MLA Schow reacts to new Alberta premier

By Cole Parkinson
Sunny South News

A new premier has been in place in Alberta for a little while now and MLAs across the province have been able to adjust to new leadership. Locally, Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow has been able to meet with Premier Danielle Smith and highlight some of the issues affecting the riding and overall, he feels the synergy within the United Conservative Party has been very good as the next provincial election nears.

“The great thing about Conservative leadership races from what I’ve seen is that once a new leader is picked, we get behind them and support them. We’re not going to agree on 100 per cent of things, and that’s what a big party is all about — finding compromise,” he said.

While Schow had endorsed Travis Toews to be the new premier and leader of the UCP, his commitment to the new premier hasn’t wavered. Schow explained he’s been excited by what he’s been hearing from within the UCP and he’s looking forward to getting to work.

“I endorsed Travis Toews but when Danielle Smith became leader, I said ‘how can I help?’ Figuratively speaking, I laced up my boots and I want to get out and help because I’m invested in getting her to reelection and continuing as the government after the next election,” continued Schow. “That’s really what’s great about this party, we’re getting behind her and supporting her.”

Upon being chosen as the new premier, Smith also visited with all of the MLAs. Schow said his talk with the new premier had several different focuses, but the main one was around inflation and the cost of living.

“She sat down with us and talked to all of us. They gave us about 30 minutes to talk about the most pressing issues in our constituencies and like I said, it’s about affordability,” he said. “It’s about healthcare, healthcare affordability in southern Alberta, EMS response times are very concerning and I’m grateful we have a committee studying that and they have some recommendations moving forward. She was very receptive of those issues.”

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