(Facebook/PA Federal Liberal Association) Estelle Hjertaas was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate for the Prince Albert riding Thursday.

By Glenn Hicks

general election

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A Prince Albert Legal Aid lawyer aims to become the first federally elected Liberal in the city since 1993. Estelle Hjertaas has been confirmed by the party as their candidate in the Prince Albert riding for the October general election.

Hjertaas said her main reasons for running were her proven track record of helping people in P.A. and area, and because she believed Justin Trudeau and the Liberals were on the right path.

“We are the best team to represent Canadians,“ she told paNOW. “We have invested in terms of families through the Canada child benefit, action on climate change, supporting better health care and home care for seniors, having an affordable housing strategy, and new opportunities we’ve announced for training.”

Asked if she thought the so-called Trudeaumania of 2015 had waned, she said she had 100 per cent confidence in Justin Trudeau as the party leader and the Liberals were now running on a record, not against former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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“It’s always normal that a government and a leader loses a bit of their shine over time … ultimately people do of course care who the leader is, but it also matters who the local candidate is,” she said. “I think I can show people that I’m dedicated and will continue to work hard for this community and I actually care about the people here.”

Asked where she expected to secure votes in the fall election, Hjertaas said the Liberal government had been working a lot with First Nations and Metis communities in the riding, and she also hoped to attract youth and first-time voters.

If she’s to break the Conservative political grip on the Prince Albert riding Hjertaas may find the issue of crime and what to do about it a challenging prospect on some door steps during her campaigning. As a Legal Aid lawyer, her direct proximity to the realities facing many marginalized people gives her a unique perspective, and she had a message for the Conservatives and their ‘tough on crime’ platform.

“I think the Conservative approach to crime is completely short-sighted and doesn’t address the cause of the crime,” she said. “I think as someone who literally talks to people who are committing crimes, every single day, I actually understand why they’re committing crimes. People who are happy, loved and secure don’t become addicts and don’t commit crime.”

Hjertaas said she planned to take a leave of absence from her job to campaign across the riding.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow