Hello readers,

Each candidate from constituency of Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre has been issued the same questionnaire. Their biographies and answers can be found below, in order of response. Our questionnaire had a limit of 500 words, and the bio 150. A / at the end indicates they went over the word limit.

The opinions and thoughts expressed by each candidate are their own, and are not endorsed by Pattison Media (94.5 REWIND Radio). Responses are not edited for grammar or spelling, and candidates are aware that we reserve the right to not publish comments which are hateful or discriminatory.

For more Alberta Election 2023 coverage, visit our dedicated Alberta Votes page.

—

Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) – Vance Buchwald

Biography

Vance is a retired fisheries biologist and understands the dangers the UCP’s reckless coal policy poses to our water and Rocky Mountains. As an avid community activist, Vance is a founder of the West County Sustainability Coalition, the Nordegg Trails Society, and a community member of the West Central Stakeholders. Vance lives in Nordegg and is focused on what matters to you: making sure you have access to a family doctor, building a resilient economy with good paying jobs, and making life more affordable.

1. What made you decide to run in this provincial election?

I first visited the area as a young child in the 1960s and loved the area.  I’ve hiked and backpacked extensively through much of the Eastern Slopes part of the constituency.  As a Fisheries biologist, I have worked on most of the rivers and lakes in the constituency.  I have made my home in Nordegg and I am passionate about the beautiful community I live in. I am passionate about working to improve our economy, while also protecting our largest resource — our natural spaces and watersheds. The UCP’s dangerous coal policy spurred me into running for the Alberta NDP, a party that values our Rocky Mountains.

2. What are the most important issues in this election, both provincially and in your riding specifically?

The biggest issues I am hearing about from folks in our community are also top issues provincially. We need to address the challenges in health care. The Alberta NDP’s Family Health Teams plan will ensure that every Albertan will have access to a family doctor. We will also launch the largest health-care recruitment campaign Alberta has ever seen.

We also need to repair the damage the UCP has inflicted on our education system. The Alberta NDP is committed to reducing class sizes and providing more support for students by hiring 4,000 teachers and 3,000 educational assistants and support staff.

We need to support our rural economy. Our economic plan will drive innovation, diversification, and jobs as we seek more value-added investments in areas such as food processing and agriculture.

3. What is your main message to voters and undecided voters?

If having a family doctor when and where you need one, and not having to pull out your credit card to access health care is important to you and your family, then the Alberta NDP is the party that will make sure you have a family doctor and will never make you pay to see your physician.

If quality education is top of mind then know that the Alberta NDP will fund public education, we will build public schools and we will put teachers in classrooms.

The Alberta NDP will support our rural economy and they will protect our beautiful Eastern Slopes.

—

Advantage Party of Alberta (APA) – Carol Nordlund Kinsey

Biography

I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I have served as a Marriage Commissioner since 2014.

I consider myself a passionate Albertan. I believe in our greatness. and our ability to thrive and prosper. I believe that we have more to offer the citizens of this great land than is being delivered by our current government or the Laurentian Elites and their shills.

“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” I heard this quote from John Lewis, a 1960’s civil rights leader in the US. It spoke to my heart and soul. I knew it was my call to action.

In early 2021, I had the pleasure of meeting our leader Marilyn Burns. I listen to her thoughts on what she believed Alberta could become if just given the opportunity. I knew I had found my political home with the Advantage Party.

1. What made you decide to run in this provincial election?

I was not happy with our current MLA. During the Pandemic we were ignored. Our pleas for relief went unnoticed.  As the president of the Advantage Party, I was hearing from people that what the province was going through was nothing short of tyranny and I saw no effort on his part to fight on our behalf.  In advance of this election suddenly we received 4 mailouts about how much he had done for us. My question was what you have done for us because I certainly didn’t see any relief.  That was the impetus that drove me to run.

