Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips is reflecting on 2023 and what she plans to focus on heading into the new year. (Photo: LNN)

By David Opinko

Year In Review: Shannon Phillips, MLA for Lethbridge-West

Dec 29, 2023 | 4:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – 2023 has been a year of ups and downs for one of the city’s MLAs.

Shannon Phillips, the member for Lethbridge-West, spoke to Lethbridge News Now about the year that was and what she is looking forward to in the 12 months ahead.

She said her biggest highlight of the year was getting re-elected for a third term in May’s provincial election.

Phillips called it one of the biggest campaigns the Alberta NDP has ever run in the city.

“One of the benefits of having such a large campaign in May is we were able to make connections with tens of thousands of people across the city,” said Phillips. “We have deepened our friendships, our knowledge, our sort of finger on the pulse of what’s an issue now and what could become an issue later.”

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Now about to enter her ninth year as an elected politician, she said she has enjoyed getting to know the community and learning what peoples’ priorities are.

Largely, she believed that those priorities and concerns have not changed over the last several years.

“A good solid public healthcare system that’s there when you need it hasn’t changed. Certainly, an education system where the classrooms are not overflowing at the seams, where the right supports are there for every child so every child can succeed in the system as is funded to do so, that hasn’t changed,” said Phillips.

The MLA also pointed to other positive happenings in Lethbridge this past year such as the completion of the Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre, as well as the University of Lethbridge hiring Dr. Digvir Jayas as its new President and Vice-Chancellor.

However, it was not all good news for Lethbridge and Alberta, as Phillips pointed to decisions by the governing United Conservative Party (UCP).

She said some issues, such as the lack of healthcare professionals, has not changed.

“Then, we have some issues that have gotten worse,” added Phillips. “The affordability crisis has gotten worse, peoples’ utility bills have gotten bigger, the bite of inflation has gotten worse. Car insurance, school fees, all of those things have gotten more.”

Phillips called out the UCP and Premier Danielle Smith for what she said was an attempt to “gamble” with Albertans’ pensions. Smith has advocated for Alberta leaving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and creating its own provincial equivalent.

“Danielle Smith lied to Albertans. They lied to people in Lethbridge and they lied to people everywhere else in the province when they said they did not have plans to gamble with our CPP. Not three months after being elected, out they bust with an $8 million ad campaign that we paid for, a fake report to justify taking away our CPP in a system that has been roundly dismissed by experts and ordinary Albertans alike.”

Heading into 2024, Phillips said her priorities will likely not change too much. She said she is expecting to focus heavily on the proposed CPP exit, healthcare, education, holding the UCP government accountable, and continuing to speak with residents in Lethbridge.

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