Thread by @teelingkat

Today, @Hennig1Leah and I are attending the Town Hall with @ABDanielleSmith in Edmonton. I’ll be live-tweeting the event, hosted by the @Alberta_UCP. #abpoli #ucp #alberta

Smith walks into the main room at the Maharaja Banquet Hall, and is met with applause from the crowd. Approximately 500 people are attending the Town Hall today.

Leduc-Beaumont MLA Brandon Lunty takes the stage, congratulating the constituency associations in and around Edmonton for their “hard work.” He introduces the other MLAs present at the town hall: Nate Glubish, Dale Nally, and Shane Getson.

Lunty talks about the “strong conservative movement” that exists in both Edmonton and all of Alberta, which is uniting to fight a “hostile federal government” which he says is trying to “handicap the Alberta economy” and hurt the Alberta advantage.

He says this movement is largely successful because of the leadership of @ABDanielleSmith, who listens to “regular Albertans.” He says he appreciates how strong Smith is when she has to “stand up to Trudeau and the federal government.”

“She is leading the charge across the country, and she is ensuring everyone knows that Alberta comes first,” Lunty says.

Lunty then introduces Smith, who is met with a standing ovation from most of the crowd. Smith reintroduces the MLAs who will join her on stage: Minister of Technology Nate Glubish, Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally, Minister of Children and Family services Searle Turton.

She also introduces House Whip Shane Getson, and members of the UCP’s Board of Directors, who she says attendees can approach with questions.

Smith says she loves doing events in Edmonton, even if the UCP didn’t win any ridings in Edmonton-proper. “We want to be ruthlessly fair between Edmonton and Calgary,” Smith says, in regards to ensuring both cities remain prosperous for those living there.

Smith says that on October 6, it will be her two year anniversary of becoming leader of the party. Providing updates on her work and policy so far, Smith says she was elected in part to defend Alberta from a hostile federal government and protect the Alberta advantage.

Smith then talks about the UCP’s 4 priorities, one of which was the Alberta Sovereignty Act, which the crowd applauds. Smith jokes that media “didn’t seem to like that one.”

She continues, saying that she felt the act was necessary because “we have a federal government who hasn’t read the constitution.” She says they’re planning on using the act again, because the federal government is planning on proposing an emission cap.

Smith asks the crowd if they’ve heard what’s happening in Denmark, where they’re making “cow farts and burps” illegal. She continues that the UCP will continue fighting against the Liberal-NDP coalition until @PierrePoilievre replaces @JustinTrudeau.

@PierrePoilievre @JustinTrudeau Throughout the town hall tour, Smith says she’s heard many concerns from constituents about the sudden influx of immigrants into Alberta over the last few years. She says this is likely the case because of Alberta’s low housing prices, particularly in Edmonton.

She continues, saying the UCP has been advocating to the federal government to bring back the “normal” immigration levels introduced by @stephenharper when he was prime minister,

Smith adds that the UCP have been working hard to promote and protect individual rights and freedoms, including amending the Alberta Bill of Rights to ensure those who choose not to vaccinate cannot be discriminated against by the government.

She then discusses the ban on gender reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers for children, which is met with applause from the crowd. Smith adds that they’re tabling legislation that “puts parents in the drivers seat” when it comes to their children.

Smith then discusses the AHS overhaul and re-focusing, which she says is long overdue. She adds that AHS needs to focus on delivering healthcare, not “getting distracted” with the other tasks they were working on.

She then discusses private health care centres, which will reduce wait times for patients. Smith then says they won’t be adopting the safe supply drug act, because the UCP doesn’t “want to see vending machines with drugs…as seen in BC.”

She then says that the UCP has “said to the world” that they won’t be reducing Oil and Gas, they’ll be “doubling it.” She adds that, “Alberta isn’t slowing down for anyone.”

“When Alberta is doing well, all Albertans should be doing well. Like you, I love Alberta, and I want to secure the Alberta advantage,” she says.

After her speech, the Q&A begins. Attendees are able to ask one question that are roughly 35 seconds in length.

