Former Ralston School teacher vies for NDP nomination in Cypress-Medicine Hat

Tim Gruber hopes to contest the New Democratic nomination for CypressMedicine Hat this fall ahead of next year’s planned election.

If, as expected, more than one party member person vies for opportunity to represent the party, it would lead to the first ever party election held in the region.

That could indicate growing interest in the riding that appears unsettled ahead of a May 2023 general election.

“I’m hoping in general that the NDP makes some noise in this election,” Gruber told the Medicine Hat News.

“The UCP is at a dysfunctional point right now, even with their leadership selection. The timing is right … Alberta is hungry to go to the polls and that goes from COVID right on down.”

At this point there is no incumbent United Conservative candidate in the Cypress-Medicine Hat riding. Current MLA Drew Barnes sits as an independent after he was elected as a UCP candidate but removed from caucus last year. He has requested via open letter to rejoin during the ongoing UCP leadership contest, but the riding association has also asked for candidates to come forward.

Gruber, 65, a former teacher who worked at Ralston School near CFB Suffield, says he rejoined the ranks as a substitute teacher during a pandemic staffing crunch last year.

He is disappointed in how the government has handled education funding and curriculum changes, and what he called political interference with COVID response by the United Conservatives.

“I honestly feel for front-line workers,” he said, stating the New Democrats would provide stabilizing influence and empower doctors, health workers and teachers.

“When your car is broken, you don’t call a plumber.”

Gruber is also known in the community after benefiting 12 years ago from a general appeal that raised $60,000 toward life-saving surgery in the United States for his chronic digestive problems.

That procedure was not covered by Alberta Health at the time, but now is.

Gruber also organized the John Gruber Memorial golf tournament in Medicine Hat, which provided scholarships in honour of his late father, and is a past president of the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club.

Officials with the Alberta New Democrats say Gruber has been vetted and cleared to run for the nomination for the party, but no date is given for a nomination deadline, or level interest.

In the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat, Gwen Dirks was acclaimed as the New Democratic candidate this spring and will face Alberta Party Leader and former Brooks mayor Barry Morishita.

Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey has not made her plans known.