2. What are the most important issues in this election, both provincially and in your riding specifically?

The most important issue facing Albertan’s right now is the encroachment of Ottawa on our natural resources, agriculture, healthcare, and our way of life. Alberta was set up to be subservient to the Laurentian Elites. The current government officials are beholden to the World Economic Forum and the One World Government. Albertan’s need protect to themselves from the infringement of these Globalists who want to relegate us to 15-minute cities, beehive apartments, and digital currency that will demand the government monitor every place we attend and every penny we spend.

I believe Albertans have it in them to resist this encroachment on our lifestyle and our resources and the ability to protect the province from bureaucratic overreach.

3. What is your main message to voters and undecided voters?

Listen to the candidates and follow your heart. Within the Rimbey/Rocky Mountain House/Sundre riding, the vote UCP to avoid an NDP majority is a fear mongering narrative.  In the last election the NDP had a 9% vote share. In the 2015 Election, the NDP got its highest vote share at 16.8% and the election in 2012 the vote share was 5.2%. While vote splitting in other constituencies may be an issue it is not within the Rimbey/Rocky Mountain House/Sundre Riding.

—

Independent (IND) – Fred Schwieger

Biography

Fred Schwieger was born and raised in Bluffton, Alberta and has remained in the rural area.  Together with his wife, they have 5 children.  They have been homeschooling for 9 years.  Fred has a small business and owns farmland.  He ran heavy equipment, worked in the oil and gas sector, and has a portable lumber mill.  Fred is running as an Independent for the Rimbey/ Rocky Mountain House/ Sundre Constituency because he sees how things are in Alberta and wants to make a difference for the constituency, and for all Albertans. Fred has seen how the Political Party structure does not work, and wants to represent this Constituency without a party whip, and without a party between you and the work that you need him to do in the Legislature.  Fred will be your voice.

1. What made you decide to run in this provincial election?

I do not feel that the residents of this constituency are being listened to.  I feel they need a new voice.  As a Father of 5, and loving husband, I see that Alberta is on a dangerous path and I do not want that for my children or for yours.  I feel that I have done enough complaining about the current situations and decided to stand up and run in this Provincial Election.

2. What are the most important issues in this election, both provincially and in your riding specifically?

The system we live in today is government rules over the people. The system we should and are meant to have is a government that represents the people.  I feel that it is very important that we move back to a Province and Constituency where we have more community and less government.  I live rural and a one blanket education does not work for all.  What works in Calgary will not work in a rural setting.  We have different cultures and ways of life.  The same goes for health care.  A top down structure does not work, and AHS needs an overhaul.  I feel that it is time to admit community is more important than government.

3. What is your main message to voters and undecided voters?

Voting for either UCP or NDP has not worked in the past.  It is time for a change.  I feel that the government takes two steps backward and one step forward and nothing ever gets done.  I am running as an Independent, with no party, and no party whip.  I speak for you.

—

Independent (IND) – Tim Hoven 

Biography

No biography provided

1. What made you decide to run in this provincial election?

I decided to run as an independent conservative candidate after talking and listening to many fellow constituents.  Many people felt that the way that the system currently works is that the MLA had become Edmonton’s voice to the people, not the people’s voice to Edmonton.  I believe it is time to fix things and put the system the right side up.  I believe in people over politics, and that the local people are vastly more important than the words of a party policy manual.

2. What are the most important issues in this election, both provincially and in your riding specifically?

I decided to run as an independent conservative candidate after talking and listening to many fellow constituents.  Many people felt that the way that the system currently works is that the MLA had become Edmonton’s voice to the people, not the people’s voice to Edmonton.  I believe it is time to fix things and put the system the right side up.  I believe in people over politics, and that the local people are vastly more important than the words of a party policy manual.

3. What is your main message to voters and undecided voters?

If you are undecided about who to vote for, please know that you can vote for a conservative candidate who believes in putting people over politics.  I believe in strong families, prosperous local communities, peaceful secure lives and individual rights, freedoms and responsibilities.  A vote for Tim Hoven is a vote for you, your families and your local communities. Visit timhoven.com for more information.

—

United Conservative Party (UCP) – Jason Nixon – has not submitted responses

Wildrose Loyalty Coalition (WLC) – Tami Tatlock – has not submitted responses