.” RJ Sigurdson has been also knocking on doors throughout the constituency. “I have also been going to a lot of community functions, being accessible as much as possible so people can get to know me, and I can get to know what their concerns are and what they want to see from their candidate moving forward,” Sigurdson said. “The reception has been amazing.” Sigurdson is a former president of the Highwood UCP and PC constituency associations. He is a project manager and shareholder with Avalanche Air Systems. The carbon tax is a common concern with Highwood residents. “That is the number-one thing I am hearing – it has to be repealed,” he said. “A lot of small business owners have been seriously impacted by it.” No official date for the Highwood UCP nomination has been set. The party is currently vetting candidates across the province. The new boundaries for the 2019 election for Highwood is Okotoks, Black Diamond and Turner Valley area. High River is part of Livingstone-Macleod for the 2019 election. The next provincial election is tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2019.
