While federal political leaders formally kicked off their campaigns Wednesday, the same could not be said for all the parties in Red Deer area ridings.
Incumbents Blaine Calkins for Red Deer-Lacombe and Earl Dreeshen for Red Deer-Mountain View have started their campaigns. In the more recent Facebook posts, the two Conservative MPs were looking for volunteers before Canadians head to the polls Oct. 21.
But the NDP and Liberal party websites do not list the names of people who are running locally.
Catherine Moar, co-chair of Alberta for the Liberal Party of Canada, confirmed the party should have candidates in both ridings in coming days.
The Green Party of Canada may be ahead in the game, with candidate Desmond Bull for Red Deer-Lacombe and Conner Borle for Red Deer-Mountain View, according to the party’s website.
The People’s Party of Canada had earlier announced its candidates: Paul Mitchell for Red Deer-Mountain View and Laura-Lynn Thompson for Red Deer-Lacombe.
The Elections Canada website has advance polling days listed: Oct. 11, 12, 13 and 14. The website also allows electors to check whether they’re registered to vote and includes ways to register or update information.
Fred Gorman, the returning officer for Red Deer-Mountain View, said he would not be able to confirm the names of those running before the nomination deadline of Sept. 30 at 2 p.m.
Elections Canada spokesperson Leanne Nyirfa said those who are interested in running can complete the process online at elections.ca. This is a first for the agency in the 43rd federal election.
In the 2015 election, about 62,212 people cast ballots out of the 88,322 voters registered (not counting rejected ballots) in the Red Deer-Mountain View riding. That’s about 71 per cent voter turnout.
In the Red Deer-Lacombe constituency, there were 61,662 valid ballots out of 89,092 registered voters. That’s about 69 per cent voter turnout.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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