Alberta UCP leadership contenders to square off in first debate in Medicine Hat
The seven candidates vying to turn out to be the following United Conservative Social gathering chief and Alberta premier are to sort out well being, the financial system and different key points of their first debate tonight.
They’re to sq. off in Drugs Hat for the primary of two scheduled debates forward of Oct. 6, when occasion members vote on who ought to substitute Premier Jason Kenney.
The controversy will probably be moderated by former Calgary metropolis councillor Jeff Davison and deal with unity, management and the atmosphere.
The candidates embrace former cupboard ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney and Leela Aheer.
Present legislature members Brian Jean and Todd Loewen are additionally within the race, as is former Wildrose chief Danielle Smith.
That is the one scheduled debate earlier than the essential Aug. 12 cutoff for members to enroll in the event that they want to vote within the management contest and the ultimate debate is ready for Aug. 30 in Edmonton.
The candidates have already launched coverage positions and guarantees on a few of the matters to be mentioned, together with well being care.
Smith has promised to introduce $300 well being financial savings accounts for various providers not lined by insurance coverage, equivalent to dentists and chiropractors.
She can be anticipated to face renewed criticism and questions from different candidates on current podcast feedback by which she stated accountability for early-stage most cancers is inside a affected person’s management. Fellow candidates have known as that profoundly misinformed and insulting.
Toews and Schulz are promising to create incentives to rent extra well being professionals and streamline and scale back paperwork in well being administration.
On the financial system, with Alberta taking in a $3.9-billion surplus this previous fiscal 12 months, candidates are proposing methods to assist folks cope with rising prices resulting from inflation.
Jean, who has stated Albertans are dealing with value gouging on the gasoline pumps, is promising to quickly cap value margins if they’re considerably greater than different provinces.
Sawhney has stated she would ship month-to-month cheques of at the very least $75 to households whereas oil costs stay excessive to assist households battling inflation.
Therapeutic rifts throughout the occasion and with Albertans will even be within the highlight.
Aheer was faraway from Kenney’s cupboard a 12 months in the past after criticizing his actions on COVID-19. She has stated assist can’t be demanded by a frontrunner, however should be earned via respect and collaboration.
Loewen, who was voted out of Kenney’s caucus within the spring of 2021 for calling on him to resign, has stated rebuilding unity with a extra collaborative chief is a core plank in his platform, too.
