Election 2023: Campaign Roundup - Day 8

Welcome to Day 8 of our Alberta 2023 Campaign Roundup!

With the 2023 Alberta election now finally underway, I'll be bringing you daily updates on all the policy proclamations, platform promises, and political point-scoring from the campaign trail.

Campaign Roundup - Day 8:

• Danielle Smith had a phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the wildfire situation in the province. Her campaign is on hold as she continues to deal with the emergency and meet with the Emergency Management Cabinet Committee.
  
  
• Smith also held a press conference announcing financial support for wildfire evacuees. Eligible evacuees will receive $1,250 per adult and $500 per child. Information on applying for the benefit can be found online.
  
  
• Mike Ellis, acting in his capacity as Alberta’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, sent a letter to his federal counterparts outlining the assistance being requested by the Province. Asks included water purification resources, military personnel to provide security for evacuated communities, engineering support, and heavy equipment resources.
  
  
• Alberta Health Services clarified that there was no gap in surgical coverage in the Calgary Zone over the weekend, despite yesterday’s claims from the NDP.
  
  
• The NDP continued campaigning and held a press conference regarding pension plans. Marie Renaud, NDP Candidate for St. Albert, accused the UCP of not answering questions regarding taking Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan.
  
  
• At the same press conference, Karen Shaw, NDP Candidate for Morinville-St. Albert, outlined her party’s plan for seniors. She promised to make the shingles vaccine free, eliminate fees for seniors’ driver license medical exams, provide homecare, and increase the Seniors' Benefit.
  
  
• The UCP’s Calgary-Klein candidate, Jeremy Nixon, rebutted both claims, stating that, with regards to Pensions - as has always been promised - no change will be made to any pensions without a full public debate and, ultimately, a referendum - as has always been promised - and that, with regards to seniors, the UCP has raised the Alberta Seniors Benefit, provided $2 billion for drug and health benefits, and more.
  
  
• The NDP announced a commitment to build the Red Deer Hospital and a standalone Stollery Children’s Hospital, as well as accelerate construction of the South Edmonton Hospital.
  
  
• New polling has the UCP leading the NDP by 50% to 43%. Digging into the details, the poll also showed that 48% of voters have a favourable opinion of Danielle Smith versus 45% who see Rachel Notley in a favourable light, and that more voters think Rachel Notley is too far left than think Danielle Smith is too far right.

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