The first attendee asks their question to Smith, focusing on small businesses. They say that although the Alberta economy is booming, small businesses are not. They ask what Smith and the UCP are doing to help small businesses.

Smith responds, saying they’re focusing on tax deductions to put more money in Albertans pockets so they can spend it at small businesses. Dale Nally responds after, saying he’s introducing a program “the left is absolutely going to hate,” which is automatic permit approvals.

The next attendee asks about trust in government, which she says is dwindling following the “divisive” and mishandled COVID-19 pandemic. She asks how Smith will encourage ongoing civic debate, while “acknowledging that engagement is a two-way street.”

Smith says that her and the other MLAs are present at the town hall because they prioritize civic engagement. “I try to be as accessible as I absolutely possibly can,” she says, while discussing the ways she meets with constituents.

“I know there’s a bit of a gap in Edmonton, since [the UCP doesn’t] have an MLA [here],” Smith says, while promising the UCP is working on a way to ensure conservatives are represented in Edmonton.

Nally says that he’s working on updating the FOIP system, which hasn’t been updated since the “introduction of the internet.” He says they’re introducing legislation that will work to provide information before it’s asked for, which is necessary for transparency.

Getson says that he’ll accept any invitation to speak to his constituents “pretty shamelessly,” but that communication is a two-way street, so constituents have to reach out to him, as well.

The next attendee asks Smith the next question, saying she’s a newer resident of Edmonton, although she’s lived in Alberta her whole life. She says that Edmonton has changed its reasoning of their residential areas, despite pushback.

She asks what the UCP will do. Smith answers first, saying that Calgary is currently going through the same thing. She adds that Bill 20, “which the municipalities didn’t like too much,” allows the government to step in when municipalities leave their jurisdictions.

Smith says that if the “situation goes too haywire like it did in the UK,” where she says municipalities were fining people for leaving their neighbourhoods, “which should never happen.”

The next attendee tells Smith that she’s the best premier they’ve ever seen in Alberta, which is met with applause from the crowd. They continue, saying their work as a family doctor is limited because of a lack of resources.

They continue, saying that they have two disabled children, which makes it difficult to continue their work. They ask Smith if she’s planning on supporting parents of disabled children like the UCP has done for education.

Smith answers, saying that a priority of the government is ensuring they can meet the demand of those trying to access these services. She adds that there is concern that newcomers are coming to Alberta just to access these services.

In response, they’re trying to introduce policies that would limit newcomers from accessing health care and other services until they’ve been situated in Alberta for a specified length of time.

The line to ask questions stretches nearly halfway around the room. Emcees encourage Smith and the other MLAs to hurry while answering questions, to ensure as many get answered as possible.

The next question: “One of the many complaints that I’ve heard from labour union leaders is that the provincial government hasn’t properly been paying the municipal government here in Edmonton the proper property taxes. I’m wondering what the story behind that is.”

Smith answers, saying she’s sympathetic. She adds that Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has raised these concerns with her, because it’s impacted Edmonton so greatly. She says that from what she can tell, the payments to Edmonton and other municipalities were cut to save money.

The next attendee asks about the chem trails over Edmonton, which Smith says she’s asked the people who control the airspace over Edmonton what the story is. She says that no one is allowed to enter that airspace and spray any chemicals. The crowd boos in response.

The next attendee from the Edmonton Centre thanks Smith and the other MLAs for the work they’ve done for Alberta. He then Smith why she isn’t fulfilling the quota for asylum seekers, when the government has accepted Ukrainians and foreign workers.

“Why are you rejecting these people, and not the Ukrainians? I need a clarification from you to bring back to these people,” he says. “What makes them different from the Ukrainians, unless there’s something else prohibiting them?”

Smith answers that the Ukrainians were not refugees, but evacuees because they had money to move to Alberta. She says that Alberta does not have the hotel space to house 28,000 asylum seekers, which is met with applause from the crowd.

“The majority of the people who used to seek asylum would come across the borders, but now they’re coming through the airports,” she says. She adds that 60,000 people are expecting to seek asylum in Alberta in the next year.

