Rural Albertans will need to work harder to have their voices heard in a new government that will have fewer rural Alberta members, said the chair of Alberta Beef Producers.
When the votes were counted the Progressive Conservatives held onto 62 seats, but the Wildrose grabbed 17 seats, mostly in rural ridings.
Rural politicians used to working closely with the governing Conservative party will need to work harder to grab the attention of urban politicians, said Sawyer.
“We’re going to have to work hard to educate the non-rural guys about the rural. It puts a lot of extra work for us in ag and we’ll have to spend more time in Edmonton and get these people up to speed about what our needs are,” said Sawyer.
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Having a stronger opposition that will bring forth rural issues may turn out to be a benefit, said Sawyer, who said he was disappointed two former ABP chairs Arno Doerksen and Darcy Davis failed to get elected in their southern Alberta ridings.
“They were great representatives for rural and agriculture,” said Sawyer.
“In rural Alberta, people were looking for a change and a balance in the house.”
Colleen Boddez, head of the Alberta Landowners Council, which is opposing controversial land and property bills, said she was disappointed with the results and will have to think about the next step.
“For now, we have to stop and think about how we are going to move forward. We’re going to have to reflect on it.”
Boddez said in areas where land issues became an election issue, the Wildrose candidates won. She hopes the loss of rural seats sends a message to the government to continue to amend the land issue bills and realize rural Albertans are angry.
Lynn Jacobson, president of the Wild Rose Alberta Producers believes a stronger opposition, especially from rural members, will bring rural issues forward.
“It might be a better way of putting the issues before government,” said Jacobson.
“It’s going to be an interesting dynamic. It will make for a more lively government,” said Jacobson, who said their general farm organization will work with all parties to bring rural issues to government.
“We’re willing to work with the government of the day, but we will also be in more contact with the opposition.”
Bob Barss, chair of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, said the government lost a lot of experienced cabinet ministers in the election, especially members from rural Alberta. Many politicians started as rural councillors and moved to the provincial level and took with them a strong understanding of rural issues, he said.
Defeated candidates and former agriculture ministers Jack Hayden and Evan Berger started their careers as rural councillors.
“It will be a different face on rural Alberta with Wildrose picking up a lot of prominent rural seats,” said Barss of Wainwright.
Barss said they have a good working relationship with the premier and expect that won’t change.
“In all our conversations with her she has been very positive. It’s our job as the AAMD&C to continue to work with the government and continue to work with the premier and show her the needs of rural Alberta.”
