Rural Alberta doesn’t get a “fair shake” from the federal or provincial government, said the latest candidate to enter the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership race..“The problems we have in rural Alberta are crime, infrastructure, schools, ambulances. The cities have the same problems,” said Amisk Mayor Bill Rock, who filed his paperwork with Elections Alberta Thursday..“But there’s a big divide between rural Alberta and the cities in thinking. I think we have to close the gaps between rural Alberta and the cities. More importance is always placed on the big cities — Edmonton and Calgary.”.Rural Albertans need someone who understands the issues and is willing to fight for them, Rock told the Western Standard Saturday..That’s why he entered the race to replace Premier Jason Kenney who announced he would resign after receiving 51.4% support in May’s leadership review..And that makes five, possibly six hopefuls to date..Independent Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen and Finance Minister and Grande Prairie-Wapiti MLA Travis Toews have both filed with Elections Alberta..Fort McMurray-Lac-La Biche MLA Brian Jean, and former MLA Danielle Smith who’s vying for the nomination in Livingstone-Macleod, have announced intentions to run. Both are former Wildrose Party leaders..Calgary-Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner is rumored to be interested in entering the race..“I decided to enter because I looked at the candidates that were there — Danielle Smith, Brian Jean — I don’t believe they have the interests of rural Alberta in mind,” said Rock ,who has served on Amisk village council eight years, five of them as mayor..Amisk, population 217, is 220 km southeast of Edmonton and a 15-minute drive from the Hardisty, population 500..Hardisty is famous for two things..It’s where the Hardisty Terminal is located..“Hardisty tank farm, $400 million a day in product goes through our region. We are the central hub of oil shipping in North America,” said Rock..Hardisty is also where Kenney, while on the campaign trail, said he met up with a 17-year-old at the Esso gas station. .Kenney repeatedly told the heart-wrenching story about how the young man was supporting his family in tough times — and how he’d be there for him..“Jason Kenney campaigned on being in Hardisty, talking to a young fellow where his dad was unemployed. That was on his posters, that was on the news, everything,” said Rock..“And yet we have asked numerous times for those people to come back out to our region,” he said in reference to Kenney and several ministers..“Our local economic development group has been trying to facilitate a meeting between oil executives and the UCP government for the last two years, to no avail.”.“They haven’t come out. They were busy.".Rural Albertans need a government that will “get out of our way and let us do what we need to do.”.“We have ideas. We have plans in rural Alberta to get things going. It’s tough. The carbon tax is killing rural Alberta.”.Rock said cited other issues that he’d address if elected..“They closed the school. Our emergency room at the hospital has been closed for over two years. We’re very small communities. They say you don’t have enough people to have an emergency room.”.“But there are times when there’s over 3,000 people working at that (Hardisty Terminal) facility. You’re an hour’s drive to an emergency room.” .Rural crime is another major concern..“The RCMP are 45 minutes away if they’re at the far-end of their jurisdiction. They can be 160 kms away.”.It’s not just his rural community that has been severely neglected..“I can guarantee you it’s Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” said Rock..And angry grassroots contributed heavily to Kenney’s abysmal leadership results. They weren’t being listened to..“I believe if people have an issue they have to be heard. Whether you agree with their issue or don’t, if you’re in an elected official position you don’t have to agree but you have to listen,” said Rock..“I am well known as a voice of rural Alberta, and I’ve been sticking up for rural Alberta especially from a town of 200.”.“Maybe I’m not the wild card. The others have big names, but I’ve got a better plan.”.Now that his paperwork is in order, Rock can launch his fundraising campaign..The recently announced 12-member leadership election committee is working out the details of how the race will be conducted. .Meanwhile, Rock, who ran unsuccessfully for the Wildrose Party in 2015 in Wetaskiwin-Camrose, is considering seeking a seat in the 2023 provincial election.
