The seven candidates vying to become the next leader of the United Conservative Party and premier of Alberta are set to address health, the economy and other key issues in their first debate tonight.
They are due to meet in Medicine Hat for the first of two debates scheduled before Oct. 6, when party members vote on who should replace Premier Jason Kenney.
The debate will be moderated by former Calgary councilor Jeff Davison and will focus on unity, leadership and the environment. The debate begins at 5 pm MT and will be broadcast live on the UCP website.
Candidates include former cabinet ministers Travis Toews, Rebecca Schulz, Rajan Sawhney and Leela Aheer.
Current Legislature members Brian Jean and Todd Loewen are also in the race, as is former Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith.
This is the only debate scheduled before the crucial August 12 deadline for members to sign up if they want to vote in the leadership contest. The final debate is set for August 30 in Edmonton.
The candidates have already released policy positions and promises on some of the issues that will be discussed, including health care.
Smith has pledged to introduce $300 health savings accounts for alternative services not covered by insurance, such as dentists and chiropractors.
He is also expected to face renewed criticism and questions from other candidates in recent podcast comments in which he said responsibility for early-stage cancer lies in the patient’s control. Fellow candidates have described it as deeply uninformed and insulting.
Toews and Schulz promise to create incentives to hire more health professionals and to streamline and reduce bureaucracy in health management.
On the economy, with Alberta running a $3.9 billion surplus last fiscal year, the candidates are proposing ways to help people deal with rising costs due to inflation.
Jean, who has said Albertans are facing a price hike at the gas pump, is promising to temporarily limit price margins if they are substantially higher than other provinces.
Sawhney has said he would deliver monthly checks of at least $75 to households while oil prices remain high to help families struggling with inflation.
Healing rifts within the party and with Albertans will also be in the spotlight.
Aheer was removed from Kenney’s cabinet a year ago after criticizing his actions on COVID-19. He said that support cannot be demanded by a leader, but must be achieved through respect and collaboration.
Loewen, who was voted out of Kenney’s caucus in the spring of 2021 to call for his resignation, has said that rebuilding unity with a more collaborative leader is also a central point of his platform.