A Calgary-based energy executive is the third person to put his name forward as leader of the Alberta Party.
Chris Tesarski, who has previous involvement with both the Conservative and Liberal parties of Alberta, said he’s been a “student of politics” for quite some time.
After attending a policy conference last year, Tesarski said many of the Alberta Party’s ideas resonated with him.
“I think Albertans are getting very tired of politics and politicking. They want to be governed differently. I believe the Alberta Party gives us that opportunity. I truly believe they have a voice that needs to be heard,” Tesarski said Thursday while hosting a sparsely attended information session in St. Albert.
He said he chose St. Albert as a stop on his tour because his wife, Audrey Van Domselaar, is originally from here.
Tesarski joins current Hinton Mayor Glen Taylor and Tammy Maloney in the Alberta Party leadership race.
As part of his 12-point plan released earlier this month, Tesarski said he would like to see the province transition from using coal to natural gas for its electricity by 2020.
He also promotes establishing a $50-billion dollar fund by 2031 for post-secondary education, long-term beneficial capital and the development of “Made in Alberta” industries.
“We need to get to the point where Alberta is creating products and goods and services which it is then able to export to other jurisdictions. I think that is critical to our success as a party but also to the success of the province, especially in the energy industry,” Tesarski said.
“We have to understand that a lot of small Alberta service companies, a lot of small junior emerging oil and gas companies actually underpin the economy quite significantly.”
Tesarski said he also recognizes the importance of business, specifically small business, and the role it plays in a strong economic future in the province.
“(And) a future for Alberta that doesn’t just go to the next headlines, doesn’t just go to the next election, but it’s a 50-year plan,” Tesarski said.
Several of Tesarski’s plans stretch 50 years into the future.
Noting that both education and health care “are critical,” Tesarski said he supports stable funding for the province’s public and separate school systems but would promote a move away from charter schools.
“(We’ve) got to get away from ‘just because this doesn’t quite work for me, we’ve got to start a new school,’” he said.
In agriculture, Tesarski said he would curb the use of imported agricultural products that could be grown here.
“If the farmers are producing it, if they’re growing it and it’s here in Alberta, we need to support that industry,” he said.
“I see certainly communities like St. Albert in this area could be critical to that regional food distribution concept, where we live by that 100-mile limit on food and we begin to eat healthier, locally,” said Tesarski.
He is the currently president and CEO of Sandbox Energy Corp., a junior oil and gas exploration and production company based in Calgary.
