Dave Phillips - independent candidate

By Olivia Thorington

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner

Meet the Candidate – Dave Phillips (Independent)

Oct 15, 2019 | 4:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — If you’ve driven around Medicine Hat in the last month, you’ve likely seen signs around the city that read “Vote for Dave.”

They belong to Dave Phillips, an independent candidate who has run in multiple provincial elections in Alberta, and has thrown his hat into the race for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

“With the political landscape and what’s going on, I just want to make a difference,” he said during a recent interview.

Phillips, who lives in Sundre, has run in multiple provincial elections in Alberta, all as an independent candidate. In 2015, he ran in the former Medicine Hat riding, finishing in last place with 135 votes.

In 2014, he ran in a by-election in Calgary-Foothills, which was won by former Premier Jim Prentice, receiving 23 votes. In April, he ran in the Banff-Kananaskis, receiving 80 votes.

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Phillips says being an independent means he is able to speak his mind, doesn’t have to tow a party line, and can better represent his constituents.

“As an independent, I can challenge the government,” he said.

Phillips has multiple ideas for government plans for the region. When he ran in Banff, he was in favour of a train that linked Banff and Calgary, and wants a similar train to link Medicine Hat and Banff. He also said he would use some of his pay as a Member of Parliament to place advertisements in small-town newspapers across Canada to promote Medicine Hat.

He also says he wants Canada to stop working with the United Nations, “because they have a plan where they want to take over the entire world.”

Phillips did not show up to the Medicine Hat election forum hosted by the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce.

In an email, he confirmed he is staying on the ballot for the election.

Phillips is running against Glen Motz (Conservative Party of Canada), Andrew Nelson (People’s Party of Canada), Shannon Hawthorne (Green Party of Canada), Elizabeth Thomson (NDP) and Harris Kirshenbaum (Liberal Party of Canada).

Election Day is October 21.