Calgary-Elbow Liberal candidate Susan Wright.
Premier Jim Prentice has chosen October 27 for the long-awaited byelections in the ridings of Calgary-West Calgary-Elbow Calgary-Foothills and Edmonton-Whitemud. The latter three are significant as the battlegrounds for Prentice and his ministers of health and education: Stephen Mandel and Gordon Dirks respectively. None of the three cabinet members hold seats in the legislature yet so PC victories are crucial to caucus’ ability to govern until the 2016 provincial election.
Prentice is facing competition from five other parties in former MLA Len Webber’s riding including the Greens. However his opponents are all political newcomers and Prentice sat as an MP in the area from 2004 to 2010.
The outcome of the byelection in Calgary-Elbow Alison Redford’s former riding may be more difficult to predict. Education Minister Gordon Dirks is seeking a win for the PCs but may be hampered by his controversial history of supporting anti-homosexual policies while president at a Christian college — views that don’t jive with provincial education legislation or the Charter of Rights.
Liberal candidate Susan Wright says she doesn’t believe candidates need to focus on Dirks’ religious beliefs to defeat him. Instead she says his “appalling” track record on the Calgary school board — in particular his decision to spend $285 million in 2008 to construct the new Calgary Board of Education building at the same time Calgary schools were reported to need over $500 million in repairs and the existing CBE building required less than $1 million in maintenance — is enough.
“People on the door know their stuff especially on health and education” Wright says of voters she’s met while campaigning. She says candidates must focus on those two issues and not petty politics.
