In a matter of days, the Alberta Party will announce its new leader, and leadership candidates spent the weekend making their last minute pitches to voters.
RELATED: Membership in Alberta Party soars by 500% ahead of leadership vote
Former Edmonton mayor and Progressive Conservative health minister Stephen Mandel, Calgary lawyer Kara Levis and former United Conservative Party MLA Rick Fraser are all vying for the party’s top job.
The Alberta Party is aiming to be the centrist alternative for voters as the 2019 election approaches.
Global News caught up with Mandel and Fraser Saturday, the last full day of campaigning before voting starts, and spoke with Levis on Sunday.
Here is where the three candidates stand on the following issues:
Provincial sales tax
Mandel and Fraser were not in favour of a new sales tax when the issue was brought up at a leadership debate in Edmonton on January 24. However, Fraser seems to be more open-minded about the idea now.
Mandel: “I think it’s really problematic to talk about any other increase in taxes or change in tax structure until we see where we’re at and right now, we don’t know.”
Fraser: “I think at the end of the day, we want to try and do everything we can to grow the economy, grow our tax base and make sure… we’re doing what we can from a government before we have to introduce a new tax. Certainly it’s one of the things that need to be kept on the table and have a honest discussion about our tax structure because it may be something we have to implement at some point into the future.”
Levis said last month that it was time to explore a provincial sales tax; her opinion has not wavered.
Levis: “I think that we, as Albertans, need to have the courage to have the discussion whether or not we can be implementing a value-added point-of-sale tax for Alberta as well as reviewing all the different tax rates and revenue generation mechanisms for Alberta. On a comprehensive review, we can really get the balance right.”
Pipeline politics
Last month, B.C. announced a proposal to limit the amount of bitumen flowing across its border. It is a measure that could potentially delay the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which would see capacity tripled. Alberta responded by announcing a ban on the import of B.C. wine, a ban that was rescinded Thursday.
READ MORE: B.C. and Alberta are feuding over wine: Here’s what the trade dispute is really about
Mandel: “We really need to look at how we deal with the rest of Canada and how the rest of Canada deals with us. We’re a full partner in this country. We should be treated equitably and fairly. This was a project approved by the federal government. It is an existing pipeline. I find it difficult to understand why the Government of B.C., the Government of Canada would not understand this is part of the right of Albertans to move their product to the coast.”
READ MORE: Federal government stands behind Trans Mountain pipeline project
Levis: “I really look to see the federal government taking strong stance and a leadership position on this inter-provincial pipeline. But I think that overall we need to work on building our relationships for Alberta and with the other provinces to make sure we’re in a good position to build Canada and have a strong stable Alberta economy.”
Relationship with B.C.
In the aftermath of the pipeline drama, the candidates were asked how they would work with our neighbour to the west. The B.C. NDP have said they do not want the expansion to put the environment at risk.
READ MORE: Canadians split 50-50 on B.C.-Alberta pipeline spat, but more say project delays are wrong: poll
Mandel: “I think you need to show them this is not an environmental issue. You can move products through pipelines effectively, safely and to make sure you put in the type of safeguards they’re looking for.”
Fraser: “It’s about building relationships. You have to build credibility. You have to show the value it is for people in B.C. I don’t own a piece of property off the coast that might see increased tankers. At the end of the day, you want to try to get a perspective and understand that side of the view.”
Levis: “I would really like to see us work really closely with our provincial partners, our other provincial governments to make sure we are building a country together. And that when we go to protect our own interests, that we really understand where all of our other provinces are coming from so we can try to make a solution that’s better for all of us.”
Classroom sizes
The auditor general released a report Thursday slamming the province over spending close to $3 million over the last 14 years in a failed attempt to reduce classroom sizes. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has said 3,000 more teachers are needed to reduce class sizes.
READ MORE: Alberta NDP promises to reduce class sizes, create school lunch program
Mandel: “I would commit to working with the ATA to make sure our education system meets the goals of all of us. How we attain that is through cooperation. I can’t, at this point in time, say what we will hire, what we won’t hire. I would be glad to sit down with everybody and look at how we can work together.”
Fraser: “There’s only so much revenue. There’s a lot of different services that Albertans rely on and education is just one of them. So we’d have to take a balanced approach and make sure, but I think if that’s the goal let’s take a look at it.”
Levis: “I really support teachers. I know that teachers have some of the hardest jobs in Alberta to make sure that they’re balancing the needs of all the diverse students in their classrooms. And so, I support the idea that we need to be investing in our classrooms and making sure our teachers have the resources that they need in order to have their students be successful.”
Voting for the new Alberta Party leader starts Sunday at 12 p.m. and runs until Tuesday at 5 p.m.
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