Party leaders walk fine line of an emergency during election campaign
Pollster says there could be perils in underestimating or
capitalizing on a crisis
The leaders of the United Conservative and New Democratic parties are pledging to focus on the needs of the more than 24,000 people forced out of their homes by wildfires in northern and central Alberta.
The crisis is hitting during a high stakes provincial election set for May 29. Recent polls show the two top parties are running neck and neck with a sizeable portion of the electorate undecided.
In her role as premier, UCP leader Danielle Smith said she's keeping NDP leader Rachel Notley in the loop on what's happening with the government response to the wildfire situation.
Notley has some background on these situations, given she was premier when a major fire threatened Fort McMurray in May 2016.
It was the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's history as more than 88,000 residents were forced to flee to safety.
Both Smith and Notley say that public safety is the top priority in this situation.
Smith said at a news conference on Saturday that she doesn't think at this point that the fires could delay the entire election.
She's hopeful the election will go ahead as planned.
But what ultimately happens in some communities will depend on how the situation plays out in the days ahead.
"These are localized matters and Elections Alberta informed me that they would be making local accommodations," said Smith.
"The hope — I think — that everyone has is that we will make sure that we get through the immediate crisis that we're in, and get people back into their communities."
Even though there is an election on, Smith said the provincial government is still on duty and looking out for public safety.
"I want Albertans to be assured that there is a stable, functioning government that is here to support them throughout this unprecedented crisis."
Smith attended an election event in northeast Calgary on Saturday afternoon with one of her candidates.
Notley said that her party has suspended local campaigns in six ridings directly affected by the wildfire situation.
The ridings include: Drayton Valley-Devon, Lesser Slave Lake, Central Peace-Notley, Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, West Yellowhead and Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
During Saturday's news conference, Smith also confirmed that two candidates have officially suspended their campaigns — Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism Todd Loewen — who is running in the Central Peace-Notley riding and Andrew Boitchenko in the Drayton Valley-Devon riding.
"He was telling me today about a personal property that he owns where you've got three fires that are converging at once," Smith said referring to Loewen.
"So he's got a number of reasons why he needs to take a step back from the campaign and I support him doing that."
The NDP leader said the situation will be monitored daily. But for now, her plan is to continue the election campaign in other parts of Alberta that are not directly affected by the wildfires.
She said she's offered her assistance to Smith.
"We are quite sincere in our offer to participate in the emergency planning committee. I think that we have experience and advice that we can offer and I think it helps depoliticize what should be a laser focus on public safety," said Notley.
A longtime political commentator and pollster, Janet Brown, said the two leaders have a fine line to walk when a crisis like this lands during a provincial election.
A principal with Janet Brown Opinion Research, she said the party leaders need to be mindful how their actions are perceived by voters even as the overall campaigns continue.
"The biggest mistake you can make is to look like you are underestimating the impact to the people involved and the second biggest mistake you can make is to look like you're capitalizing on the situation," said Brown.
As for bringing Notley into the loop by sharing information about the wildfire situation, Brown called it an essential move by Smith.
She pointed to the example Notley set in 2016 during the Fort McMurray fire emergency when she consulted frequently with then opposition leader Brian Jean.
"Events like this have to transcend politics. I don't think the electorate would tolerate anything else," she said.
"It's just good government to include the opposition in a crisis like this."
For now, even as the two opponents are locked in a fight for who will lead the province after the May 29 election, the party leaders need to be seen as working cooperatively in the best interests of those who live in the fire zones.
Author of the article: Stephanie Babych
Published May 06, 2023
With more than 24,500 Albertans having been evacuated from their homes by Saturday morning due to wildfires, Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley offered insight to her political rival, UCP Leader Danielle Smith, on leading the province through significant wildfire evacuations.
More than 100 wildfires are burning in Alberta, causing mandatory evacuations of Drayton Valley, Edson, parts of Strathcona County and several other regions of the province.
Notley said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon that she’s willing to provide Smith with any insight from her past experience with the Fort McMurray wildfire crisis in 2016.
She said it’s important the evacuees have all the information they might need through multiple channels of communication so they know what’s happening. It was also imperative the government make comprehensive health and mental health support accessible to Albertans in 2016, Notley explained.
Notley said she has reached out to Smith’s office to offer a phone call.
“This may well be a unique situation, having this kind of provincial emergency in the middle of a campaign. We are quite sincere in our offer to participate in the emergency planning committee. We have experience and advice that we can offer,” said Notley
At a late afternoon press conference, Smith told reporters that her office has been in touch with Notley’s office, and she looks forward to getting her advice. Smith acknowledged Notley has been through this kind of situation before.
The NDP officially suspended seven local campaigns that are being impacted by the wildfires, including Drayton Valley-Devon, Lesser Slave Lake, Central Peace-Notley, Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, West Yellowhead and Grande Prairie-Wapiti.
A planned NDP press conference on health care scheduled for Saturday morning was cancelled.
The NDP leader said it’s too early to say if a delay of the election is necessary.
“If we’re still in this position further down the road, we might have to have that conversation. But at the same time, right now, our primary focus should be public safety, getting these fires under control and getting folks back into their communities,” said Notley.
Smith said two UCP candidates have chosen to suspend their campaigns, but did not give any indication that the party would ask others to suspend their campaigning.
When questioned by a reporter, Smith did admit to attending Calgary campaign events Saturday, but said the wildfires have remained her No. 1 priority.
“I had some commitments that I kept today but I’m heading to Edmonton tonight, and I’ll be spending all day tomorrow assessing the situation on the ground,” she said.
UCP candidate for Drayton Valley-Devon Andrew Boitchenko said Friday that his campaign was pausing events and door-knocking out of respect and support for those displaced.
“Please be patient with us as myself, and a large portion of my team, are either displaced or volunteering with supporting evacuees or fire operations,” said Boitchenko.
UCP candidate for Central Peace-Notley Todd Loewen said Saturday he would be temporarily pausing his election campaign until further notice.
“My mind is not on politics or campaigning, at this time. It is on supporting and helping my surrounding communities as much as possible without distraction,” said Loewen.
Smith said she fully supports these candidates in their decision to step back form campaigning. She indicated that other candidates in areas threatened by fire are not really campaigning but rather are on the ground, assisting where they can and reporting back to the province.
At an earlier press conference Saturday, Smith said she asked Elections Alberta for information prior to the election on how a natural disaster like wildfires might impact the election on May 29.
“The feedback that I got would be that it would be very unusual to move Election Day. For those communities, if they remain impacted, they would be planning for advance polls,” said Smith. “I think at this stage, it’s a bit early to make any additional call.”
It’s anticipated Elections Alberta would make local accommodations for those impacted by evacuations, Smith explained.
She said she will reach out to Notley — the Leader of the Official Opposition — if the situation escalates in the coming weeks to see if she might have any further advice.
“At the moment, I believe the position of Elections Alberta would be that they would continue,” said Smith.
The provincial election is scheduled for May 29.
'There's nothing left': Wildfires ravage Canada's Alberta
Issued on: 11/05/2023 -
01:28
Tens of thousands have fled the Canada's Alberta as wildfires rip through the province, destroying hundreds and thousands of hectares of countryside. Cooler temperatures have brought some relief, but 76 forest and brush fires remained active in the province as of Wednesday, compared to 110 a few days ago.
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