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Vol. 9, No. 35, Tuesday, June 24, 2014
PC leadership hopeful visits Pysanka capital Michelle Pinon Editor
When MLA Jacquie Fenske formally intr oduced Jim Pr entice to a handful of supporters at Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Vegreville on June 17, she made a point of presenting him as: “The next Premier for the Province of Alberta.” It didn’t hurt either that Prentice also had former Premier Ed Stelmach near his side to publicly endorse his leadership bid for the P r o g r e s s i v e Conservative Party of Alberta. Mundare resident Peter Polischuk was non-commital as to who he might support in the race for leader, but fondly smiled and r ecalled when he was asked, or rather told, to be the late John Batiuk’s campaign manager during the Peter Lougheed era. “I didn’t even know what a campaign manager was,” laughs Polischuk who acted as Batiuk’s campaign manager during his four election campaigns. Having Batiuk as the local MLA was very beneficial, and helped create a “pipeline to government,” added Polischuk, or rather a waterline to V egreville and surrounding communities. “We have a lot of history here,” said Stelmach, who briefly recalled his initial bid
for a seat in the legislature. He said ther e have been a string of inter esting political opponents over the years. “That’s another story,” said Polischuk with a chuckle. Fenske proudly stated that she was one of the first MLA’s to endorse Prentice’s campaign, and support his global vision of Alberta. Prentice thanked both Fenske and Stelmach for their support, work and advice. Prentice has been campaigning hard since announcing his candidacy on May 21st. He and his wife Kar en have been criss-crossing the province since then, trying to squeeze in six to MICHELLE PINON PHOTO seven events a day . Former Premier Ed Stelmach, left, poses with PC leadership hopeful Jim Prentice and current Fort “We’ve got a lot of work Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jacquie Fenske during a brief stop over in V egreville last week. to do,” admitted entire career as a lawyer. appointments for politiplatform over the course province would be the Prentice, as ther e is of the summer at varical staff, an end to sole best in public education, We will put in place the much to accomplish source contracts for outpublic health care, skills conditions to help our ous events. “I know over the next thr ee what we need to do and training and car e for farmers, ranchers and side consultants, and months to r egain the get it (the PC Party) back seniors. close scrutiny of all pubfood industries thrive. trust of Albertans and on track. “As Albertans, we lic appointments to He also intends to take rebuild the PC Party ensure qualifications His priorities include: action to ensure the gov- care deeply about our which has under gone Quality of life for natural world. We feel a instead of connections ernment is maximizing several changes in the are the first considerathe value of Alberta’s connection to the land Alberta as a leader in past few months. health care, education natural resources, and at and to our environment. tion in hiring the right Prentice said he is people for the right job. and skills training; max- the same time place con- Frankly, I have never “heartened by” the imizing the value of nat- ditions on the ener gy met a farmer or rancher While achieving a clean response he has received ural resources and sector to make it the sweep may or may not who isn’t a consersince launching his cam- respect for pr operty most competitive in the be possible, this "lifevatist.” paign just over a month rights; ending entitlelong Conservative" is world. ago. He said Albertans ments and r estoring the Prentice also believes fully confident in his Prentice pointed out want good leadership abilities to lead the party the need to r ely on fr ee one must never lose public trust; a focused and clear dir ection; and commitment to sound, into the next pr ovincial sight of the fact that fismarkets to develop the he will be ther e to pr o- conservative fiscal prin- technology that will election in about two cal prudence is part of vide those things and year's time. "I'm not the foundation of good assist the pursuit of ciples; and establishing more. With one mor e Alberta as a world greater environmental government, and would afraid to do it; but I can't chance to help get the be the cornerstone of his do it alone, and we need leader in envir onmental responsibility. house in or der, the for- conservation and pr oto work as a team." “At the same time, we government. mer senior level cabinet tection. He has also vowed to will defend the rights of minister says he will be put and end to “sweetUnder his leadership, property owners in reiterating his five point Prentice government Alberta, just as I did my heart said the