Tomorrow, our students at ELJHS will be voting for one of the local candidates. Please have an informed discussion with your child tonight, so that he/she is able to make an informed choice. I have included the candidates below, in alphabetical order by political party:
Mike Lake, Conservative
Age: 46
Occupation: MP since 2006, former director of ticket sales for Edmonton Oilers
Reasons for running: I’m a fiscal conservative. I think maintaining a strong economy is vital to our ability to protect the social programs that are so important to Canadians. Creating the highest standard of living for Canadians at all income levels no matter where they live. Personal freedom is important and having people be able to keep as much of their own money as they can so they can make the best decisions they can for their families.
Top priorities: Absolutely maintaining budget balance, being very careful and deliberate about how we spend the money we’re entrusted by Canadian taxpayers.
Joy-Ann Hut, Green
Age: 39
Occupation: Owner-operator of a Leduc graphics shop
Reasons for running: What motivated me was concern for social justice. Diversification in our market that would facilitate having sustainable and renewable energies and the potential improvements to our environment and our personal health. To have the empowered MPs that the Greens provide through a party structure with no whip.
Top priorities: Having an accessible MP that represents people’s interests.
Jacqueline Biollo, Liberal
Age: 44
Occupation: Consultant for small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits
Reasons for running: As a leader in the community and someone who values putting your voice forward for advocacy of the common good, it’s just a natural. You need educated and self-confident individuals to do that.
Top priorities: The economy at large, looking at the sustainability of moving our resources to market and the family unit, whether that’s affordable housing, child care or health care.
Brayden Whitlock, Libertarian
Age: 24
Occupation: PhD student at University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine
Reasons for running: I was frustrated that the only choices given were for big, slow, invasive government. I wanted to offer the option of voting for smaller, more efficient government that didn’t waste resources interfering needlessly with people and businesses. I heard from too many people that they were so discouraged by the current choices they had, that they didn’t even want to vote.
Top priorities: People need to feel free to express, speak, think and be more productive without unnecessary government interference. This means we need to inject more freedom into policies like wasteful gun control, the pointless and harmful war on drugs and the free thought and speech restrictions of C-51.
Fritz Bitz, NDP
Age: 62
Occupation: Addictions counsellor for Alberta Health Services
Reasons for running: My significant concern over what has happened to Canada under the Harper Conservatives. The lack of accountability, the muzzling and firing of scientists, the lack of scientific input into the advisory system, Bill C-51 and the risks it presents to our rights and freedoms, Bill C-24 and what it does to Canadian citizenship. I’m concerned that our economy is basically built on one industry. I’m very concerned that Canada has not stepped forward to be part of the scientific movement and industry development in the new green sector.
Top priorities: The economy. We need to significantly increase our focus on diversification. We need to look seriously at how we receive our revenues and why so much of the burden is on the middle class and not on the wealthy and the large corporations. We need to look at our health-care system. A hospital bed is not the best place for a senior who needs long-term care. I’m concerned about taxation and immigration.
