By Nigel Maxwell

Kirkby ready to take on all challengers

Aug 7, 2015 | 6:25 AM

The Liberal candidate for the Prince Albert riding wants to make it clear that the race in his riding will not be a Conservative/NDP showdown.

“If Randy Hoback and Lon Borgerson think this will be a two horse race, than they are in for a big, fat surprise,” said Gordon Kirkby.

The former Prince Albert mayor spoke Thursday night at a special meeting at the Best Western Inn, where he was officially acclaimed.

A crowd of roughly 30 people came out to show their support.

During his opening address, Kirkby wasted no time attacking the Conservative government’s tough on crime bill, saying the people in the Prince Albert riding don’t feel safe. Speaking with reporters after, Kirkby questioned Hoback’s leadership.

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“You know we see the explosion of the crime rate, we see murders, what do we hear from him,”” said Kirkby.

Kirkby told the crowd that with the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences, judges have lost the power to issue conditional sentences.  Kirkby said many of the people getting locked away could be managed in the community, and are “taking up the places of people who do pose a risk.”

Kirkby said Harper’s fight on terror has taken away valuable resources needed by the RCMP to conduct criminal record checks.

Kirkby also attacked the government’s Fair Elections Act, saying it has made it more difficult for many people to vote.  

Based on the electoral history in this riding, Kirkby may need as many people to vote as possible.

At the end of the 2011 election, Conservative Incumbent Randy Hoback won by more nearly 10,000 votes.  In the election prior to that, Hoback won by nearly 8,000 votes. 

When asked how he plans to narrow the gap, Kirkby told reporters he is not concerned about the past.

“You know the time before I won the last election, the NDP had won the election by 13,000 votes over the Liberals, so I’m no stranger to tall orders,” said Kirkby.

Kirkby’s attacks were not limited to the Conservative government, he also criticized the NDP for speaking to whatever best appealed to the crowd they were addressing.  Kirkby said the NDP promises have varied from language to language.

He said the Liberal party Leader, Justin Trudeau, has been “consistent in both languages” and would represent the best interests of the middle class by reducing taxes.

Kirkby said the key to getting the economy is to get people spending money.

Kirkby has been out of the political game since 1997, when he lost the election to Derrek Conrad of the Reform party.  That was the same year the former riding of Prince Albert – Churchill River was restructured into the current Prince Albert riding.

When asked about his return, Kirkby said he was encouraged by a number of people to run again.  He said he felt he could no longer sit by and watch as the country’s economy faltered and crime rates exploded.

“If you have the ability to make some change then I think it’s incumbent upon someone to step forward,” he said.

Kirkby said his first order of business is getting his campaign organized in the riding, including the opening of his campaign office. 

There are now four candidates in the Prince Albert riding: Gordon Kirkby(Lib), Randy Hoback(Conservative), Lon Borgerson(NDP), Byron Tenkink(Green Party).

nmaxwell@panow.com

Follow on Twitter: @nigelmaxwell