Members of the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta will be in Conklin this weekend, holding a town hall-style meeting on Sunday to address growing rates of rural crime.
Conklin, about 130 kilometres north of Lac La Biche, has seen a well-publicized uptick in rural crime relating to thefts and mischief in recent years. Several provincial media outlets have recently covered the frustration of Conklin-area residents and business owners relating to the crime, drug issues and police response times from the Fort McMurray area.
"The urgency of the crisis that exists in Conklin is undeniable. The need to hear form those directly involved in this situation is critical, especially given the multi-faceted contributing factors impacting the people of the area," said Freedom Conservative party interim leader David White.
While the town hall meeting is being held in Conklin, the concerns over rural crime are province-wide, said Steve Goodman, the FCPs critic for Rural Crime.
"We as Albertans should be very concerned with our safety and security. Crime in Conklin, as well as other rural areas in this province are alarmingly out of control," he said, inviting any concerned resident of the whole region to attend.
Small but ready
The Freedom Conservative Party was created in June of 2018. With 16 executive members in their party's 'Shadow Cabinet' who take on the roles of critics of Government of Alberta departments, their over-riding mandate is to form "a government that will unapologetically champion conservative values, grassroots democracy, the independence of its MLAs and autonomy for Alberta."
The FCPs policies include withdrawing from the Canadian Revenue Agency, enabling the province to collect its own taxes from its own taxbase, ending equalization payments to Ottawa, creating new immigration reform that requires immigrants moving to Alberta to integrate, creating an Alberta Charter of Rights that enshrines the right to defend self and property. The FCP also want to lift the ban on flavoured tobacco, provide better funding for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, abolish predatory photo radar locations, and allow Albertans to ride ATVs without helmets.
In the April 2019 Alberta Provincial Election, the FCP garnered about 9,000 of the 1.9 million votes cast province wide. According to Elections Alberta statistics, more than three quarters of the FCP's votes came from central and southern Alberta.
White says the Conklin town hall meeting is to help to find "real world solutions" for every community in Alberta.
Sunday's meeting will be held at the Conklin Multi-plex from 6-9 pm. The event is open to all members of the public.
