Lethbridge-West Candidate Profile – Karri Flatla – United Conservative Party

Where do you stand on the Supervised Consumption Site, and how do you believe the drug crisis in Lethbridge can best be resolved?

“It’s clear that there was not adequate consultation with local business, law enforcement, first responders, and the community at large, prior to the opening of the SCS. Instead of punishing families, businesses, and first responders, we must find practical and compassionate solutions to help those trapped by the cycle of addiction. A United Conservative government would treat those living with addictions and mental health conditions with compassion. A UCP government will invest $100 million over four years to implement a Mental Health and Addictions Strategy which will ensure early intervention through primary care centers, an expansion of home care supports, and expansion of community programs to facilitate early intervention. We will also support First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples by establishing a continuum of addictions and mental health services, ensuring jurisdictional disputes do not disrupt service provision. A United Conservative government also recognizes that an opioid epidemic exists, which constitutes a public health emergency. We would appoint an Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions and invest $40 million over four years to launch an Opioid Response Strategy. A United Conservative government would establish a dedicated opioid enforcement team, within the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), to target aggressive investigation and disruption of opioid manufacturing and dealing. United Conservatives want to see those with addictions helped, but they also want their parks, neighbourhoods and communities to be safe. We will take a sensible, targeted, and compassionate approach to the issue of supervised consumption sites.”

Lethbridge has been sheltered compared to other parts of the province when it comes to the economic downturn, but jobs remain a key issue in this election.

What is your party proposing when it comes to economic issues and what policy, in particular, are you championing as something that will help the people of Lethbridge?

“We have put forward an ambitious plan that will get Alberta back to work. A UCP government will repeal the NDP’s job-killing carbon tax, reduce corporate tax rates by a third over four years, and likewise reduce red tape by a third. I’m particularly proud of our Red Tape Reduction Action Plan. Small business is the backbone of the economy in Lethbridge. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) estimates that red tape burden costs business $6744 per employee, so we take this issue very seriously. We plan to set up a Red Tape Challenge website to gather ideas and feedback directly from the community on this issue.”

How can you take the positive experiences in Lethbridge when it comes to a diversified economy and try to translate that to the whole province?

“The NDP’s attempt to diversify the economy by way of corporate welfare has not only failed, but it’s also an unfair risk to the Alberta taxpayer. The most effective way to diversify an economy is to show investors and entrepreneurs that we are “open for business.” Our Open for Business Act achieves just that. That is, we will create an environment that is both tax-competitive and without excessive regulatory burden. This will compel investors to choose Alberta, stay in Alberta, and hire Albertans.”

How do you view the health care system in the province in 2019, and what would your party do if elected to improve it?

“The United Conservative Party has committed to a Public Health Care guarantee that would maintain or increase health care spending. We would also seek to find greater efficiencies within the system to get better results for Albertans. Over the years, our spending has increased to record levels while outcomes have declined. We are spending more and getting less. This is why a United Conservative government will conduct a full performance review of AHS. We must start looking for and implementing new solutions to old problems. Front line workers have told us that inefficiencies are having a direct and negative impact on their ability to care for patients. We will find savings in the administration and reallocate those resources to our critical front lines. Managers managing managers is not working. We would also reduce surgical wait times to no more than four months in four years by replicating elements of the highly successful Saskatchewan model for health care reform, the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative (SSI).”

From three weeks of the polar vortex to grass fires at the start of spring, Lethbridge and Southern Alberta are bearing the brunt of climate change.

Where does your party rank dealing with the climate as an issue and what are your plans to protect the agriculture and farming industries that will be impacted?

“A UCP government would introduce a new Technology Innovation and Emissions Reductions (TIER) program for large industrial emitters in Alberta, effective January 1, 2020. This will be an improved system to manage emissions from Alberta’s large industries (including oil and gas and electricity generation) which are responsible for about 60% of Alberta’s greenhouse gas emissions. We will reinvest tens of millions of dollars from TIER in reducing carbon emissions even further, including new and improved oil sands extraction technology and supporting research and investment in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).”

Southern Alberta has been described as a leader when it comes to green energy, from wind turbines to solar panels.

Will you commit to keeping and improving Energy Efficiency Alberta, and if not, what are your plans for the industry?

“Two-thirds of Albertans have expressed consistent opposition to the NDP’s carbon tax and so-called Climate Leadership Plan. We don’t need the government to change light bulbs for its citizens. We need the government to foster a free enterprise economy that sustains both private sector employment and critical public sector services.”

Recently comments have emerged from candidates about homophobia, white nationalism, and anti-muslim/refugee rhetoric.

What is your party doing to raise tolerance and civility in regard to public office, and what are your views on the LGBTQ community?

“The United Conservative Party is based in the principles of pluralism, tolerance, and inclusion. It doesn’t matter what your background is, where you come from, or who you love, we are open and supportive of all Albertans. We believe in, support, and will defend the fundamental rights of Alberta’s LGBTQ communities. It’s why we will enshrine the protection of a student’s right to GSAs and peer support groups in the Education Act. We know how important this is to kids and the LGBTQ community and we are 100% supportive of them. On the matter of civility in government, the NDP has demonstrated no interest in civility during this election, and while in government they certainly weren’t reaching across the aisle to work together for bipartisan causes. Their campaign has been one of fear-mongering and a continuous insult to hardworking Albertans. This is not who we are as a province. If elected, we will amend the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly to raise the bar of civility and decorum, banning “desk thumping” in the Legislative Assembly.”

by Aaron Mahoney

Lethbridge-West Candidate Profile – Karri Flatla – United Conservative Party

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