She adds that the UCP needs to find ways to support newcomers and “genuine asylum seekers,” like the government did for the Ukrainians.

The next attendee asks about the non-partisan nature of municipalities, asking why Bill 20 is necessary when people who run for municipal office aren’t meant to be a part of a party. Smith answers that transparency is necessary on the municipal level.

“When someone tells you when they run for mayor that they’re non-partisan, but then run for leader of the NDP” or table policies that introduce fifteen minute cities, that’s not fair to constituents, says Smith.

The next attendee says that people in south Edmonton were promised a hospital that was never delivered. Smith says that Airdrie was feeling the same way, so they built an urgent care centre in an old library. Smith says this isn’t appropriate.

Smith says that they need to prioritize creating a model of an urgent care centre that can be easily rolled out in rural centres and places in urgent need of a health care centre.

The next attendee thanks Smith for her work prioritizing individual choice and the amended Alberta Bill of Rights. He says that during the pandemic, he asked his doctor for alternatives to the vaccine, which his doctor refused at risk of having his license removed.

He asks Smith where the government is at with fixing the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, particularly when it comes to off-label use of prescriptions. Smith says that it was odd when the CPSA stepped in in this specific case.

She continues, saying that the CPSA shouldn’t be allowed to step in when doctors want to prescribe off-label uses of approved medicine. She adds that as long as patients are aware and consent, the CPSA has no right to dictate what doctors prescribe.

With 13 questions left, the town hall begins to wrap up. The next question comes from a constituent from Calgary-Acadia. She asks about the UCP’s bans on gender-reassignment surgery, specifically on why the age keeps changing.

She says that initially, Smith suggested that anyone under 18 shouldn’t be able to have gender-reassignment surgery. Then, she changed it to 16, and now, proposed legislation says that any child under 15 cannot access puberty blockers or gender reassignment surgery w/out consent.

Smith says that 16 year olds are able to emancipate themselves and make decisions from themselves, so they should be allowed to make their own health care decisions. Getson adds that Smith isn’t a dictator, and has to allow people to make their own choices.

He adds that Alberta is the first jurisdiction to introduce these policies, and that “you have to accept the small victories.” Glubish adds that he is “so proud of my premier” because she introduces policies that will “stand the test of time,” not ones that are half-baked.

The next attendee, a psychology PHD student, expressed concern that both health care colleges in Alberta are “forcing an agenda” onto children when it comes to pronouns and gender.

Smith says that children can feel uncomfortable in their bodies for a myriad of reasons, including eating disorders, their sexuality, and their gender. She adds that children need to be able to access psychologists for help when they need it.

She adds that in the same vein, psychologists need the room to explore treatment for their patients. But, Smith wants to “reign in” the colleges to get back on track in supporting their patients.

The next attendee says that he has just moved to Alberta from Quebec, and that he’s “proud to call Alberta his new home.” He asks if the UCP can support rural communities in collaborating with companies like StarLink to introduce data technologies to remote and rural areas.

Glubish says that this is something he introduced and has collaborated with rural communities on. He says that not all strategies and services will work for all rural communities, and that communication is key. He adds that he’s open to any solution for all Albertans.

He says that StarLink can be prohibitively expensive, which isn’t ideal for the average taxpayer. He says he’s focused on serving the people this will impact the most to ensure they get the wifi and data they need.

The next attendee brings up population growth, which means that families will struggle to access services that they need. She asks if the government will fund the services necessary to support families, especially those with disabled children.

Smith says they have given funding to these programs, introduced policies to raise the salaries of workers in these programs, and explored the possibility of introducing specialty programs for workers in industries that support and work with disabled children.

The next attendee says that the party is only as strong as their elections, saying that she feels the constituency associations need help. She adds that the media is not kind to CAs and that candidates are nominated very slowly.

Smith says that post-election, a process to find a new chief electoral officer was created. Until a new chief electoral officer is chosen, the boundary commission process is delayed. She adds that until it’s clear what the boundaries are, no one can be nominated.

The town hall is ended early, as Smith has to go to Camrose for another town hall. Thank you for tuning in. #abpoli