Laurie Blakeman, Liberal MLA for Edmonton Centre announced this week she’ll be seeking the leadership of the Alberta Liberal Party (ALP) when David Swann steps down later this year.
Over the past year, Blakeman said a number of her friends and supporters have moved to the Alberta Party and at one point, it was thought Blakeman herself would seek the leadership of the party.
“It has become apparent that, at least for now, the Alberta Party is not interested in the kind of collaboration I had in mind,” Blakeman said in a statement last week.
“This has reinforced for me that our best vehicle for real progressive change in Alberta, for moving forward on building the Alberta that so many of us are striving for, is the ALP and the Official Opposition caucus.”
Blakeman said she entered politics to change the world and to champion her vision for Alberta as passionate, kind, prosperous and well managed with vibrant urban centres.
“Where I’d like to take us once the leadership race is actually happening is to recognizing Alberta as a modern, urban province and certainly folks living in St. Albert would understand that. They’re not living in the middle of a wheat field — they live in a city,” Blakeman said Friday.
She also said the relationship between municipalities and the province could be strengthened.
“Particularly around funding models but also other arrangements that recognize that two-thirds of us live in cities,” said Blakeman.
First elected to the legislature in 1997, she currently serves as the Official Opposition Deputy Leader and House Leader.
She has managed several theatres in Edmonton and has also served as the executive director of the Alberta Advisory Council on Women’s Issues.
While people are very interested in current affairs these days, Blakeman said she recognizes they’re not interested in partisan politics.
“What people really want is for politicians to do their research, find the best solution to the problem and do it,” she said.
Addressing the Liberals’ recent results in the polls — the party stands at 22 per cent popularity in polling — Blakeman said it could be worse.
“We’re not at the top of our powers by any means but we’re still registering at 22 per cent at the polls,” she said.
“That’s better than a kick in the butt with a frozen boot.”
Blakeman said she was encouraged by the possibility of real change coming to Alberta’s political landscape.
“I’m encouraged by the number of women that are interested in running for leadership positions and the support that they’re getting from Albertans,” she said.
“I think it’s a really interesting time and I think the beneficiaries of that is going to be Albertans.”
