The closest election race in two decades will play out on live television Thursday night as leaders of Alberta’s four main political parties square off in the only leader’s debate being hosted at the Global Edmonton studios.
With polls showing 20 per cent of Albertans are undecided and just 11 days until voters go to the polls, the stakes are incredibly high.
All eyes will be on Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith, who will have to defend her party’s stance on controversial social issues in the first major debate of her political career.
Progressive Conservative Leader Alison Redford is a seasoned debater, but her party has plunged in the polls and she will have to defend the Tory dynasty’s 41-year record.
Liberal Leader Raj Sherman is at the helm of a party that could be decimated in the April 23 election, and he will be looking to revive his party’s reputation.
NDP Leader Brian Mason will be the only politician on stage who has done this before – this is his fifth election. His party could hold the balance of power if Albertans elect a minority government.
All four leaders set aside time to prepare for the debate this week, and Smith all but cleared her schedule for three days to focus exclusively on it.
“I’m up against three very skilled debaters,” Smith said during an appearance at a Western boot store in Calgary on Wednesday. “This is first time that I’ve done this. They all have a lot more experience than I do. They’ve all been in the legislature.
“I feel like I’m a bit of an underdog going into this race. So I’m not taking anything for granted.”
Smith said many Albertans haven’t made up in their minds about which party to support, and for many the televised debate will be their introduction to the Wildrose party.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation about our platform, a lot of misinformation about what it is we want to accomplish. And I think that this is going to be a good opportunity for us to be able to set that record straight.”
Smith said her biggest challenge heading into the debate is learning how to be pithy.
“I’m going to have to really work on making sure that I can be concise in my statements and make sure that we get out policies across, our points across.”
She said she knows it will be tough going up against Redford, a lawyer and skilled debater who has “had a lot of experience with it, especially during the PC leadership and as premier.”
“It does come down to leadership. People have to have confidence that the person that they see on the stage is someone that they will feel confidence in representing them in Alberta, in Canada and abroad.”
Redford spent time preparing on Sunday and will spend Thursday afternoon preparing as well. When asked about the debate, her responses were brief.
“I think it’s going to be an opportunity – I hope – for Albertans to hear views from leaders with respect to what their plan is for the future to the province,” she said, acknowledging the debate will likely get combative.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she said. “I do think that it’s going to be important. Will it be a defining moment? It will be an important moment. I think it’s an opportunity for people to compare leaders and to make some pretty fundamental choices about the future of the province.”
Alberta Liberal Leader Raj Sherman – an emergency room physician and rookie political leader – describes his opponents as “professional debaters,” and has been working with a team to prepare for Thursday night’s debate.
“I’d like to stick to the issues and the solutions to the issues,” Sherman said. “From Day 1 of this campaign, Redford and Smith have just been hurling mud at one another, and it’s detracting from the debate, it’s detracting from the issues. And you know it’s just unfortunate that that’s the leadership that they offer to Albertans, a leadership that throws mud and avoids the tough questions and the real issues. I’m hoping that (Thursday’s) debate doesn’t get stuck in negative American-style personal attacks.”
There are a number of key issues that need to be covered during the debate, Sherman said, including government accountability and health care.
“There are a lot of undecided voters. What I do know is when I get to the doors they make their mind up pretty damn quick,” Sherman said. “It’s important for Albertans to hear and see their leaders, and see their leaders getting challenged.”
NDP Leader Brian Mason said he hopes the debate doesn’t get “nasty.”
“I think it’s fair game to talk about other people’s records, where they stood in the past and what they’ve done in government,” Mason said.
“Whether or not they are Albertan, whether or not they have children, that’s off the record.”
Alberta Party Glenn Taylor was excluded from the debate but will be live-blogging his responses on the party’s website.
Although the fledgling party has been polling at just two or three per cent in most recent polls, some observers suggest that tiny slice of the vote could be enough to peel support from the Alberta Liberals, already potentially compromised by strategic progressive voters who might give their support to the Progressive Conservatives to hold off the Wildrose.
The debate will take place from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, and will be broadcast live on TV, radio, and online on Global Edmonton's website and Global Calgary's website.
With files from Elise Stolte
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