Banff-Kananaskis, thank you for everything. While our local election results are certainly not what my team expected nor hoped, what is most important is to celebrate and congratulate Premier Danielle Smith and my returning 49 colleagues. Our United Conservative team ran on a purely positive vision for Alberta’s future that focused on growth, affordability, and compassionate care. For that they were rewarded, and Alberta will most certainly be better for it.
To steal a quote from Danielle Smith, “I love this province and everything that it stands for”. The fight for the preservation of our western way of life was truly my passion. Alberta is a province of hard-working and self-determinant people. They face adversity with confidence, and they deserve a government who believes in them as much as they do. Our United Conservative government was that government. Despite the many headwinds of the past four years, we rebuilt a province that today is fortified, resilient, diversified, and welcoming. Fortis et liber, you might say.
I truly believe that there is no constituency in the entire province that reflects the hard-working entrepreneurial spirit of Alberta more than beautiful Banff-Kananaskis, of which you are a part. Being your MLA, Alberta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, and a voice at the decision making table during one of the most geopolitically significant times in a generation was truly the honour and the joy of my life. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, providing your input to public policy, and attending my events if you did.
With the help and advocacy of so many of you in our communities we were able to secure over $105 million of capital for 11 major local infrastructure projects, including most notably everyone’s favourite traffic lights and a new bridge over Fish Creek near Priddis.
Now, I have many thank yous to give: I need to thank Danielle Smith, Jason Kenney, and my many colleagues for their leadership and true friendship the past four years. We lowered taxes, deregulated and diversified Alberta’s economy, legislated tough on crime but compassionate on recovery, and stood up for our province on a national and international stage. We accomplished much, and our team was forged through fire. I know a second term of United Conservative government will be even stronger and more successful than the first, and I hope that you will continue to support them in their endeavours.
I need to thank Nancy in my office, a Bragg Creek local, who worked as tirelessly over the past four years as I did to ensure that over 170,000 emails were responded to and that every constituent felt valued. If you had any interaction with our office you will have come to know Nancy and will know how vital she was. Many times I would attend an event in the province and, sometimes, in other provinces or states where strangers would approach me to tell me how much they appreciated working with “the lady in my office”. Nancy is truly a national treasure.
Finally, I need to thank my donors and my volunteer team. We mounted one heck of an effort, and I truly believe we ran one of the strongest and most organized campaigns in the province. We did this because, collectively, we believed in the importance of what we were doing. Every member of our team recognized that this election was a fight for Alberta’s future, and they rose to the task.
While the results of Banff-Kananaskis may not have been what we hoped, I have every confidence and optimism in Danielle Smith and my colleagues who are returning to the Legislature. Under their leadership Alberta’s best days will truly continue to lay ahead, and I remain excited to see what our province’s future will hold.
Since everyone is asking, I am unsure what is next for me. I will take the next couple months to figure that out, but sincerely welcome you to stay in touch with both myself and our local United Conservative movement. Our province’s economic and cultural future are worth fighting for, and
I hope you will join us.
Banff-Kananaskis, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything. I hope that over the past four years I fulfilled the expectations you deservingly held of your elected official. I’ll see you around!
