All candidates preparing for the byelection in final weekend leading up

Dirk highlighted that message saying “we are the party that cares about Albertans, we care about the seniors, we care about hard working Albertans and we care about our vulnerable people. We don’t just pad the pockets of people who are already privileged, we care.”

She wanted to give a final message to those heading the polls on Tuesday saying “Get out and vote, it is so important. This is our opportunity to send a message that we want better for Alberta.”

UCP leader Danielle Smith has as well remained within the riding over the weekend attending different events, like the Medicine Hat Tigers game Saturday night.

Smith says she has dedicated the weekend to learning as much as she could about the riding. “Yesterday (Saturday) we did a full tour of the riding. We went from Bassano, through to Duchess and on to Suffield. Those are some of the smaller communities that I just wanted to make sure we knew what the issues were.”

She mentioned some of the needs she initially plans to face in the riding saying “The issues that are my priority are Highway 3, looking as well at how we can get a second border crossing at Wildhorse so that we can cut off the truck transit time., we got Brooks Junior High School which is a priority and the Bassano Hospital.”

She says these are just some of the areas she has heard need addressing within Brooks-Medicine Hat.

Smith gave her message to voters ahead of the Byelection saying “for the riding in particular I think it’s important to have a candidate, who as the leader of the governing party can address some of the issues immediately.”

Independence Party’s Bob Blayone says throughout the weekend him, and his party have continued to have conversations with locals about what they would like to see for the future from their elected representatives.

Blayone explained his feelings going into Tuesday saying “we have already won from our position as the Independence Party just getting our ideas out there, and planting the seeds. There’s obviously gonna be another election coming up in May 2023, so no matter how we finish in this election we have already won.”

One of the ideas he says his party have gotten out there is how they feel there is need for change within the school systems curriculum.

“There’s a lot of discourse there, so we need to solve that. It’s not just up to the teachers, and educators to come up with a solution. They need to bring parents, and students to the table to hear from them as well.”

In his final comments to voters Blayone says “just keep the conversation going. It’s been an honour and a pleasure meeting a lot of people in the Brooks-Medicine Hat region, and I was blessed to be able to do so.”

Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita has not let the weather stop him from continuing his campaign trail over the weekend. Continuing to knock on doors, and make phone calls during the day.

Morishita says he is positive headed into Tuesday. “The message has been getting received very well at the doors, and we are optimistic. Elections are tough things to figure out, but either way we’ll know we have given it one hundred per cent effort.”

In his final message for voters Morishita says “I think it’s a good time to send a message to our current MLA’s, and our two parties that are there (the Legislature) that it’s time for different voices.”

Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta’s, Jeevan Mangat spent Friday campaigning in Bassano, Brooks and Medicine Hat. He has since returned to Calgary, and plans to come back to the riding at some point Sunday.

Mangat says that in this election his parties goal was to keep the support of the followers they already have, despite having little time to source a candidate to represent them.

He says that even if he were to only receive one vote on Tuesday, he would be happy. As to him that means the movement his party is trying to start, is alive and well in the area.

Voting for the byelection opens Tuesday Nov. 8.

by Aidan Boelsgaard

All candidates preparing for the byelection in final weekend leading up

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