Red Deer-Lacombe incumbent Blaine Calkins says he’s “ready to go” for a snap election called for Sept. 20.
“We’ve already got our signs up in every community in our constituency….
“While I don’t believe an election is what people want, it’s happening nonetheless,” added Calkins — “and in the end, it might be what the electorate needs.”
Calkins believes this pandemic election is coming at a time when Canadians are more worried about getting their kid back to school safely and getting the economy back on track, but he hopes the electorate will take the opportunity to stop the “divisive” Liberals from getting in for another term.
Red Deer-Mountain View incumbent Earl Dreeshen will also be seeking re-election, according to his office assistant. But he could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Opposition parties have accused Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making a “selfish” election call just halfway into his four-year mandate to try to secure a majority government.
The election was announced as Canada shut down its Kabul embassy, leaving interpreters and others who have helped in the war against the Taliban stranded as the fundamentalist fighters take back most of Afghanistan. Calkins believes Trudeau had six years to come up with a plan to get those people out but was instead absorbed with his own interests.
Calkins plans to start door-to-door campaigning with Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s plan to create more jobs by providing tax credits and loans to entrepreneurs who start their own businesses and employ people.
The federal Liberals announced Olumide Adewumi will be their candidate for Red Deer-Mountain View. Adewumi has a master’s degree in chemical engineering and more than 20 years of experience in workplace safety for a large multi-national U.S. energy company.
The Airdrie resident said he’s “passionate” about gender equality, lowering carbon emissions, and protecting public health.
No Liberal candidate has yet been confirmed for Red Deer-Lacombe.
The New Democrats have also not yet announced who their candidates will be for either of the Red Deer ridings.
But the new western federal party, Maverick, is running Mark Wilcox as a candidate for Red Deer-Mountain View. Wilcox is an airline captain residing in Carstairs who will be campaigning against expanding government and over-taxation.
The People’s Party of Canada will be running candidate Kelly Lorencz in the Red Deer-Mountain View riding. Lorencz is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who now works in corrections. He lives in the Innisfail area and will be campaigning for a return to family, community and mental wellness after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neither the Maverick, nor the People’s Party have selected candidates to run in the Red Deer-Lacombe riding. Lorencz said there are four potential nominees for the People’s Party in that riding and he hopes a selection will be made soon.
The Green Party also doesn’t appear to have any Red Deer candidates yet.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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