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Sherman shares Liberal alternative

Laying the groundwork for the growth of his party, Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman spoke about health care, education and the budget in Red Deer.

Laying the groundwork for the growth of his party, Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman spoke about health care, education and the budget in Red Deer.

Less than three years out from when the current Progressive Conservative government is required to call an election, Sherman was outlining where his party thinks the PCs and Premier Alison Redford have failed and how they offer the proper alternative.

He encouraged the about 15 or so people in attendance to take up his call-to-arms and door knock, converse and share the liberal alternative.

“Stop talking to Liberals.”

Sherman was at the Golden Circle Wednesday, talking about the liberal alternative to both the Redford government and the Danielle Smith-led Wildrose Party.

“Red Deer is as important to me as Edmonton-Meadowlark (his riding) is just as much as Two Hills is as important to me,” said Sherman.

“This time I’m investing, they (those in attendance) have been armed with information and knowledge. They’re going to go talk in the coffee shops, to their families, friends and neighbours. When I come back here next time we’re going to have more people in the room.”

He hopes this grassroots engagement will help spur party support and liven the discussion around provincial politics.

“For me this is a mission and an adventure to re-orient this province back to where Premier Lougheed had it,” said Sherman.

Throughout the discussion, Sherman focused on providing a greater investment in education, citing high drop-out rates and lack of high school completion as a problem facing Alberta. He said addressing this issue will create an educated workforce that will strengthen the province’s economy.

“With a liberal plan we will re-invest in research and development and education of our young people,” said Sherman. “We will take our economy to heights never seen before.”

He also discussed how health care spending represents a large portion of the province’s budget and could be addressed better by the government.

He pointed specifically to privately run senior-care facilities and suggested replacing the for-profit, privately run facilities with publicly run quality care based ones.

“The same values I ran with in 2008 are the ones I’m running with today,” said Sherman. “Protect the economy, manage the money, look after society, educate the children, care for grandma and grandpa and put money in the bank.”

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com