MLA Reid stepping aside in Livingstone-Macleod

Livingstone Macleod UCP MLA Roger Reid will not be seeking re-election next spring.

While Reid submitted his nomination papers ahead of deadline, he has since decided not to seek a second term in office.

Reid was first elected to the Alberta Legislature on April 16, 2019. Prior to election he owned and operated franchise businesses in Claresholm and Nanton for about a decade after working in marketing/communications and graphic design fields.

He also served as chair of the Claresholm and District Health Foundation from 2015-19.

In a statement provided to The Herald on Thursday, Reid said “while it is obvious there is a lot of political maneuvering going on, there are issues that are of immediate concern to my constituents and to all Albertans. The consistent message from residents of Livingstone Macleod to me has been about the daily impact of inflation, the cost of groceries and utilities. Rural Albertans still struggle to find a family doctor and are concerned that there will be no ambulance available when they need one.”

Reid wrote that while he appreciates the concern and anger some have over the province’s COVID response in the past two years, and there is a need to review those responses so government does a better job next time, “the cost of heating our homes is much more pressing.

“Others want to continue to press the issue around coal mining. This is also important and can and will be further addressed as we move forward, but again the people who have reached out to me are more concerned with the rural EMS crisis and need to see tangible changes now.

“Because these are important issues for Livingstone Macleod and for Alberta, I have chosen to put my energies into assisting the Premier and her cabinet to ensure real solutions move from discussion to action. To ensure this happens my time and energy is better spent on these than a nomination race or even an election campaign. Actually solving these issues and bringing real relief to Albertans is more important to me than my nomination and political future, and they will be my focus for the remainder of my term.”