UCP leadership candidates backed by Southern Alberta MLAs

LNN has reached out to seven MLAs representing communities across Southern Alberta to see who they think would make the best party leader and premier.

Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf

Neudorf has previously said he is backing Danielle Smith, although he had also considered Toews and Schulz.

During a speech in Lethbridge on July 27, 2022, he compared Smith to the main character in the film Top Gun: Maverick, who chooses to rise above a mistake and correct an error.

“I really appreciate the walk that Danielle has had over the past six or seven years, the humility that she’s gained, the perspective,” says Neudorf. “She has developed a fulsome platform, she has vision and direction and I believe she is learning humility, how to listen and work with all of us.”

Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow

Schow says he believes that Travis Toews would be best suited to lead Alberta into the future.

“I feel that his fiscal track record, conservative principles, and leadership ability are what we need to keep our economy moving forward,” says Schow.

The MLA highlighted the fact that there have been nine consecutive months of job growth in the province and the unemployment rate is below the national average.

“I feel that Travis is the best person to keep this momentum going. Now is the time to be fiscally restrained rather than increase spending and risk even worse inflation outcomes.”

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes

While Barnes was re-elected in 2019 as a member of the newly-formed UCP, he now sits as an independent MLA.

He told LNN that he is not endorsing anyone at this time because he believes none of the candidates have truly aligned themselves with the values of Cypress-Medicine Hat citizens.

“We are against helping Justin Trudeau destroy our oil and gas industry with a movement to net zero emissions, destroy our agricultural business with a 30% reduction in fertilizer use, and we believe in lower taxes, smaller government and individual opportunity,” says Barnes. “If I believe any of the candidates start to advocate for these things, I will consider a public endorsement.”

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey

Frey is lending her support to Rebecca Schulz because she says Alberta needs “generational leadership” heading into the 2023 provincial election.

“I know her to be a common-sense conservative who sticks to her values, even when things get hard. I appreciated the leadership she has provided in standing up to Ottawa in the last three years,” says Frey.

At the same time, Frey told LNN that Albertans are “spoiled for choice” in the UCP leadership race with many great candidates on the ballot.

Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter

A spokesperson from Hunter’s office told LNN in a brief statement that the MLA is endorsing Travis Toews.

The seven party leadership candidates will take part in the second official debate at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Edmonton. The debate will be live streamed on the UCP website.

LNN has yet to receive a response from Livingstone-Macleod MLA Roger Reid and Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips.

by David Opinko

UCP leadership candidates backed by Southern Alberta MLAs

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