Terry Dueck wants to give a voice to people living in northern Alberta. He has again announced that he will be running as an independent in the Grande Prairie-Wapiti riding in the province’s upcoming election.
After previously running in 2001 and collecting 136 votes to finish fifth out of six candidates, he believes he has a better shot this time around.
“Last time it was basically if you weren’t a PC member you weren’t going to go anywhere. This time around I think people are looking. They want somebody in there that has a strong voice. I believe that northern Alberta we haven’t had a fair shake in what we’ve got from the province. I think the biggest reason that I want to run [again] is I want [to be] a voice for the north.”
Dueck currently works for the County of Grande Prairie and has served on Beaverlodge Town Council for three terms. He has also lived in this area all his life and says a new hospital in Beaverlodge is the biggest thing this area needs.
“Hospitals are the big thing in this region. Not only Grande Prairie but Beaverlodge… Our hospital is the oldest hospital in Alberta and it’s high time that the money that has come out of Alberta and especially this region I think it’s time for us to get our fair share.”
An official election has not been called yet but leading up to that, Dueck says he has been talking to people and says they seem to be ready for a leadership change. He says if elected he wants to be a voice for the people, not a party.
“The trouble with most parties is that you have to tow the party line. It’s not right because your MLA should be 100 per cent there to represent the people… I think the MLAs have to be more willing to stick their neck out and listen to the people more. That’s one thing that I’ve noticed in the MLAs here in northern Alberta. I don’t think they’ve really stuck their neck out as much as they should have.”
In the Grande Prairie-Wapiti riding, Dueck will be running against the United Conservative Party’s Travis Toews and the Alberta Party’s Jason Jones. An election could be called anytime between now and May 31st.