Alberta’s NDP has a potential candidate for Red Deer-South in the next provincial election.
On Wednesday, lawyer Michelle Baer announced that she wants to represent the NDP.
So far she is the only person to come forward wanting to be nominated as the candidate, and a date has yet to be set for the nomination meeting for the Red Deer-South NDP Constituency Association.
Baer, who is the city solicitor and manager of legal and legislative services for the City of Red Deer, has lived in the city since 2001.
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She said health care and capacity problems at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre are her top priorities.
“We can’t have people getting care in the back of an ambulance. We can’t have surgeries being cancelled, and people being transferred to Edmonton and Calgary,” said Baer, referring to a recent long lineup of ambulances at the hospital to transfer patients to deal with a surge in demand, and the need to divert surgery patients.
“We need strong advocacy in Edmonton on the things that matter.”
The economy, affordability and education are other issues of concern for Baer, who grew up in Saskatoon, Sask. and has also lived in Victoria, B.C.
“Everybody I’m talking to is looking for a change and Red Deer deserves better representation in Edmonton than we’re currently getting.”
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Baer said it was important to put her name forward now because Alberta could be on the verge of an election despite the last Monday of May 2023 being the fixed election date.
“The more I can get out there, and the more time I have to meet with people and hear what people are worried about, the better.”
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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