Lethbridge-West candidates, (L to R) Shannon Phillips, Patricia Chizek, and Cheryl Seaborn, answered questions about seniors’ issues at a forum on Friday, May 5, 2023. (Photo: Christian Oldale)

By Sarah Jones with files from Christian Oldale

Seniors’ issues in focus at Lethbridge-West candidates forum

May 7, 2023 | 5:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – On Friday, May 5, 2023, three out of the four Lethbridge-West provincial election candidates took part in a forum to answer questions focused on issues impacting seniors.

New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate, Shannon Phillips, United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate, Cheryl Seaborn, and Alberta Liberal Party candidate, Patricia Chizek took part in the event at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO). Braham Laddu, candidate for the Alberta Party, was not present.

Topics addressed at the forum included public health care, housing and affordability for seniors.

Phillips, who is running for re-election in Lethbridge-West, opened the forum by sharing the NDP’s commitment to ensuring health care is available for all Albertans.

Phillips said, “I literally talked to someone this afternoon [May 5], when I was canvassing outside Simon Fraser Boulevard, who just moved here to take a job and start his life and start his family.”

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

She added, “Not only do they not have a family doctor, but they want to have a baby and they cannot find an OBGYN. Tens of thousands of people are in that situation here in this city. That is unnecessary. It is a question of leadership and priorities and is something Alberta’s NDP will get to work on right away.”

READ MORE: Shannon Phillips: NDP candidate for Lethbridge-West

In Chizek’s opening statement, she informed the crowd that Alberta needs other voices and believes the best thing that could happen in the province is to have a minority government.

She went on to indicate that seniors in Alberta have earned proper care by working hard and paying taxes.

“I remember talking with a young person, and they said why should we even worry about seniors? Well, number one, you are eventually going to become a senior and number two, seniors don’t deserve it, they’ve earned it,” said Chizek.

“They have earned [the right] to be taken care of, not to be ignored. In approximately 15 to 16 years, one out of four people in this province is going to be a senior.”

She added, “We have to act now to make sure that we have the appropriate places, staffing in need.”

READ MORE: Patricia Chizek: Liberal candidate for Lethbridge-West

UCP candidate, Cheryl Seaborn began by noting that as part of her career as a nurse, she had seen the needs of seniors firsthand.

“I have advocated for senior care within the health realm for years. I’ve gone into your homes, I’ve sat at bedsides and I’ve talked to the families, and I’ve done all that I can to serve and to help in all of the various situations that I find people in,” said Seaborn.

READ MORE: Cheryl Seaborn: UCP candidate for Lethbridge-West

Over the course of the forum, seniors were able to ask questions, including ones focused on party plans for a senior’s advocate strategy, retirement, transportation and accessibility, as well as health care.

Phillips, Chizek and Seaborn spoke with LNN prior to the forum, highlighting several points they plan to address if elected. A forum for candidates running in the riding of Lethbridge-East was held on April 24, 2023, at the Nord-Bridge Seniors Centre.

The UCP’s Nathan Neudorf and the NDP’s Rob Miyashiro answered several questions with topics ranging from affordability to home care for seniors.

READ MORE: Lethbridge East candidates answer questions about seniors’ issues

The provincial election is scheduled to be held on May 29, 2023.

Those wanting to learn more about each of the individual candidates running can visit the LethbridgeNewsNow website, AB Votes section.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.