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MacWilliam speaks about being named NDP nominee for Brooks-Medicine Hat

Mar 5, 2019 | 4:12 PM

 

BASSANO, AB — Lynn MacWilliam says she is looking forward to hitting the road to Medicine Hat, and finding out what people want from their elected officials.

MacWilliam was recently acclaimed as the NDP candidate for Brooks-Medicine Hat for the upcoming election.

“I love the fact that (the party) works on issues that are going to serve people,” she said. “It’s just helping people, and that’s what I love about it. That’s where I’ve always come from, is helping people move forward, to thrive and benefit in the economy.”

MacWilliam spent many years working in government, and is currently a town councillor in Bassano, but has taken a leave of absence for the campaign.

She believes her experience in government helps set her apart from other candidates.

“I did work for the territorial government in the Yukon, I worked in Ottawa for 15 years on Parliament Hill, and it’s just working with people, helping people move forward, get ahead, get through the red tape of government, that kind of stuff,” she said. “I love working with people, and getting to know what they want, and what they need.”

MacWilliam, who says she has been a supporter of the NDP since the 1990s, previously ran provincially for the NDP in the Strathmore-Brooks riding in 2015, finishing in third place. Afternew electoral boundary maps were created in 2017, Bassano was moved to the new riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat, which will become official during the election.

MacWilliam says so far in her disucssions the economy is the biggest issue for voters in the riding.

She says she is impressed with the work the provincial government, and Premier Rachel Notley, have completed in the past four years.

“The government has been working on schools in Medicine Hat, they’ve been working on childcare issues, they’ve been working on seniors complexes, they’ve been doing an awful lot of work,” she said. “Those are the things that are needed. That’s Medicine Hat. They’ve been doing the same in Brooks…all of the outlying rural areas are going to benefit from everything that’s happening in these larger communities.”

MacWilliam will be running against Michaela Glasgo (United Conservative Party) and Jim Black (Alberta Party) when the election is called sometime in the spring.

She says she will be opening a campaign office in Medicine Hat in the coming weeks.