Subscribe to our daily newsletter

MLA’s prepare for the election

May 23, 2011 | 8:30 AM

Session has wrapped up in the provincial legislature, and MLA’s are already looking to the fall election.

“We’ve been doing some stuff in Prince Albert, done some door knocking,” said Darryl Hickie, MLA for Prince Albert Carlton.

“Over the summer and into the fall I will for sure be at the doors a lot more, and I will be attending every event in Prince Albert that I can get my hands onto.”

He said he plans to talk to people about all the things his government has done in the past four years, but also listen to their concerns.

“As a government we would never profess to know everything that’s best for our constituents and for the province,” he said, explaining they need to take advice from the constituents.

Darcy Furber has also started down the campaign trail.

“This summer is going to be spent meeting with people and chatting with them on their doorstep about these issues and taking them back, so we can finalize our platform for the election,” said the MLA for Prince Albert Northcote.

Both Prince Albert MLA’s brought up many of the same issues that should come out during the election. Housing, potash royalties and healthcare were in the topics, but the two men had differing options.

Hickie pushed home ownership, while Furber said Prince Albertans need rent control, explaining 40 per cent of residents rent apartments.

Hickie said the government wants to take the Saskatchewan Advantage to the next level, with increased jobs and healthcare funding.

Furber said, especially with all the strikes and strike votes this spring, people are not happy with their current government – it’s something his party hopes will be advantageous.

“I think that when you’ve been mistreated by a government those are the types of things you remember at election time,” he said, adding some of the groups might be teachers, healthcare workers, corrections workers and Aboriginal peoples.

Other faces that might be popping up in the coming weeks are NDP candidate for Prince Albert Carlton, Ted Zurakowswki and Sask. Party candidate for Prince Albert Northcote, Victoria Jurgens.

It is still early in the campaigning process – election night is Nov. 7.

klavoie@panow.com