Agriculture took a back seat to health and education topics, but property rights, water and supply management were among issues addressed by Alberta’s six Progressive Conservative leadership hopefuls at an Aug. 25 Lethbridge forum.
Doug Griffiths, Doug Horner, Gary Mar, Ted Morton, Rick Orman and Alison Redford spoke to a crowd of more than 400 who came to assess the person likely to become the province’s next premier.
Orman said he would repeal the contentious Land Stewardship Act, legislation that many rural landowners fear could limit or eliminate property rights in cases where land is needed for utility lines or roads.
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Mar and Redford said they would suspend the act pending greater dialogue and review, with Mar noting that legitimate concerns have been raised. Griffiths said changes could make the act more palatable.
“Every single one of them has some improvement that needed to be made,” said Griffiths about the LSA and other contentious bills dealing with land, electrical transmission lines and carbon capture.
“But there are mistakes in these pieces of legislation.”
He suggested a panel of landowners and experts determine how the bills could be improved.
“None of this legislation will work if Albertans aren’t behind it,” said Redford.
Horner said he would fix any situation in which an Albertan loses the right to compensation as a result of the LSA. Morton, an architect of the bills while minister of sustainable resources, said he has always worked hard to protect property rights and believes current legislation will advance them.
The six candidates agreed on the provincial Water for Life action plan, a blueprint for safeguarding safe drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems and a reliable supply.
“We’ve talked about the strategy long enough,” said Horner. “We do need to kick it up a notch.”
He said cost has hindered progress, but the debate should instead be about the value of implementing the strategy.
Orman agreed, but said he is not in favour of outright support for water co-operatives unless there is fiscal responsibility.
Morton said water management is a key element in land stewardship plans that are now being developed.
Candidates were unanimous in their support of supply management, but Mar said the system is within federal rather than provincial scope so candidates’ views on the topic were largely irrelevant.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” said Mar. Unanimity was also evident on federal government plans to eliminate the single desk from the Canadian Wheat Board.
Griffiths, Horner, Redford and Morton spoke in favour of the marketing choice that it would offer to farmers, with Morton suggesting it would bring opportunities for value-added enterprises.
Mar said government needs to ensure farmers have the resources, skills and ability to compete in a post-single desk environment and Orman said government has a role to play in preventing any market chaos that may result.
Progressive Conservative party members will vote on a new leader Sept. 17. If no single candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, a second ballot will be held Oct. 1. If the latter is needed, a preferential ballot will be used with voters indicating a first and second choice.
