21 GUIDE VOTING DETAILS FOR STUDENTS HOW TO VOTE PARTYPROFILES It is your right to vote and every vote counts DEAN HUFFMAN & CHASE MALEY @Deano_HW & @maleycmaley The Alberta provincial election is coming up fast and the first step is registration. According to instructions on the Elections Alberta website, every person that intends to vote must register. To register a driver’s license number or an Alberta Identification Card number can be presented online under the register to vote tab. If you are not registered to vote by the time you make it to the polls, you can present two pieces of identification. A piece of ID is needed with your name and a piece with your name and address. This can range from a Canadian military membership or identity card, a credit or debit card that has your legal name on the front and a library card. For pieces of ID with your current address, you can use a bank or credit card statement, government cheque or cheque stub, insurance policy or coverage card, vehicle ownership or registration or insurance certificate and finally your where to vote card. Advanced polling locations are also available to students leaving town early or for just eager voters. The early polling started on April 9 and will end on April 13. Polling stations can be found in all areas of the city. South side polling stations can be found in the Holiday Inn on Mayor Magrath Dr. S. and Park Place Mall. West side locations are at the University of Lethbridge and the north side location will be at the Lethbridge Multicultural Moose Association. Out of province voting can also be a concern for Albertans away during the vote. Elections Alberta suggests going to the advanced polls before traveling or applying for a special ballot. This ballot is then mailed to your primary residence. This also counts if you are physically unable to appear at the poles due to disability or injury. You can apply for a special ballot in writing, by telephone, by fax or email, in person and online. You must then have your ballot completed before 8 p.m. on April 16. 21 Voting is not only a right, but also a privilege. Every vote counts and will GUIDE shape our country for years to come. PAGE 1 What students look for in a provincial candidate? SETH SLOMP tax] is not an environmental @ssgoalie98 issue. The government taxing us for the increased usage of It’s election season. carbon, does not change the The time of year you see red, environment whatsoever. It’s blue and orange signs pegged just a money grab.” into the ground all over the Shields believes it’s just an- province with names like Jason other way for the government Kenney and Rachel Notley writ- to make more money because ten on them. they are spending too much. But now the question all But there is also the Liberal Albertans face is, “Who do you and Alberta Party. vote for?” The Liberals support the pub- Do you vote for the United lic healthcare system, but wants Conservative Party who want to to make it more sustainable. maintain or increase healthcare According to the Alberta funding to give Albertans the Liberal website, “Alberta pays chance to re- the most per ceive the best “If funding is cut, capita for care possible there is going to be a healthcare.” or the New They plan Democratic decrease of work.” on reducing Party who Bonnie Shields long-term want to de- costs by crease emer- emphasizing preventive care, gency room wait times? nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. The UCP plans on keeping On the other hand, the Al- the public health care system berta Party wants to decrease while giving Albertans the high- money spent by Alberta Health est quality care. Services by “charting a path to The NDP propose adding financial stability, encouraging what the people in their riding more medical staff to decrease innovation in the healthcare want. But I also agree with emergency room wait times. sector and making sure the representative’s who also look Bonnie Shields, a Practical quality of the system rises to to do more than just what the Nursing student at Lethbridge meet the needs of Albertans.” people want as long as it’s ben- College, said in the next four One idea the caucus has pro- eficial to the riding.” years, she only cared about posed to abide by this election Now it all comes down to getting a job as a nurse which is to increase the amount of election day on April 16. means having jobs available. paramedics spending time in Could we see an NDP gov- “If funding is cut, there is the community rather than hav- ernment stay in power for its not going to be jobs available ing them in the hospital. second term or can Kenney which means a decrease of When it comes down to vot- overtake the Notley govern- work in the nursing program. ing for a provincial representa- ment and become the next Healthcare is a huge factor.” tive Landon Malinowski, Justice Alberta premier? However, a platform she is Studies student at the college, People can vote before also passionate about is repeal- April 16 with advanced said he looks for transparency. 21 ing the carbon tax. “I look for what the candi- poll dates starting on GUIDE “I’m sorry but [the carbon date does to actually find out April 9 until April 13. PAGE 2 Alberta Party makes push for 2019 election MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ @michaelrdrguez one of moderation, or as Rho- is the fear of splitting the vote. denizer puts it, “not right, not “For those who want the left, but forward.” New Democratic Party (NDP) For the first time the Alberta Rhodenizer said it’s difficult out of power, you don’t want Party is coming into the 2019 to be the moderate voice in to risk vote splitting again. Alberta provincial election such a divisive election. The United Conservative Party running candidates in all 87 “There are two types of mod- (UCP) was formed to stop vote ridings. erates. There’s the type that splitting on the right. Some of The Alberta Party received its is looking to pick and choose those voters, potentially UCP first elected seat in the legisla- policies and be everything to voters, would probably look ture in the 2015 election, with everyone. People don’t really at the Alberta Party as a more former party leader and MLA like that. It looks like you’re centrist and still reasonably for Calgary-Bow Greg Clark trying to please everyone. fiscally conservative party. The winning his riding. We’re the other type. We don’t party is run by a leader who This time, the party’s hopes try to please everyone, we is formerly of the Progressive are higher according to Zac just do please everyone. Most Conservative Party.” Rhodenizer, the Alberta Party’s Albertans want fiscal responsi- As of April 2, CBC’s Alberta candidate for Lethbridge-West. bility and social responsibility. Votes 2019 Poll Tracker proj- “We have strong people We’re trying to come up the ects the Alberta Party taking across the whole province. We middle and present good, for- six per cent of the popular vote have 87 candidates — we’re ward-thinking ideas and show and one seat in the Legislative legit. We do have a shot at we reflect Alberta’s values.” Assembly, but Rhodenizer said forming a government, though Faron Ellis, research chair of he thinks his party will “shock it’s probably a long shot at this the Citizen Society Research Alberta” with how well it does, point. There are a few ridings Lab, said the Alberta Party is despite polling relatively low where I expect us to do really coming up the centre in an compared to other parties. well, but ultimately it’s election that has proven very The Alberta election takes about getting our mes- 21 polarizing thus far. He said the place on April 16, with ad- sage out.” GUIDE biggest challenge for smaller vanced voting taking place That message is parties running in this election from now through April 13. PAGE 3 Alberta Liberals looking to make a change MEGAN MCCOY @meganmccoy546 claim litigation. Khan is also the berta Liberals are investing all first openly gay provincial can- of their energy into creating a didate for the Liberal party. platform that both appeals to With the provincial election Khan said in an updated the voting audience and makes quickly approaching in Alberta, platform release that policies Alberta stronger. the Liberal party is working to have changed within the party For many voters in Alberta, ensure voters know their plat- to fit the needs of voters in this the voting choice may seem form among a sea of alternative election. to be only between the New options. “Our 2019 policy platform Democratic Party and the The Liberal party of Alberta lays out a path for job creation, United Conservative Party, as was founded in 1905, but the stronger public services, sus- they are the two lead parties in province has not had a Liberal tainable finances, equality of the polls, however Johnathan premier in almost a century. opportunity, respectful inclu- Bueckert, a Liberal supporter in The Alberta Liberal party sion and protection of vulnera- Lethbridge said this does not has three pillars to their central ble Albertans.” have to be the case. platform which are, freedom Khan and other members of “You don’t have to vote NDP of the individual, equality of op- the Liberal party believe that or UCP just because everyone portunity and fairness to future their platform will make life else is.