With an expected election call next spring, the New Democratic Party has candidates ready in both local constituencies and they're eager to at least bring forward the party's message.
Nicole Bownes, the NDP candidate for the St. Albert constituency, says she has no illusions, or hopes of a stunning or surprising come-from-behind win.
"I am doing it because I believe although the NDP does not have a shot of winning St. Albert in this election they may at some point in the future have a chance."
Bownes said it is important for the party to build support gradually and to present the party's views.
"I am doing it so they can gather their support there and so that they have a base of supporters to work with when that time comes," she said. "It is because of my commitment to the NDP that I am willing to do that."
Bownes said she will take media requests and appear at campaign forums, but she doesn't plan to do any door knocking in the constituency.
Bownes, a nurse who also worked with the United Nurses of Alberta in labour relations, said her primary reason for the political involvement is healthcare.
"I am a registered nurse and I believe in publicly funded and delivered healthcare and education and that is what motivated me."
She said she fears that left unchecked, the Progressive Conservatives would move to privatize healthcare.
"It has already happened to a certain extent in healthcare. There are parts that are privatized and the longer that we have a Conservative government I believe the risk increases."
Spruce Grove-St. Albert
Rev. J.J. Trudeau, who will run for the party in Spruce Grove-St. Albert, the new name for the Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert riding that becomes effective with the next election, also knows she faces an uphill challenge, but said anything is possible.
"One doesn't go into this, one would hope, thinking about losing."
Trudeau said even making inroads and expanding the party's vote would be a victory in and of itself.
A Lutheran minister at Holy Name parish in Devon, Trudeau said she feels the concerns of many Albertans don't register in the corridors of power.
"I don't think many Albertans are being represented and I don't feel that either provincially or federally my voice is being heard."
Trudeau, who lives on an acreage in Parkland County close to the riding boundaries, is concerned about how the province is treating the less fortunate.
"I can't believe that with this weather changing that there are people who are outside living on the streets and it is only going to get worse."
Trudeau has been a minister for 20 years and earned a bachelor's degree at the University of Alberta before getting a Masters in Divinity at Wilfred Laurier University in Ontario.
She said she also wants to see more candidates bring a thoughtful approach to the political debate.
"I would like to see people in government who actually listen, not only to one another, but also to the people," she said. "I think the whole language of debate has degenerated, so I would like to see the English language used in more representative ways."
Note: In an earlier version of this story, the NDP candidate for Spruce Grove-St. Albert was identified as Rev. Bev Trudeau, which is the name that was provided by the provincial NDP office. In fact, the candidate's name is Rev. J.J. Trudeau. The Gazette regrets any confusion this may have caused.
