NDP MLAs spend summer battling their urban image

Alberta’s NDP government started the summer acknowledging it had work to do countering feelings of rural alienation bubbling up across the province.

With cabinet set to meet face-toface in Edmonton for the first time this week since July 11, Municipal Affairs Minister Shaye Anderson says many ministers did prioritize visits to rural communities, crisscrossing to small towns where the NDP is perceived as a city-centred party.

“A lot of people up north and down south feel forgotten,” he said. “They have unique circumstances they’re in.”

Anderson, who served as the NDP’s lead on rural outreach, said in the last six weeks he made pit stops in about 30 communities ranging from La Crete, a hamlet in northern Alberta, to Medicine Hat, nearly 1,200 km to the south. His visits covered a spectrum of topics, ranging from the effects of marijuana legalization on municipalities to rural broadband.

“When we’re in session we see a lot of folks in Edmonton, so I wanted to get out,” Anderson noted.

Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous spent the last week of August in areas hard hit by the government’s coal phase-out plan — Hanna, Forestburg, Parkland County and Leduc County.

“This period of transition has caused a lot of anxiety and stress ... We want them to know we’ve got their backs,” he said. “They need to hear from government directly.”

Bilous’s summer also included trips outside the province to Tacoma, Wash., to discuss the provincial implications of NAFTA re-negotiations and a stop in Silicon Valley to promote U.S.-Alberta trade.

“We are turning a corner; the economy is starting to rebound,” he said. “We want to put Alberta on the map; it is the best place to invest.”

United Conservative Party interim leader Nathan Cooper said rural communities still feel ignored.

“They have a lot of concerns … particularly about not seeing government,” he said Friday. “We’ve spent a lot of time this summer travelling the province and listening to Albertans and trying to get a sense of where they are at.”

The government’s climate change strategy and the carbon tax are particularly contentious, he added.

“We heard there is still a lot of fear and concern round the direction or the role the government is taking on the economy or jobs.”

Seniors and Housing Minister Lori Sigurdson said she toured across Alberta visiting towns including

A lot of people up north and down south feel forgotten. They have unique circumstances they’re in.

Peace River, Athabasca and Mayerthorpe in August.

“When you go on tour, it’s a really neat opportunity to meet directly with seniors and hear directly from them about what their needs are,” she said.

She noted concerns included lack of facilities and funding for maintenance.

At least one minister celebrated wedding season.

“(Children’s Services) Minister (Danielle) Larivee officiated two weddings for constituents in her riding this summer, one of which was steampunk-themed,” said press secretary Aaron Manton in an email.

The children’s services minister met with advocates in Camrose, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Athabasca and Lethbridge to discuss the future of child care in the province, he added.