Premier Danielle Smith speaks to supporters after her victory in the Brooks-Medicine Hat byelection. (Photo Courtesy Gates Guarin)

By Regan Tate

Provincial Politics

Premier Smith wins “nail-biter” by-election and promises to put money into Albertans wallets

Nov 9, 2022 | 7:02 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Calling it a nail biter, Premier Danielle Smith addressed supporters Tuesday evening in Medicine Hat after winning a by-election in the constituency of Brooks-Medicine Hat.

Smith came out with an early lead but at times there were about 14-hundred votes separating her and NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk.

With all 76 polls reporting, Smith picked up 6,923 votes (54.5%) followed by the Dirk with 3,393 (26.7 percent) and Barry Morishita in third with 2, 098 (16.5%). Bob Blayone with the Independence Party of Alberta picked up 225 votes while Jeevan Mangat with the Wildrose Independence Party got 56. These results are all unofficial until Nov. 18.

The win gives Smith her first seat in the Legislature since 2015.

Smith thanked the voters of Brooks-Medicine Hat for putting their faith in her indicating this is the start of something much bigger. “This is our declaration that Alberta is worth fighting for and make no mistake from what you saw from the results today, we certainly have a fight ahead of us.”

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Smith says the UCP is going to immediately get to work on patient focused health care reform, asserting our sovereignty with the Federal Government, creating more and better jobs, and addressing the high cost of living that is impacting so many in Alberta.

Smith referred to a Redcliff family with four teenagers she met while doorknocking. She says they are struggling with the sky high cost of food and gas while worrying about the upcoming winter months and how much it will cost to heat their home.

When it comes to just how she plans on addressing the affordability crisis, Smith says the “UCP government is not going to wait for the federal government to bring your cost of living down. I wish I were joking but the only solution put forward by the Trudeau Liberals to address rampant inflation is to tell you to cancel your Disney Plus subscription.”

Smith is promising that “help is on the way” and says there will unprecedented and substantial action to put money into Albertans wallets to meet the rising cost of living.

NDP candidate Gwendoline Dirk did not see her second-place finish as a negative.

“I don’t see it as disappointing at all; I am ecstatic,” Dirk said. “We have moved mountains. We have won Medicine Hat, and that is where we spend the majority of the time, speaking with citizens.”

Dirk recognized where her shortfalls may have been during the campaigning process.

“I know now that I need to break in more with the rural population and have conversations with them, because it seems like they supported us less than Medicine Hat.”

In a post on Facebook, Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said Dirk ran a fantastic campaign and that the polls showed that the NDP had earned the greatest number of votes in the Medicine Hat portion of the riding.

Alberta Party Leader Barry Morishita congratulated Smith on a hard-fought race and asked that Smith be a strong advocate for the area in the Legislature.

“I hope she understands that she’s got to be paying attention to what the needs and prospects are here and serving the community,” Morishita said.

Morishita reminded voters that the general election is is only six months away.

“We’ve got some amazing people stepping up to be candidates and the Alberta Party has a vision that is right for Alberta,” says Morishita.

“This isn’t about doing what they think is best for the people, they need to go to the people and talk about what what’s best for them,” He adds.

–With files from Gates Guarin