All seven Alberta United Conservative Party leadership candidates spoke about their plans for the province at the Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN) Regional Conference on Saturday. .This debate was a leadership showcase, where each candidate would come on stage to be interviewed. CSFN president Jamil Jivani and Alberta Proud president Lindsay Wilson moderated the showcase. .The first candidate to take the stage was Alberta UCP leadership candidate Rebecca Schulz. Schulz spoke about her 100-day plan. .“These timelines will measure if I deliver on my promises,” said Schulz. .“It will hold me accountable.” .Schulz said she will hold a provincial rights summit. She said this summit is important because “Alberta is not the only province feeling disrespected.” .This candidate said she plans to hire 35,000 educational assistants. She wants to expand mental health supports in schools. .UCP leadership candidate Brian Jean said he was the first person who came forward one year ago to propose renewal. Jean said he wants conservatives to “unify under a banner.” .“We have to change AHS (Alberta Health Services),” said Jean. .“I lost my son to AHS.” .Jean said he will include all of his fellow candidates in his cabinet. This approach will enable him to build unity. .He went on to say he will open up the Canadian Constitution through Section 46. He alleged every path to fix Alberta’s problems is through constitutional negotiations. .UCP leadership candidate Travis Toews said he faced financial challenges during his business career. The irresponsible decisions Toews made were done during positive times, which is similar to the Alberta government’s experiences. .“Fiscal discipline will continue to matter,” said Toews. .“I’ve already spent a fair bit of time considering appropriate fiscal rules that we could put in place by legislation.” .Another proposal Toews spoke about is ensuring “parents are the primary individuals responsible for their children’s education.” He said activist ideology does not belong in the curriculum. .His leadership would see school choice expanded. He promised to strengthen independent schools by offering transportation funding. .Candidate Danielle Smith admitted the flagship policy of her campaign has been the Alberta Sovereignty Act. Smith said she was pleased last living Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms signatory Brian Peckford endorsed the Alberta Sovereignty Act. .“It is the very first step of changing the relationship with the rest of the country,” said Smith. .“I feel like we’ve got to try something new.” .Smith said Alberta needs to take control of its immigration system. She said it was wrong for candidate Leela Aheer to say this proposal will prevent black people from coming to Alberta. .This candidate will create health spending accounts. She said this proposal is needed because “Alberta has a sickness system rather than a wellness system.” .Aheer said she will allow regular people to not be subjected to future COVID-19 restrictions, but she would protect vulnerable communities. .“I’m pro-choice on all things,” said Aheer. .“I don’t speak out of both sides of my mouth.” .She said she will issue an apology on behalf of the Alberta government for the mistreatment people went through during the COVID-19 pandemic. .Candidate Rajan Sawhney said she will approve building a Calgary-to-Edmonton high-speed train. .“The beauty is there is no ask for a government investment,” said Sawhney. .“This can be done all through the private sector.” .Sawhney pitched herself as a moderate conservative, having “a desire to focus on the economy and economic development.” .Candidate Todd Loewen concluded the showcase by saying he supports a provincial police force. .“What’s interesting with the provincial police force is municipal leaders are overwhelmingly against a provincial police force,” said Loewen. .“I find that the people I meet across Alberta are overwhelmingly in favour of a provincial police force.” .One other policy he committed to was expanding private healthcare, since “it is sad Albertans are travelling elsewhere when their healthcare can be done in Alberta.” .This debate happened after Western Standard publisher Derek Fildebrandt, True North Alberta correspondent Rachel Emmanuel, and Hub editor-at-large Sean Speer said independent media is prospering because it goes against the mainstream at the CSFN Regional Conference. .READ MORE: Independent journalists speak about their successes at Alberta political conference .“Independent media is increasingly also credible,” said Fildebrandt. .“It’s not just a right-wing version of the Tyee or Press Progress.”
All seven Alberta United Conservative Party leadership candidates spoke about their plans for the province at the Canada Strong and Free Network (CSFN) Regional Conference on Saturday. .This debate was a leadership showcase, where each candidate would come on stage to be interviewed. CSFN president Jamil Jivani and Alberta Proud president Lindsay Wilson moderated the showcase. .The first candidate to take the stage was Alberta UCP leadership candidate Rebecca Schulz. Schulz spoke about her 100-day plan. .“These timelines will measure if I deliver on my promises,” said Schulz. .“It will hold me accountable.” .Schulz said she will hold a provincial rights summit. She said this summit is important because “Alberta is not the only province feeling disrespected.” .This candidate said she plans to hire 35,000 educational assistants. She wants to expand mental health supports in schools. .UCP leadership candidate Brian Jean said he was the first person who came forward one year ago to propose renewal. Jean said he wants conservatives to “unify under a banner.” .“We have to change AHS (Alberta Health Services),” said Jean. .“I lost my son to AHS.” .Jean said he will include all of his fellow candidates in his cabinet. This approach will enable him to build unity. .He went on to say he will open up the Canadian Constitution through Section 46. He alleged every path to fix Alberta’s problems is through constitutional negotiations. .UCP leadership candidate Travis Toews said he faced financial challenges during his business career. The irresponsible decisions Toews made were done during positive times, which is similar to the Alberta government’s experiences. .“Fiscal discipline will continue to matter,” said Toews. .“I’ve already spent a fair bit of time considering appropriate fiscal rules that we could put in place by legislation.” .Another proposal Toews spoke about is ensuring “parents are the primary individuals responsible for their children’s education.” He said activist ideology does not belong in the curriculum. .His leadership would see school choice expanded. He promised to strengthen independent schools by offering transportation funding. .Candidate Danielle Smith admitted the flagship policy of her campaign has been the Alberta Sovereignty Act. Smith said she was pleased last living Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms signatory Brian Peckford endorsed the Alberta Sovereignty Act. .“It is the very first step of changing the relationship with the rest of the country,” said Smith. .“I feel like we’ve got to try something new.” .Smith said Alberta needs to take control of its immigration system. She said it was wrong for candidate Leela Aheer to say this proposal will prevent black people from coming to Alberta. .This candidate will create health spending accounts. She said this proposal is needed because “Alberta has a sickness system rather than a wellness system.” .Aheer said she will allow regular people to not be subjected to future COVID-19 restrictions, but she would protect vulnerable communities. .“I’m pro-choice on all things,” said Aheer. .“I don’t speak out of both sides of my mouth.” .She said she will issue an apology on behalf of the Alberta government for the mistreatment people went through during the COVID-19 pandemic. .Candidate Rajan Sawhney said she will approve building a Calgary-to-Edmonton high-speed train. .“The beauty is there is no ask for a government investment,” said Sawhney. .“This can be done all through the private sector.” .Sawhney pitched herself as a moderate conservative, having “a desire to focus on the economy and economic development.” .Candidate Todd Loewen concluded the showcase by saying he supports a provincial police force. .“What’s interesting with the provincial police force is municipal leaders are overwhelmingly against a provincial police force,” said Loewen. .“I find that the people I meet across Alberta are overwhelmingly in favour of a provincial police force.” .One other policy he committed to was expanding private healthcare, since “it is sad Albertans are travelling elsewhere when their healthcare can be done in Alberta.” .This debate happened after Western Standard publisher Derek Fildebrandt, True North Alberta correspondent Rachel Emmanuel, and Hub editor-at-large Sean Speer said independent media is prospering because it goes against the mainstream at the CSFN Regional Conference. .READ MORE: Independent journalists speak about their successes at Alberta political conference .“Independent media is increasingly also credible,” said Fildebrandt. .“It’s not just a right-wing version of the Tyee or Press Progress.”
