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Well-attended forum a positive sign |
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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
It was great to see the Taber Legion Hall packed to the limit with locals looking to gain a little more insight before the March 3 provincial election.
The all-candidates forum attracted a great turnout, and provided some good debate on a lot of issues.
Unfortunately, the New Democrat candidate, Suzanne Sirias, could not attend, due to her recovery from knee surgery. The Green Party candidate, Will Turner, was also not in attendance.
The three candidates that were in Taber, incumbent MLA Paul Hinman of the Wildrose Alliance, former MLA Broyce Jacobs of the Progressive Conservatives and Liberal Ron Hancock did not disappoint.
The questions came fast and furious, as did the criticisms of the Progressive Conservative government, on issues like deregulation and big government.
Whatever your party affiliation, the all-candidates forum delivered this time around.
Sure, there were some loaded questions asked by Hinman backers or Jacobs supporters to put one of the candidates on the spot but for the most part, the questions were thoughtful and the candidates seemed to deliver on the issues.
In an event such as this, it is always hard, if not impossible to declare a winner.
Each candidate showed strengths on certain issues and weaknesses in other areas.
With the wide range of issues and topics covered, no candidate could be expected to be 100-per-cent versed on every single topic.
It was a positive, however, that such a wide range of topics were covered. With a two-hour timeline, the Legion was filled with people still looking to ask questions of the candidates even at 9 p.m.
For an area that has struggled a bit with voter apathy recently, Monday's forum was a huge step forward.
If Monday night can be taken as any indication, March 3 could be a very busy day at the local polls.
This riding is one which will see a true race, not simply a landslide victory like some PC strongholds or the fewer Liberal powerhouse ridings.
Cardston-Taber-Warner is still up for grabs, and it looks like Taberites want to have their say. |
