Early votes now being cast in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection
Voters in northeastern Alberta started casting ballots Tuesday to select a new MLA, with eight names to choose from.
Advanced polls opened at 9 a.m. in both Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche, with six smaller communities to get early polling stations throughout the week.
The byelection was made necessary when UCP MLA Laila Goodridge resigned last August to run in the federal election.
Four of the candidates – representing the top polling parties in Alberta – took part in a forum hosted by McMurray Metis on Feb. 26.
"I love my town, I love my community…so please vote for me on March 15," a tearful Brian Jean said.
A former leader of the Wildrose Party, Jean has served as both an MLA and an MP for the area. His goal, if elected, is to replace Premier Jason Kenney.
"I'm running to fight to make the lives of the people in this region better," said NDP candidate Ariana Mancini.
The NDP finished second in the riding in both the 2015 and 2019 Alberta elections, to the Wildrose Party and the United Conservative Party respectively.
"I was supposed to be retired from politics….however troubled times are here," Wildrose Independence Party candidate Paul Hinman said at the forum.
"This byelection is a gift being offered to us in this region. A chance to vote for something and someone, whose only reason for taking such a big risk is a chance to do better by our region," said Michelle Landsiedel, who is running for the Alberta Party.
The full list of candidates:
- Marilyn Burns, Advantage Party of Alberta
- Brian Deheer, Independent
- Paul Hinman, Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta
- Abdulhakim Hussein, Alberta Liberal Party
- Brian Jean, United Conservative Party
- Michelle Landsiedel, Alberta Party
- Ariana Mancini. Alberta NDP
- Steven Mellott, The Independence Party of Alberta
Advanced polling locations:
- Fort McMurray – Shell Place – March 8-12 – 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
- Lac La Biche – Bold Centre – March 8-12 – 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
- Anzac – Recreation Centre – March 9 – 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
- Conklin – Multiplex – March 10 – 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
- Janvier – Municipal Office – March 11 – 12 p.m. until 8 p.m.
- Kikino – Community Hall – March 11 – 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Goodfish Lake – Pakan School – March 11 – 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
- Wandering River – Senior Drop-In Centre – March 12 – 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
An Angus Reid poll released in January predicted 42 per cent of Albertans would vote for the NDP compared to roughly 31 per cent for the UCP. The Wildrose Independence Party has 16 per cent support, followed by the Alberta Party at eight per cent.
That poll was a randomized sample of 3,375 Canadians. The Alberta margin of error was +/- 4 per cent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A turbulent campaign nears its finale as Americans choose between Harris and Trump
A presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancour headed for its Election Day finale on Tuesday, as Americans decided whether to send Donald Trump back to the White House or elevate Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.
Government calls $9M condo purchase an 'operational decision'
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly defends the purchase of a $9 million condo for the Consulate General of New York City at a parliamentary committee, as a necessary investment.
New homeowners find skeleton in attic 15 years after previous occupant disappeared
Homeowners in France have discovered a skeleton in the attic of an outbuilding while undertaking renovation work.
Netanyahu fires Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, after months of clashes over war and politics
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after months of clashes over domestic politics and Israel’s war efforts.
Trudeau and Harris? Poilievre and Trump? Here's who Canadians think would work best with: survey
As Americans prepare to elect their next president on Tuesday, new data from the Angus Reid Institute suggests Canadians hold differing views as to which federal party leaders would be best suited to deal with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
'Extreme disregard for the safety of others': Lamborghini driver gets prison sentence for 2021 Toronto crash
A mortgage broker who totalled his Lamborghini and left a passenger with life-altering injuries after trying to pass a Toronto streetcar at nearly three times the speed limit has been handed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence.
'I’m not proud of it': Jason Kelce apologizes after video shows him spiking a cellphone after fan used a homophobic slur
Jason Kelce issued an apology during ESPN's 'Monday Night Countdown' after a viral video captured a 'heated moment' between the retired Super Bowl champion and a fan over the weekend.
Prison sentences handed down for sexually abusive London, Ont. parents
In handing down the sentences for two London parents, Justice Thomas Heeney told the court, "The facts of this case were the most egregious that I have encountered during my 26 years on the bench."
Harris and Trump tie in Dixville Notch midnight vote to kick off Election Day
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former U.S. president Donald Trump have tied with three votes each in the tiny New Hampshire township of Dixville Notch, kicking off Election Day in one of the first places in the country to report its presidential preference.