Joe McWilliams
For South Peace News
A good turnout at the United Conservative Party’s fundraising dinner with the Premier on Aug. 23 was what organizers were hoping for. And it’s what they got, with an estimated 145 people showing up at the Legacy Centre in Slave Lake.
Probably not all of those paid the $150 per plate fee, but if they did, that’s over $21,000 into party coffers – minus expenses, of course.
No word from organizers on what exactly they need the money for, but high on the list would be filling the so-called ‘war chest’ for contesting the next general election. That’s still three years away. It could happen sooner, but that seems unlikely at this point.
In fact not all attendees did have to pay to get in. The special guests included members of Slave Lake’s recently-formed Citizens On Patrol group.
The format had Premier Danielle Smith and Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair answering questions from the audience.
Among them were the topics of crime and safety, provincial plans for improving Highway 88, what the constituency association’s communications person called “federal overreach on firearms/confiscations,” and more.
Catering for the event was handled by Nacho Daddy’s taco truck and Susan’s Kitchen. Entertainment was provided by Mat Cardinal, of the band The Prairie States. His band, by the way, opens the Stage North 2024/24 Concert Series, on Oct. 5 at the Legacy Centre.
It had been announced that Premier Smith would put in an appearance the following morning at the Indigenous Hockey Day program at Slave Lake’s MRC, but that did not happen.
In other UCP constituency news, the next regular meeting for the Lesser Slave Lake association is on Sept. 13 in Kinuso.. The annual general meeting usually happens in January.