Candidates address concerns at provincial election forum

Candidates are promising to fight for more affordable housing and reduce health-care shortages in Red Deer if they’re elected on March 3.

During an election forum Tuesday night that drew about 150 people, provincial candidates were asked how they would help those who are struggling with rising rents.

Diane Kubanek, Liberal candidate for Red Deer South, said her party would introduce rental controls.

“We would also put a moratorium on condo conversions so that rental units stay on the market,” said Kubanek inside the Red Deer Lodge meeting room.

But Red Deer South’s Progressive Conservative candidate Cal Dallas said rent controls aren’t the solution to tenant woes.

“It will put the brakes on investment in affordable housing projects, right across the province,” Dallas said. “It will be years before we catch up.”

The Tory plan aims to create 11,000 affordable housing spaces in Red Deer over five years, he added.

Mary Anne Jablonski, Tory incumbent for Red Deer North, said one community in B.C. restricts the number of condo developments, according to population and other factors.

“I think I would ask municipalities to determine the number of condos we could saturate our communities with,” she said. “And maybe have building permits go along with building those condos.”

Health care is also suffering in Red Deer, said a support worker from Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

“We are 400 people short in our hospital,” said the woman. “We struggle every day to support all the patients . . . The doctors and nurses get all of the support. What about us?”

“I am not aware of what wage level support workers are at,” replied Jablonski. “But I would hope, because you are represented by a union, that they are doing a good job for you. And that they will bring that issue to the table for us.”

Urz Lehner, Wildrose Alliance candidate for Red Deer North, said he’s heard of other shortages involving support staff and yet the PC government has failed to adequately address this systemic problem.

Red Deer North New Democrat candidate Shawn Nielsen said these workers deserve a “fair amount of funding.”

“If you don’t pay somebody enough, a lot of people won’t go in that industry,” Nielsen said.

Richard Farrand, Liberal candidate for Red Deer North, said the Liberals would eliminate health-care premiums immediately if elected to power.

The Wildrose Alliance would make the change within 30 days of forming the next government.

“We see it as a tax,” said Ed Klop, the party’s candidate in Red Deer South.

The PC proposal to phase out premiums over four years is justified, according to Dallas.

“You can’t take $800-plus million a year out of the existing budget in one whack,” said Dallas, followed by applause from the mainly Tory crowd.

Rueben Tschetter, Green Party candidate for Red Deer North, said he’d rather see the premiums decreased instead of being wiped out completely.

“For people, like myself, who are sometimes underneath the poverty line, we don’t have to pay. Maybe that poverty line could be upped a little to help more people out.”

Green Party candidate Evan Bedford for Red Deer South didn’t speak to the health care or affordable housing issues. He encouraged voters to learn as much as they can about Alberta’s “uncertain energy future.”

NDP candidate Teresa Bryanton for Red Deer South was absent.

Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com