Candidates are seen at the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection forum in November 2022. Candidates Danielle Smith (left side of table), Barry Morishita (second from left) and Gwendoline Dirk (right) will participate in the forum on May 17, 2023. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown

Alberta NDP’s Dirk will be part of Brooks-Medicine Hat forum

May 17, 2023 | 2:59 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – One of the local Alberta NDP candidates in the provincial election will take part in the forums this week in Medicine after all.

Full Election Coverage: Alberta Votes 2023

Gwendoline Dirk will be at the Brooks-Medicine Hat forum tonight, however Cathy Hogg will still not be at the Cypress-Medicine Hat forum on Thursday.

Both are being hosted by the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

4h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

6h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

22h ago

On Tuesday a party spokesperson told CHAT News the pair were opting out of the forums so they can “focus on connecting with voters on the ground.” On Wednesday afternoon the same party spokesperson said the candidates were able to re-arrange their schedules to accommodate the forums.

The candidates approached the Chamber about participating late on Tuesday, one day after the deadline to submit the necessary paperwork. Chamber officials then got the OK for Dirk, but not for Hogg from others involved in the forums.

“We needed to connect with the candidates who had previously approved as well as the moderator and the president of our chamber board to basically ensure that they were OK with us allowing a change in the rules essentially, as they had followed them,” explains Alex Zabel, industry support and government relations with the chamber. “And then following that we got unanimous approval for the late entrant to participate in the Brooks-Medicine Hat forum and we did not receive unanimous approval for late entrant to participate in the Cypress-Medicine Hat forum.”

Alberta Party candidate Barry Morishita and United Conservative Party candidate Danielle Smith, both leaders of their parties, are also confirmed for the Brooks-Medicine Hat forum.

Both forums will take place in Crescent Heights High School Theatre beginning at 7 p.m.

A meet and greet with candidates begins each night at 6 p.m.

Albertans will go to the polls on May 29.