Doug Griffiths, MLA for Battle River-Wainwright announced Tuesday he is running for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party.
Griffiths made the announcement at McKay Avenue School in downtown Edmonton, where Alberta’s first legislature session began on March 6, 1906.
“It is a humbling experience to stand before you today in this place to announce that I will be seeking the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta,” he said.
Griffiths, 38, said he had resigned as parliamentary assistant for the Department of Finance and Enterprise.
He described himself as both a fiscal conservative and environmental conservationist and said he wants to build a better Alberta for his two sons.
“It is essential that we stop arguing about who and what we are and begin the public discussion to fully realize all that we can become,” Griffiths said.
“It is imperative that we stop focusing on what we can get because we are Albertans and turn our attention to what we can build because we are Albertans.”
Griffiths said his campaign would focus on five key areas: education from kindergarten to post secondary; land stewardship and environmental issues; reforming government and empowering employees; collectively develop solutions to health care and reinvigorating the Progressive Conservative party.
When pressed on health care reform, Griffiths said the government has often “come up with what we think should be the solution,” and added there was a need for doctors, nurses and universities to be included in the discussions.
The first step, he said, is realizing there is no quick fix to heath care.
Griffiths also said his campaign would fully utilize social media, including Facebook and Twitter and that he would do everything he could to get the 18- to 40-year-old demographic to vote.
He also played down any rivalry between Edmonton and Calgary.
“There is no north versus south, no city versus city, no rural versus urban. There is no win-lose scenario. There is only win-win, as one team together, or there is lose-lose for all of us.”
Griffiths is well known for saying that Albertans should discuss introducing a sales tax.
On Tuesday, he said he doesn’t want a sales tax but wants Albertans to “consider all options and figure out what we want for our children.”
He was first elected as an MLA at age 29 in a byelection and was the youngest MLA to serve the province. He was subsequently re-elected for a second term in 2004 and for a third term in 2008.
Asked about his lack of experience in cabinet, Griffiths pointed to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, both of whom had not been elected prior to serving in their current roles.
“I don’t have cabinet experience, but I have extensive experience elsewhere,” Griffiths said.
He said every dollar donated to his campaign would be fully disclosed both during and after the campaign.
Griffiths also said he would not “slag, demean or attack” any other candidate seeking the leadership position.
He joins MLAs Ted Morton and Doug Horner, both of whom have announced their intention to seek the leadership position in recent weeks.
