Fellow Conservative candidate, Arthur Kent is slamming Ed Stelmach for backing out of an event last week without explaining why.

The former T-V news correspondent dubbed the Scud Stud said he has been waiting for an explanation from Stelmach regarding his absence.

"I tried to contact the communications office to try to find out what had happened for clarification and my calls were not returned."

Kent, a Conservative candidate in Calgary, also gave his thoughts on the Stelmach government's recent royalty changes when a passerby asked him that question in Calgary.

"We must promptly relieve the pressure on our brave junior oil and gas producers and explorers and developers and redress the damage that has been done."

Kent is expected to win back a seat taken by the Liberals last election.

Alberta voters go to the polls on March 3rd.

With files from The Canadian Press