The Progressive Conservative (PC) Association of Alberta hosted the first of eight all-candidate forums as part of the 2011 PC leadership race in Vermilion, Alberta, on July 21. All six candidates vying for position as party leader attended the event to present their campaign platforms and answer questions on topics including health care, education, seniors' housing, and the future of Alberta's economy.
Alison Redford spoke first, outlining her platform in her opening statements, praising Alberta for its strong democracy and economy, and her past involvement in the safe communities initiative.
"Leadership is not sound bites and anecdotes," she said. "Leadership is about setting goals. Leadership is about bringing people together for a common purpose. The Progressive Conservative Party has been entrusted by Albertans to govern this province for one reason. Progressive Conservative values are Alberta values - better health care, better education, better fiscal planning, and most importantly, better government."
During the question and answer portion of the event, she stressed the importance of long-term, sustainable funding for health care and education, amending the Land-use Framework so Albertans could support it, and commercializing renewable forms of energy resources to give Albertans more choice. She also discussed the importance of Albertans being brought to the trade table with the federal government to ensure Alberta's agricultural interests are protected.
Gary Mar's platform hinged on uniting the regions of Alberta and building a government that "spends less time telling and more time listening."
He stressed the importance of agriculture, the energy sector, health care, and fiscal responsibility in preparing for Alberta's future.
"You cannot spend a dollar that you do not have," he said.
He also supported sustainable and predictable funding for education, health care, and municipal funding, and discussed the importance of post-secondary education in protecting Alberta's future.
"I want to lead a province that recognizes that all the regions of the province must stand together strong," he said in his opening remarks. "The next premier of Alberta cannot be from Calgary, cannot be from Edmonton, cannot be from north or south or rural or urban, they have to be somebody who's a champion for all of Alberta. We have to stand together strong because our economic opportunities are outside this province, and so are our challenges."
Doug Horner based his platform around core values he shared with the Progressive Conservative Party as a whole.
"The lens through which all the decisions that we make should be made through those values, and those principles that this party has held strongly in its heart for 40 plus years - values and principles that you as Albertans hold in your hearts," he explained. "The decisions should not be made through the lens of ideology, dollars, and dogma. We've done well, but we can do so much better."
To improve Alberta's fiscal situation, he declared government must act as a catalyst in the agriculture, oil, gas, and tourism sectors.
He advocated helping seniors to remain independent and in their own homes as a possible method to help alleviate the seniors' housing issue and encouraged immigrants with skills and education in fields tailored to Alberta's needs to come to the province, "so we can build the Alberta of tomorrow the way we want to see it."
Ted Morton began his opening remarks by outlining a current issue facing the Progressive Conservative Party - the growing support for the Wildrose Alliance. Worried about vote splitting, his platform remained true to traditional PC policy in an effort to draw those who had deflected to the Wildrose back to the PC.
"Have we been perfect, no. Have we made mistakes, yes," he said. "But compare the record of the PC Party of Alberta with any of our neighbours, with any other government in Canada. We are the most successful party for delivering opportunity and growth for families. I want to keep it that way. To keep it that way, friends, the last thing we need is two conservative parties in this province. So how do we bring back those disillusioned conservatives that have drifted off to the Wildrose?"
He suggested the way to draw former Progressive Conservatives back to the party would be to promote fiscal responsibility and democratic reform, and to elect a strong and effective leader.
A main part of his platform, which was discussed at length during the question and answer portion of the forum, was a post-secondary education tax credit, which would be spread over seven years, providing the student remained and worked in Alberta during those years, to a maximum amount of $20,000.
Rick Orman left politics 18 years ago and returned to enter the leadership race because he and his wife believe in serving the community, he said.
"We believe it's a privilege, and it's an obligation. It should not be a career. I'm not looking for a job, but I know one thing, there is a job to be done."
He stressed the importance of health care, education, clean air and water, safe communities, and cultural opportunities, and announced that in the coming weeks, he will release more information about a series of initiatives aimed at helping young families.
In terms of education, he blamed the current funding issues on the fact the provincial government broke its word when it froze the wages of teachers.
"In an Orman government, the government's word is their bond."
As the youngest candidate, Doug Griffiths presented a platform that underlined the importance of supporting young families and providing the physical, social, economic, environmental, and intellectual infrastructure they need to ensure a high quality of life. Education was a priority, as well as a responsible fiscal philosophy that protected the needs of an aging senior population without bankrupting the younger generation.
"2012 will be a critical point for this province because a new generation of Albertans will make choices that will be bold, will be brave, and will embrace a vision for their families and their future," he said.
"Our party will demonstrate that boldness, present that vision, and embrace that future and the next generation, or it will risk becoming irrelevant. We've always embraced the future. It's time to do it again."
Though most of the debate focused on issues the candidates generally agreed upon, such as the need for fiscal responsibility and how healthcare, the energy sector, and education must remain high priorities, they differed in the details and how they would personally deal with each issue.
According to Morton, this sort of debate is healthy when choosing a party leader, and even healthier for the new leader when choosing a cabinet.
"I think one of the mistakes that was made last time was cabinet was not made broadly enough to incorporate all sectors of the party," he said during the forum. "Right now, we're focusing on what we disagree on. Once this is over, we need to focus on what we agree on, and I know that's much more important than our disagreements."
The next all-candidate forum is scheduled for July 28 in Grande Prairie, with dates scheduled in Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Calgary, and Edmonton to follow.
The election will be held on Sept. 17 and all valid party members over the age of 16 are eligible to vote.
