Leadership hopeful makes pitch for local support

By Lethbridge Herald on September 5, 2022.

Herald photo by Al Beeber UCP leadership candidate Rebecca Shulz talks to Lethbridge residents Friday on a campaign stop here. The winner of the contest will be announced a month from today in Calgary.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald
abeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

A month from today the United Conservatives Party will elected new a leader with results to be announced at the BMO Centre in Calgary.

Ballots went into the mail Friday to eligible voters who signed up by the Aug. 12 deadline.

On Friday, candidate Rebecca Shulz made a stop in Lethbridge at a downtown cafe to meet and greet voters and discuss her platform with them.

Shulz, the MLA for Calgary-Shaw, and recently the Minister of Children’s Services, was on a tour of Southern Alberta which also included visits to Cardston, Magrath and Mossleigh.

While minister of Children’s Services, Shulz negotiated a childcare agreement with Ottawa for the province.

Sitting in a back corner of Bread Milk & Honey, Shulz addressed health care, the education curriculum and other matters including energy with about a dozen patrons.

“I was thinking about the future of Alberta,” she said about her reasons for entering the leadership race.

She said the province and its neighbours are best served by having a strong UCP government elected in 2023.

Shulz said a leader is needed who can keep the UCP united  adding not all seven candidates could beat Rachel Notley and the NDP in next year’s vote.

She said if the UCP wants to win, “unity is not just a word we can use and throw around,” unity needing support from volunteers and party members.

“It is really something I believe for me as somebody who is running to be the leader what makes me unique is that I know that it isn’t actually about any one person. 

“It isn’t just about me, it is about all of you,” said Schulz.

She said the province needs a leader to stand up and defend Alberta’s place in Confederation. She said there is no silver bullet that can solve all of Alberta’s problems, adding the Sovereignty Act proposed by candidate Danielle Smith “would put a target on our back. I don’t think it would position us better in this country.”

She said the province needs to build a coalition with other provinces to address issues.

“There are things we can negotiate,” such as deals on housing for the province, she said.

Schulz said she’s talked about housing on her previous two visits to Lethbridge and that was one of the biggest issues that was discussed.

She also said the province could better position itself by looking at taking over the pension plan.

“I think Albertans need to know” what that would look like. She said Alberta has a young population, a high average income, low unemployment rates and “I think we should look at that.”

She said “Albertans want to see a leader who will continue on this path of economic growth. Things are going well right now,” she added.

She said the UCP did a lot of great things, mentioning diversification but didn’t get everything right adding if it had “I wouldn’t be here right now. . .we need a different tone and a different approach. It cannot be the status quo.”

Shulz said the party needs to show a bit of humility.

“We can absolutely do better,” she said.

She said the province needs “a leader who can give us a vision that all Albertans can see themselves in.”

 She said the UCP is not only concerned about economic growth and balanced budgets but people.

She said a strong economy provides Albertans an opportunity to provide for their families.

“It is that hope and optimism that brought me to Alberta from another province because I wanted to create my own path here. I believed in that promise of Alberta.”

She said health care, education and supports for the vulnerable are important and those are made possible by a strong economic base.

She said Albertans need a leader who can give them a vision and a province they can be proud of.

“I just  really strongly feel it’s time for a fresh approach, a different perspective and a leader not just who can get us not through just the next election but can take us into the next 10 years of our Conservative party.”

When asked about the federal plan to reduce use of nitrogen fertilizer, Shulz said “Alberta isn’t the only province that will be affected, adding if Alberta fights Ottawa alone, it doesn’t get as far as it would working with other provinces.

In response to a question, the major issues of concern to Albertans are economy, inflation and health, she said.

“The cost of living, the vast majority people know we don’t oversee federal monetary policies but there are things we can do to reduce the costs fo everyday families.”

She said there is no quick fix to the healthcare situation, mentioning how Lethbridge residents have expressed concern about the lack of family doctors here.

“I heard that loud and clear,” she said.

She said the last thing needed is another panel to review the situation.

“I think we need to take the reports that we already have and also listen to the front-line.”

She said the all residents should have a family doctor in or near their communities. She said urgent care facilities outside of emergency rooms could be a consideration so things that aren’t necessarily emergencies could be taken care of.

Shulz said barriers need to be removed so physicians coming here from abroad can get their skills and training accredited quicker.

“Not only is it not fair the amount of time it takes to recognize their credentials, you think about them working in jobs below their skill levels, and then the amount of cost it takes them to pay to get their credentials recognized. We’ve got to fix that, no question,” said Schulz.

She said the health care system is based on policy and process and approvals and not based on the patient.

When asked about the curriculum, Shulz bluntly said the social studies element “was a mess. 

“When we didn’t quite get it right, we came out and said ‘you know what,’ it’s not that bad but we’ll get your feedback and we’ll make it better.”

Shulz added “There’s always going to be diverse views on the curriculum….social studies was a mess, let’s press the stop button, let’s get teacher involvement here, let’s hear what they have to say. It’s about rebuilding trust in the process.”

She said the one thing she can promise people is “not everyone will agree with me all the time. There will be times I will disappoint you or where you disagree with me but I will always show up.” 

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