Here's a summary of useful things to know heading into the provincial election, including the leaders' debate and various candidate forums, as well as efforts to put Edmonton on the provincial election agenda.
Events and dates of note
- May 17, 11:30am: Provincial Candidates Forum: Leduc-Beaumont, hosted by The Chamber (Leduc, Nisku, Wetaskiwin Regions)
- May 17, 6:30pm: Provincial Election Forum: Morinville-St. Albert, organized by the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce
- May 17, 6:30pm: Provincial Election Forum: Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, organized by the Fort Saskatchewan and District Chamber of Commerce
- May 17, 7pm: Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland Provincial Candidates Forum, organized by the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber
- May 18, 6pm: Alberta Provincial Leaders Debate
- May 18, 6:30pm: Meet your Candidates Political Forum: Sherwood Park Riding, hosted by the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce
- May 18, 7pm: Drayton Valley-Devon Provincial Candidates Forum, organized by the Greater Parkland Regional Chamber
- May 19, 10am: Morning Coffee with Rachel Notley and Edmonton-area NDP candidates at the Citadel Theatre
- May 23-27: Advance voting
- May 29: Election Day
Agenda-setting and temperature-taking
- The City of Edmonton is encouraging voters to ask their candidates about Edmonton and their stance on five key issues: inclusion, housing, transportation, climate resilience, and downtown and the economy. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi included the invitation in his State of the City address.
- Inclusion Alberta held a virtual candidate forum on May 9 to discuss disability, with candidates from St. Albert and Edmonton-Rutherford in attendance.
- Alberta Municipalities held a news conference on policing and public safety on May 16 as part of the Think Alberta, Vote Local campaign.
- The Alberta Mid-Sized Cities Mayors' Caucus wants to ensure the cities outside of Edmonton and Calgary are not forgotten in the campaign. The caucus's 24 members collectively represent more than one million Albertans.
- A think tank called Generation Squeeze assessed the NDP and UCP platforms for their commitment to housing affordability and generational equity.
- The Alberta Council of Women's Shelters released a list of priority questions for candidates about what they'll do to respond to domestic violence and elder abuse. Both the NDP and the UCP promised more money for shelters on May 10.
- The Edmonton Public School Board's advocacy committee is promoting public education, mental health, school infrastructure, and funding as key election issues. CBC took a look at parents' education concerns.
- Student Vote will give students who are too young to vote a chance to practice heading to the polls in the Alberta election. St. Albert students are among those who are participating.
- CBC's Vote Compass, which allows voters to see how they align with the parties, has amassed almost 75,000 responses so far.
Election news in the Edmonton region
- Elections Alberta has released the final list of candidates.
- Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein outlined five election promises he'd like to see for Edmonton.
- The provincial government appointed two new members to the Edmonton Police Commission on the first day of the provincial election campaign, but their names won't be made public until an onboarding process is completed. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the city wasn't consulted on the appointments. Coun. Sarah Hamilton, who sits on the commission, said the timing was not ideal but isn't necessarily political. Coun. Anne Stevenson said it's important for commissioners to act in a non-partisan manner.
- Postmedia asked Sherwood Park candidates about their healthcare goals for Strathcona County.
- Windspeaker reported that fewer Indigenous candidates are running compared to the last election, but Edmonton-Rutherford and Edmonton-West Henday are two ridings in which Indigenous candidates have a good chance at winning.
- The St. Albert Gazette spoke with election officer Julius Buski about changes to the voting process this year.