The leaders of Alberta’s two main political parties adopted different strategies in the final weekend of campaigning before Monday’s election.
While NDP Leader Rachel Notley held a large rally in downtown Calgary on Saturday, her United Conservative Party rival opted instead to end her public events on Friday.
In front of some 1,200 fiery supporters, Mme Notley hammered home his party’s best plan to help Albertans prosper over the next few years.
“The Alberta NDP shares your love for this great province, both in our cities and in our countryside. Albertans are compassionate, hardworking and honest. You deserve a government that respects these values,” said Ms.me Notley in front of an already conquered crowd.
According to the NDP leader, voters’ confidence in outgoing Premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party is already shattered.
“She wants to attack my record, but I am proud of my record,” added the one who was premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019 and who is trying to bring her party to power again.
“My record, our record, is more jobs, better health care and a 50% reduction in child poverty. »
For his part, M.me Smith promised Friday that she would try to reduce the level of political polarization in Alberta if her party wins re-election after what has been a stormy election campaign at times.
Mental health promises
If Mme Smith is not planning a public event this weekend, two Calgary Conservative candidates, Nicholas Milliken and Mike Ellis, did hold a press conference Saturday morning to announce mental health support for children, youth and all Albertans.
The United Conservative Party has pledged to invest $60 million over the next three years if re-elected to build four new youth mental health centres, providing mental health and drug addiction to young people under the age of 18.
The party also plans to triple the number of special classes for students with special mental health needs, from the current 20 to 60 across Alberta.
Special class teams offer specific assistance to students with complex needs. There is a nurse, a social worker, a school psychologist, a speech therapist and an occupational therapist.
Saturday was also the last day of advance voting in Alberta. More than 655,000 people had already availed themselves of this right as of noon local time on Saturday.
This figure is comparable to the 696,000 voters who cast ballots in the 2019 general election.
Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Monday.