By Charles Lefebvre

Leadership Breakfast offers 2019 election preview

Nov 15, 2018 | 2:15 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Leadership Breakfast in Medicine Hat offered a potential preview of the 2019 provincial and federal elections.

The event, which brought together representatives from municipal, provincial and federal governments, saw two candidates for next year’s election speak about their goals for the future.

“There is hope on the horizon,” said Glen Motz, Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner during his address to the approximately 100 in attendance. “In less than a year, Canadians and Albertans will have the opportunity to decide the kind of country and province that they want. A government with vision that puts businesses and communities and families, or current visions of ideology and wealth redistribution.”

“It’s about policy and leadership said Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes. “Policy that is here to strengthen free enterprise, policy that is here to strengthen families and communities, so families and communities, so that southeastern portion of Albertan can once again be a leader in creating jobs and creating wealth.”

Motz, elected in 2016, told CHAT News he plans to seek re-election for the riding in 2019. Barnes was acclaimed as the United Conservative Party candidate for the spring 2019 election in Alberta.

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Both say business will be one of their focuses on the campaign trail.

“Too many entrepreneurs are telling me that the economy is so layered with burdens of regulation that they can’t get things done, so they end up investing their capital and creating jobs in other enterprises,” said Barnes. “It’s time for Alberta to focus on free enterprise, to focus on families, and after eliminating the carbon tax, to get the regulatory burden down to where it should be.”

“Small business, especially in this community, is a driving force behind our economy,” said Motz. “Oil and gas certainly are, farms certainly are, those are generally small businesses, and we need to ensure that they’re healthy, we want to ensure they’re not burdened by tax and regulations, and that they can be competitive. They are the drivers of most of the employment in our region.”

Wanner has not yet announced if he will be seeking re-election, and was not available following the breakfast. During the event, he spoke about the work the provincial government has done during his time in office, and defended regulations.

“One person’s red tape is another man’s protection,” he told the crowd, adding it’s important for all three branches of governments to find solutions to help people and business succeed.