Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Vol. 42, No. 38
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Federal Election Called: three candidates so far vying for Battle River-Crowfoot Patricia Harcourt Editor
Three candidates are in the running for the riding of Battle River-Crowfoot so far following the 43rd federal election call on Tuesday, Sept. 3. They are, as of Monday this week: Conservative Party of Canada candidate Damien Kurek, Green Party of Canada candidate Geordie Nelson, and People's Party of Canada candidate David Michaud. According to Liberal Riding Association President for Battle River-Crowfoot Chris MacKay, there will be no candidate running under the Liberal banner in this election campaign. "Unfortunately, due to our numbers, it is unlikely we will have a Liberal candidate for this election. I have been working with the Provincial team on strategy, but at current there are no planned events," MacKay stated in an email. As of Monday there is also no New Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada candidate listed. Canadians will be heading to the polls on Oct. 21. At this point, Conservative candidate Kurek appears to have the biggest boots to fill after being nominated to take over from outgoing MP for the riding Kevin Sorenson. Sorenson has held the riding firmly for over two decades. In fact, Kurek worked for Sorenson when Sorenson was Minister of State (Finance) in Ottawa before taking over the MP's constituency office in Camrose. Previous to this, he worked at the Saskatchewan Legislature for then premier Brad Wall in research, policy, and communication portfolios. Also like his predecessor, Kurek was born and raised in the riding.
"Our region has been well represented over the last two decades by Kevin Sorenson, and I am honoured to succeed him as the Conservative Party candidate," Kurek stated in a Sept. 12 release. "And with Kevin's retirement the stakes have never been higher to make sure we send a strong representative to Ottawa." Kurek's message included making life "more affordable by cutting taxes like the Carbon Tax and GST on home heating." He also said, "We are ready to bring accountability back to Ottawa and to ensure that government respects your tax dollars and spends within its means. "We have a plan to ensure that Canada stands up for what's right around the world," Kurek stated. "We are going to respect provinces and make sure that projects in the national interest, like pipelines, are built." PPC candidate David Michaud comes from a military background, having spent two decades in the Communications Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. According to his website, he has served both in Canada and abroad and has seen "many of the atrocities that go on arose the world." He and his wife have lived in Beaver County since November 2014, living on an acreage where he has fostered retired racing greyhounds. "As a result of this and my background, I am not afraid of hard work, long hours, and sticking to a job until it is done," stated Michaud. "As a father, grandfather and husband, I know the stresses put on 'average' Canadians. "I believe Canadians are ready - and need - to embrace fresh ideas of the People's Party of Canada (PPC) and we
Damien Kurek deserve a higher level of integrity from our government officials. "I believe in the party's principles of personal freedom, individual responsibility, fairness, and respect," Michaud concluded. "I try to live by these principles and advocate them in my daily life." The Green Party of Canada's candidate for Battle RiverCrowfoot is newcomer Geordie Nelson, who lives and works in Camrose. Geordie came from Ottawa as a teenager and lived with his military family in Wainwright. He is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta Augustana Campus, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science.
David Michaud He has lived in Camrose for the past eight years and now works at the campus as the Conference Services Coordinator. He is motivated to become the Green Party candidate due to his deep concern "about the environmental crisis our world is facing," states his bio on his website. "He believes Canada can be a world leader in shaping a more sustainable future. He is passionate about combating food waste, protecting wild places, green technology, indigenous reconciliation and building livable communities." He also states that "resilient rural communities in the Prairies connected to the land are essential for Canada's
future." As an artist, he designed the new logo for the local Battle River Watershed Association and does other volunteer work in the community. In Alberta, the federal Conservative Party of Canada and the People's Party of Canada have each fielded a complete slate of 34 candidates in all 34 ridings. Other parties are having difficulty filling their riding seats with the Green Party having 28 candidates out of 34 ridings to date, the NDP having filled 26 out of 34 riding nominations, and the Liberals having filled only 25 nominations out of 34. Note: No photo was available for NDP candidate Geordie Nelson at press time.