Still reeling from last week's victory, Cochrane's first MLA – Pete Guthrie of the UCP – is hitting the pavement and said he is committed to advocating for Airdrie-Cochrane's interests at the legislature.
"I've made career changes before so I know about steep learning curves and what that takes," said Guthrie, 50, an engineer by trade with a mixed background in small business, agriculture and forestry.
With the top voter turnout in the province, at 83 per cent, Guthrie was "overwhelmed" by the support and record turnout; this equates to a total of 28,533 in the Airdrie-Cochrane riding heading to the polls out of the eligible 34,366 voters.
Guthrie said he is wasting no time in rolling up his sleeves to get busy working for the riding. He has already met with Mayor Jeff Genung (the day after the election) and will be meeting with Mayor Peter Brown of Airdrie (who will also be working with UCP MLA Angela Pitt) and Reeve Greg Boehlke of Rocky View County – after he returns from his Edmonton trip this week to the Legislature for training.
"Naturally, the first order of business is the 1A/22 intersection," said Guthrie, who has no knowledge of whether or not he is being eyed for one of Premier-designate Jason Kenney's cabinet positions, with the swearing-in to take place April 30.
Guthrie explained that he felt he wasn't getting answers set in stone throughout his campaign run – 20 months in total including his vie for the riding leadership – regarding the status of the 1A/22 intersection.
"If it is on capital list and it is as far along as (the NDP) said it is, it will continue ... if it's not then I've got a lot of work to do," said Guthrie, with respect to the 2017 announcement and celebration that the long-awaited intersection would be funded by the outgoing government, although the project still remains in the design stages and will not be funded until the design is complete.
He said he looks forward to working with the new Minister of Transportation to get a firm answer.
What Guthrie is also cognizant of is the need to address water licensing issues to address long-term planning for the riding.
"We only have water for 40,000 people and there are plans to develop for far more than that," said Guthrie, who is supportive of long-term planning measures to address this.
It's a sentiment that Genung agreed with, following a Tuesday night (April 24) presentation by Rick Deans, manager of infrastructure for the town, on Cochrane's water licensing situation and the unanimous vote by council to redirect $110,000 in funds out of reserves to develop a water strategy.
"The vocal discussion has been around traffic, but I think we need to be putting as much effort into our water strategy as traffic," said Genung, adding that he will look to the MLA-elect to also push for the desired roundabouts at Centre Avenue and Fifth along Highway 1A as interim traffic solutions in lieu of the long-term plans to twin Highway 1A.
Genung did stress that residents should know the town would never allow for more homes to be built than what the water license – which was extended to 40,000 from 30,000 by employ of water conservation techniques – could sustain.
"There's never going to be a situation in Cochrane that you go turn on your water tap and it's not there," said Genung, reassuring that the town may plan for a population that exceeds the 40,000 but development permits would not be issued for more than that until the water issue achieves resolve.
Genung, who shook Guthrie's hand "the second he was elected," is thrilled to have a local resident in the legislature and believes this will serve the town well to have one of its own front and centre and commended Guthrie for his "strong work ethic" throughout the campaign.
Genung also said that achieving long-term sustainable funding in place of the MSI funding that comes to an end by 2021 is top of mind. While he said he understands the province isn't a well of money, municipalities across the province are advocating for sustainability to help planning and growth – not unlike what large cities like Calgary and Edmonton have in place.
Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards is also confident that Guthrie's varied background will serve the constituency now. The three-term MP will now be working with three UCP MLAs within the federal riding – Angela Pitt of Airdrie-East (the bulk of Airdrie) and Miranda Rosin of Banff-Kananaskis.
"Congrats to Peter on a well-run and well-organized campaign ... and to Jason Kenney for becoming the next pmiranbdaremier," said Richards, who is seeking re-election this fall and added that he is "always happy to have more conservatives to work with."
Richards said with a focus on the economy and pipelines, he believes it will be his job – as far as working with Guthrie – to champion the region as a great place to do business through advocacy for lower taxation and less red tape.
"Government needs to get out of the way ... (to) make the field clear for employers to come in," said Richards, adding that he sees tremendous value in fostering "entrepreneurial spirit" as a politician, including building on the tech hub that Cochrane is becoming with giants like Garmin based in town.
Guthrie said he will also keep his finger on the pulse of topics such as 24-hour health care eventuality and education – stressing that the curriculum rewrite will "not be scrapped" and only paused for "proper parent and stakeholder consultations."
He said he will look to community groups and stakeholders for consultations to inform what he will take to the legislature.
"I congratulate Mr. Guthrie on his win and wish him well as the new MLA," said outgoing Banff-Cochrane MLA Cam Westhead, who lost his seat to Rosin in the new riding of Banff-Kananaskis, thanking his volunteers and supporters for their hard work and commitment.
Results overview
The total provincial voter turnout of 71.1 per cent (or 1,880,508 voters) was the highest since 1935, which drew 81.8 per cent (when the total population in the province was in the 700,000s).
Guthrie learned quickly of his win on the evening of April 16, as he was welcomed into the open arms of celebrating conservatives and volunteers (some 250 helped out with his campaign) at Half Hitch Brewery.
Finishing with 18,851 votes to NDP Steve Durrell's 7,195 the win is considered a sweep, falling in line with the 63 seats won by the UCP and 55.12 per cent of the popular vote to the NDP's 24 seats.
Vern Raincock of the Alberta Party finished with 1809 votes; next was Danielle Cameron with the Alberta Independence Party with 347 votes; and finally Matthew Morissey of the Freedom Conservative Party with 331.
For more results visit electionsalberta.ca.
