Alberta Goes UCP Blue

Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk Elected as Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville’s New MLA

Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

After months of anticipation, campaigning, and door-knocking, it looks like big changes are on the horizon for Alberta and our riding, with Jason Kenney taking the reigns as Premier, and Vegreville’s own Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk holding the MLA seat in Fort Saskatchewan- Vegreville.

Albertans, regardless of party allegiances, held their breath as the votes kept coming in on Tuesday night, but poll projections followed through, especially since the province saw a record-breaking 693,000 advance votes and 223,000 vote-anywhere ballots for over 700,000. However, a steady stream of April 16 voters made quick work of poll percentages. From the time votes were counted at 7 pm, the election map was swept clean across with UCP blue with very few exceptions.

Armstrong-Homeniuk accepted her new role with all the gratitude and poise of a newly-minted leader. “I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout the campaign. Your effort was tremendous and you have my deepest gratitude. And to the people of Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville: thank you for trusting me to represent you. It’s truly an honour.”

In spite of split-vote fears, the UCP idea that joining right-wing forces was a sure-fire way to “defeat the NDP” rang true when it became time for the numbers to do the talking. In Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, the count after 80 of 96 polls was an overwhelming 52.54% and growing in Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk’s favour.

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville’s former NDP MLA and campaign competitor Jessica Littlewood did not make herself available for comment before press time.

Alberta Party candidate Marvin Olsen also expressed his gratitude to the constituency for their support throughout the race. “This campaign has been a tremendous experience, the personal growth I have gone through on this journey is invaluable. It has been an honor to run, and I am so very humbled and grateful to my amazing team and supporters. I am very proud to represent the Alberta party and extremely proud of my incredible team who is small but mighty. We managed to get out the name of a grassroots party and to run a positive campaign to bring forward the vision of the Alberta Party.

The entire Alberta party team is so amazing and supportive, everyone has demonstrated incredible work ethic and drive because we all are in it to truly better this province for the future. We are a fantastic group of Albertans who are proud of this province, and I am honored to be part of this dynamic team and to run alongside of other candidates in my constituency who are all fighting for a better future for Alberta.

Thank you to all my supporters who demonstrated their faith and put their trust in me during this election, and I wish all the best to Jackie Armstrong- Homeniuk in the upcoming term.”

According to the United Conservative Party’s campaign promises, Armstrong- Homeniuk hopes to follow through as soon as possible by working with new Premier Jason Kenney to abolish the provincial carbon tax and “return investors to the province.” If the poll numbers are any indication, their voters (who are now their taxpayers) can only hope they choose the right course of action continually over the next four years in legislature.

*** All results are unofficial