Your news this week: Mundare Mens Curling winners - 3 Archery winds up at Andrew School - 14 Wagons roll at Chipman Rally - 15 OPINION: Pay per job importance? - 4
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
Vol. 14, No. 19, Wednesday, March 27, 2019 www.LamontLeader.com
YOUR CANDIDATES 7 vie for elected position as MLA of the Fort Saskatchewan/Vegreville riding
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk UCP
Shane Ladouceur AB. Independence
Jessica Littlewood NDP - Incumbent
Ron Malowany Alberta Advantage
Marvin Olsen Alberta Party
Malcolm Stinson Freedom Conservative
Rebecca Trotter Green Party
Provincial candidates start four-week march to win public trust BY JOHN MATHER … and the race is on. The much anticipated Alberta provincial election became a reality Mar. 19, when Premier Rachel Notley dropped the writ in Calgary. Albertans will cast their votes for a new government on April 16. In Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville constituency seven candidates are vying to become the next MLA. United Conservative Party candidate, Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk; Alberta Party candidate, Marvin Olsen; Green Party candidate, Rebecca Trotter; Alberta Advantage Party candidate, Ronald Malowany; Freedom Conservative Party candidate, Malcolm Stinson; and Alberta Independence Party candidate Shane Ladouceur have all entered the race to attempt and unseat incumbent NDP MLA, Jessica Littlewood. Littlewood opened her campaign office in Fort Saskatchewan on the Mar. 16 weekend and stated she was running to ensure the province was a place for everyone, not just the privileged. “We have a bit of a hard road ahead, I think everyone knows that,” she said. “We’ve diversified our economy so we can get off the boom and bust cycles
that we’ve had for generations, but haven’t helped any families.” “When times are tough, times are
really tough,” she stated. “Because of the work of our government we have 600 people out at Inter Pipeline work-
Three All-candidate debates for constituency including at St. Michael BY JOHN MATHER There will be three all-candidates debates in the Fort SaskatchewanVegreville Constituency prior to the April 16 provincial election. Vegreville will be the host site for the first event on April 2, beginning at 6:30 and running to 9:00 p.m. at the Vegreville Social Centre, 4812 47a St. The seven candidates will gather the next evening at the Lakeview Inn and Suite Hotel in Fort Saskatchewan. Doors open for the meeting in the Ross Creek Room at 6 p.m. with the debate starting at 6:30 and lasting until 8:30 p.m. The Lamont and District Chamber of Commerce has also arranged to bring all the candidates together with a debate at St. Michael Hall on April 8. The meeting gets underway at 6:30 and will go until 9:00 p.m. While the election will be held April
16, there are several advance polls being held to give as many people a chance to get their vote to count as possible. Advance polls will be held April, 9., 10, 11, 12, and 13. To find an advance poll location in your area contact elections Alberta, or visit one of the candidates’ officers to find the location. To be eligible to vote in the election, voters must be 18 years or older, a Canadian citizen, and an ordinary resident of Alberta. Special ballots are available to those people who are unable to vote at advance polls or on election day for a variety of reasons. Those reason may include: physically incapacitated, away from your electoral division, an inmate, an election officer, candidate, official agent or scrutineer, or living in a remote area, as defined in the Elections Act.
ing. “We have a premier and party that believe we should be adding to our resources here.” In the Fort Saskachewan-Vegreville constituency, she said, “We’re focusing to build on our strengths in oil and gas. We want to continue to add value to our resources so we can bring jobs into this constituency and that, in turn, will create more jobs here.” “My focus is to make sure I visit every community in the constituency from Fort Saskatchewan to Derwent,” she said minutes after the writ was dropped Mar. 19. “I want to ask folks what they want to see protected and developed for their families and communities.” Littlewood reflected on the fact the constituency has increased in size under the new boundaries established two years ago. “From being an MLA, I’ve come to realize every community matters,” she said. “Whether it’s a pyrogy supper in Mannville or being in Fort Saskatchewan to discuss the twinning of the Highway 15 bridge - every community matters.” Continued on Page 3