The choice of who to choose as MLA for the Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock area may have been made a little bit easier or perhaps even more difficult after an informational forum and debate held at Barrhead Agrena’s Multipurpose Room on Monday, April 20.
The forum, which was hosted by the Barrhead Chamber of Commerce, the Barrhead Library, the Barrhead Leader and 97.9 the Range gave the candidates, incumbent Maureen Kubinec, PC, Glenn van Dijken, Wildrose, and Tristan Turner, NDP an opportunity to introduce themselves and their platforms, plus the chance to answer questions from the standing room only audience. It should be noted that all the questions, including those from the audience had to be submitted before the start of the forum in writing. Each candidate had a maximum of 90 seconds to respond.
The first question of the evening posed by moderator Rita Lyster to all the candidates was if the election was necessary.
Under Alberta’s Election Act it states elections should be held every four years within a three-month window, between March 1 and May 31. The next scheduled election wouldn’t have been until the spring of 2016. However, Premier Jim Prentice decided to call the election a year early.
Turner and van Dijken both agreed that having an early election wasn’t necessary.
“The election was called for political reasons. I think we can all see that. Make no mistake the PCs called this election because they wanted to control the province,” Turner said, adding the government was trying to seize a perceived weakness in the opposition parties.
“The reason it was called now is that they (PC government) thought the Wildrose was weak, having just appointed a new leader and by calling a snap election they would be able to defeat them,” he said, adding that all three of the opposition parties that have seats in the legislature just elected new party leaders.
van Dijken said the early election call is an example of why he is involved politically.
“I am tired of the politics and games this PC government is forcing on Albertans. They are playing Albertans as fools and puppets,” he said, adding that although technically the government wasn’t breaking the law by calling an early election, they were in violation of the spirit of the law.
Kubinec responded, saying the government really had no choice morally to ask Alberta residents for a renewed mandate.
She said when the PCs were elected in 2012, they campaigned that they wouldn’t introduce any new taxes. Due to the current fiscal reality, in the province, she said the government decided they had no choice but to raise taxes.
“I think it’s the real honourable thing to do. When you are presenting something that is very different to them that you give them the opportunity to give you the mandate to do it,” Kubinec said, adding that the new tax system the government introduced is very different than Alberta residents are used to. “I think Albertans deserve the respect on having a say on how or if we should tax ourselves differently.”
The next question posed to the candidates was about education. In the 2015 provincial budget, school boards saw a 3.1 per cent reduction in funding for English as a Second Language programs, a 3.1 per cent cut to funding for First Nations, Metis and Inuit students, a 1.9 per cent reduction in funds for special needs education and a per cent 1.4 per cent reduction in transportation.
At the same time, the budget froze the per student allotment using current enrollment numbers despite the fact Alberta Education estimates that next year there will be 12,000 new students entering the system. The government also restricted how school boards can access the money they have in reserve, saying they cannot use the reserves without Alberta Education’s prior approval.
Lyster asked the candidates how they would provide for the educational needs of students.
van Dijken said the Wildrose would restore educational funding needs to follow each student and that they would restore funding levels to those before the budget was released.
“We also feel education funding needs to keep up with population growth and inflation.” he said, adding that they would also give more control to the local authorities. “We believe the closer you get to the front line services, better decisions will be made.”
Kubinec said that in order to deal with the province’s $7 billion deficit, all departments are being asked to make tough choices.
“Education did see some increases, in that the teachers’ contracts are being honoured,” she said.
In 2013, the government legislated the framework for ATA’s (Alberta Teachers Association) current four year contract that froze teacher’s salaries for three years, giving them a two per cent increase for the final year. Teachers will also receive a lump sum payment in the final year of the contract.
Kubinec said the changes to educational funding will, in most jurisdictions, mean larger class sizes.
As for limiting the way school boards access their reserve funds, she said as a former school board trustee she understands why school boards could be frustrated.
“When we are in tough economic times maybe we should have to present a plan to show that you (school boards) are putting the money into the front lines and not somewhere else,” Kubinec said.
Turner said the NDP plan for education differed from the other two parties saying they are the only party that has promised to hire new teachers.
“Our class sizes are bad enough and they are about to get a lot worse,” he said. “We should be hiring new teachers and program assistants to keep pace with all the new students coming into the system.”
Another question that was submitted by an audience member asked if the candidate’s party were to form government would they reinstate the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The program was created in 1972, by the Lougheed government, as a way to create summer employment for students. STEP was eliminated in 2013.
Lyster, reading from the question, said the elimination of the STEP program has caused a hardship for many non-profit groups who relied on it to hire students to help with summer programming.
Turner said the NDP would reinstate the program.
“It was an excellent program and it made perfect sense. Not only did it provide non-profit groups the opportunity to get employees,” he said. “It paid huge dividends allowing students to get the much needed experience to enter the job market.”
van Dijken said the Wildrose Party doesn’t have a specific policy on the program.
“At the end of the day the Wildrose would look to business to create the jobs,” he said, adding the party is willing to consider the creation of such a program, but he didn’t believe there was a current need for the program.
Kubinec said eliminating STEP was a difficult decision and that in an ideal world the government would reinstate the program.
“But we are dealing with our fiscal reality. When you don’t have enough money to spend you have to make the cuts that are necessary,” she said, adding that since it has been eliminated, students are still being employed. “It may be more difficult for the non-profits, but life has gone on.”
Another audience member submitted a question asking the candidates for their view on the funding non-profit groups receive through casinos.
Lyster, once again reading a submitted question, said that charities in rural communities receive on average about $22,000 from casinos, while those in the city receive $80,000, despite having to do the same amount of work, adding that it had to do with a long standing agreement with the major cities.
van Dijken said the Wildrose believes that rural Alberta is the backbone of the province and that it needs to be supported as such.
“We would look at getting funding together and spread it out equally between all the charities,” he said.
Kubinec said the issue was brought to her attention when she was first elected. Since then she has brought it to the attention of both the rural and main caucus.
“All the rural MLA’s agree, that we do need equitable funding for rural and urban volunteers and we will continue to push it forward,” she said, adding that a solution is close at hand. “I know that sounds like a cop out, but we need a few other things to fall into place first.”
Turner agreed with van Dijken, saying rural Alberta is the province’s lifeblood and that it is important that rural volunteers are treated with respect and have the same opportunities as their urban counterparts.
The last question of the night had to do with the taxation and if all Albertans were paying their fair share.
Turner said no.
“For years under the PC government Alberta’s wealthiest have not been asked to pay for their fair share. Corporations, the big banks and oil companies have been getting a free ride,” he said. “Those with the highest ability to pay should be asked to pay a little bit more. They benefit the most from the province and it is their obligation to pay their fair share.”
van Dijken said additional taxes are not the way to solve the province’s fiscal situation.
“I believe the tax system is fair (referring to the system before the March 26 budget). We need to get control of our wasteful spending and mismanagement,” he said, adding that the more taxes a government takes from individuals and businesses the less money there is to grow the economy.
Kubinec said government needed to strike the right balance, something she believes the PCs have done with the 2015 budget.
“In budget 2015, the more wealthy are being taxed more at the same time protecting the most vulnerable Albertans.”
