The Choice before Albertans in 2019 (Part 1)

In May 2015 the people of Alberta were faced with a choice at the ballot box and they surprised the pundits by choosing an NDP government, despite all the predictions that the Progressive Conservatives would add to their 44 year term in office. Now, almost four years later, the Premier has indicated that she will hold the election in the Spring of 2019 and again ask the people of Alberta for their vote. Current polls show that the United Conservative Party and the New Democrat Party are the two contenders for government, with the New Democrats trailing in many of those polls. The former government’s party, the Progressive Conservatives, no longer exist but other parties intending to run for seats, if not government include the Alberta Party, the Alberta Liberal Party, the Freedom Conservative Party and the Green Party of Alberta. With so many parties vying for the voters, what will structure the vote choice? The speaker will contend that the 2019 election will provide a clear choice between two visions of Alberta and the election will prove to be a more important one than the 2015 one was. Speaker: Hon. Shannon Phillips, Minister of Environment, Parks and Climate Change Shannon Phillips was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta on May 5, 2015 representing the constituency of Lethbridge-West. On May 24, 2015, Ms. Phillips was sworn in to cabinet as Minister of Environment and Parks. On February 2, 2016, Ms. Phillips was also named the Minister Responsible for the Climate Change Office. Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, she worked with the Alberta Federation of Labour as a policy analyst for five years. She also spent five years as a member of the board of directors for the Womanspace Resource Centre, a not for profit organization that provides resources, referrals and education to the community and to individual women. In 1999 she received a bachelor of arts with honours in political science and in 2002 she completed her master of arts, both at the University of Alberta. Together with her two sons Ms. Phillips resides in Lethbridge, Alberta. Moderator: Bobbi Cullum Date: Thursday, Jan 17, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required