Photo courtesy Travis Toews Leadership Campaign

By Erika Rolling

Leadership Race

Travis Toews talks healthcare crisis, affordability and more at hometown BBQ rally

Aug 14, 2022 | 1:27 PM

It was the perfect day for MLA for Grande Prairie -Wapiti, Travis Toews BBQ rally in Grande Prairie this past Friday.

There was said to be around 500 people that came out to support Toews, buy a membership before cut off and grab a burger.

The leadership hopeful was able to speak with Everything GP during the event held this past Friday evening on a number of topics.

Healthcare Crisis

Toews addressed the healthcare crisis not only happening in rural Alberta, but across the province.

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The opposition NDP released on Wednesday, August 10, that Alberta Health Services has had to reduce bed capacity or reduce service in 30 communities including; High Level, Fort Vermilion, Peace River, Fairview, Spirit River, Beaverlodge, McLennan, High Prairie, Slave Lake and Wabasca.

“We have a capacity crisis in Alberta broadly. It’s felt most acutely in rural Alberta.”

He believes there’s many trained personnel that are not working in industry, due to credentialing criteria.

“We have thousands of foreign trained health care workers in Alberta right now and given the state of play in health care, we need a way to get them on board as quicky as possible, obviously responsibly, but quickly as possible,” he added it is critical.

Toews other priorities include expanding health care profession seats in post-secondary institutions and trying to get AHS to a more de-centralized decision making model.

“Highly centralized models disengage frontline people. That’s what’s been happening at AHS for I believe far to long.”

He notes he’s spoken with many licensed and trained health care workers trained outside of the country that have not been able to get a residency or internship in their home province, and have to do so elsewhere.

Making life more affordable

MLA Toews was the former Finance Minister and is proud that he was the person that suspended the fuel tax at the gas pumps earlier this year, which has been mentioned many times throughout his campaign.

He says if he’s to become Premier, he will make that program permanent.

“Albertans can benefit from their own resource, so every time energy prices go up high, that fuel tax can be suspended and come off.”

The GDL program would be cancelled under a Toews Premiership along with a Child Tax Credit where relief would come to parents based on each household.

Gun Licensing Take Over From Ottawa

Toews says he wants to take back control of gun ownership and rights if he were to be Premier.

He says since appointing a Chief Firearms Officer in the province it’s been positive.

“By doing that Alberta has a lot more direction over the use of firearms and the tone for firearms users.”

“But right now the licensing process, transfer process… all of that administrative process is conducted out of Ottawa and they’re failing, timelines are far to long.”

He wants the responsibility to become one for our Chief Firearms Officer.

“We believe this is something that is very doable and we can administer the program far more efficiently, ensure that gun owners issues are dealt with and bring an Alberta perspective to it all.”

Toews notes he does not know of any other provinces or territories that have done the same as what he intends to do.

Previous Experience an Asset

When asked what he believes he has done better than other hopefuls running for the leadership, he responded with his examples of past duties and successes as Finance Minister, along with the help of Albertans.

“We’ve taken a province that was really, in the middle of a fiscal train wreck and brought the province to fiscal responsiblity with balanced budgets through the fiscal plans.”

He says Alberta is expected to lead the nation in economic growth this year and next, “there’s some good things going on!”

“I believe Alberta needs a strong, principled, proven leadership… I think that’s absolutely essential.”

“We are going to need leadership in our United Conservative Party that can unite the movement and be Albertans’ best option in the spring 2023 election.”