Maureen Kubinec says voters felt 'it was a time for a change'

Incumbent and PC candidate Maureen Kubinec says she was surprised and admittedly disappointed about the outcome of the May 5 election, but wouldn’t change anything about her campaign in the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock constituency.

“I have to say that I’m so incredibly proud of the volunteers who helped work and organize this campaign,” said Kubinec, who was defeated by Wildrose Party candidate Glenn van Dijken.

“We had a good strategy, but Albertans felt it was a time for a change and they spoke. Democracy is what it is.”

When asked her opinion on why the PCs lost the provincial election, Kubinec said she kept hearing from people that it was time for a change.

She said the budget was “very honest” to Albertans, who didn’t like what they heard.

“People were upset and emotional and they voted as they did,” she added.

Kubinec was first elected as the MLA for the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock constituency during the 2012 election, defeating challenger Link Byfield by a narrow margin of 341 votes.

She was later appointed as Minister of Culture and Tourism by Premier Jim Prentice in September of 2014.

Kubinec said it was an honour and a privilege to serve as an MLA and as a Cabinet minister.

“It’s an amazing … form of government that we have in Alberta and in Canada,” she said.

“To be the Minister of Culture and Tourism was all about celebrating the quality of life that we have in this amazing province.”

When asked what she will do next, Kubinec noted she and her husband operate a farm and she has eight grandchildren who she will be focusing a lot more time on.

“I have a son in Manitoba who sent a text that said, ‘Up side Mom, is that we’ll get to see you more,’” she joked.