Susan Thompson
Express Staff
Five provincial candidates have been nominated and are campaigning in the Peace River constituency.
The boundaries of the constituency include the town of Peace River, but range from Nampa on the southern edge north to the N.W.T border.
The constituency has also been slightly redrawn since the last election and now includes Grimshaw.
Both incumbent NDP MLA Debbie Jabbour and UCP candidate Daniel Williams of the UCP opened campaign offices in downtown Peace River in the last week of March where voters can get more information, volunteer or pick up a lawn sign.
Jabbour has served as Deputy Speaker throughout her term.
Her campaign office is in the old Sears building. A grande opening event was held the evening of March 27. She will be holding regular Wednesday evening events at the office for voters in the constituency.
Dan Williams, who previously worked for UCP leader Jason Kenney as part of his staff in Ottawa, has opened an office beside Kit Office Plus and also has a campaign office in La Crete. He held an open house event for voters at the Peace River office on Thursday afternoon, March 28.
Alberta Party candidate and former “North of 60” actor Dakota House held a meet and greet fundraiser at the Belle Petroleum Centre on Friday evening, featuring comedy hypnotist Scott Ward.
Meanwhile, Rémi Tardif has thrown his hat into the ring for the Liberals in the Peace River constituency. Tardif says he is running in part because he is the only candidate who owns and operates a business in the constituency, and is the only candidate who has lived in the constituency for over a decade.
“Rural Alberta, let alone northern rural Alberta, needs to have a strong voice,” Tardif told the Express while confirming his candidacy.
Connie Russell has also entered the fray, running for the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta. The FCP was founded by Strathmore-Brooks MLA Derek Fildebrandt, who was the Alberta Director and National Research Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation before entering Alberta politics. Fildebrandt was ejected from the United Conservative Party caucus last summer due to legal troubles. He founded the FCP after he was barred from seeking a UCP nomination in the current election by party leader Jason Kenney.
The La Crete & Area Chamber of Commerce has organized an all candidates forum for the Peace River constituency in the evening of April 2 in La Crete.
The Belle Petroleum Centre will host an all candidates forum on April 8 organized by the Peace River & District Chamber of Commerce in partnership with local radio stations.
All candidates’ forums are open to the public.