One of Red Deer’s most well-known citizens and its longtime history keeper is venturing into provincial politics.
Michael Dawe, 55, announced on Tuesday that he will seek the nomination for the Liberal Party in the Red Deer North riding, currently held by Progressive Conservative MLA Mary Anne Jablonski.
The author of a number of history books and a regular contributing columnist to area newspapers, including the Red Deer Advocate, Dawe has also reaped many honours for his volunteer work with schools, veterans and service clubs.
Dawe, who is the City of Red Deer’s curator of history, also has extensive experience in health, having served as a trustee and chairman on the Red Deer Regional Hospital board from 1983 to 1995. He was elected a member of the David Thompson Health Authority in 2001 and served until the authority was dissolved in 2008. He was also a founder and chairman of the Red Deer Regional Hospital Foundation.
It is on the health front where Dawe sees some of the ruling government’s biggest missteps.
“I very strongly feel that in the last couple of years, particularly with the over-centralization of Alberta Health Services, that there are enormous problems that have developed in health care. They’re systemic.”
The government has failed to meet its own targets to improve care and reduce wait times, he said. “There’s something obviously wrong.”
Dawe is also critical of the government’s handling of the economy and its failure to balance the budget. “You can’t live on a credit card forever.”
The government needs to make tough financial decisions and Albertans must be involved in the process to determine spending priorities, he said.
Alberta has also fallen short in providing educational opportunities for young people and ensuring they remain in the province, Dawe said.
A nomination meeting is expected to be held in mid-January. A provincial election is expected in the spring.
Also running in Red Deer North is NDP candidate Derrek Seelinger. Wildrose Party nominations for the riding close on Friday.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com