Although they may have to wait a few years to check a box on the ballot, local junior high students certainly didn’t shy away from the election process.
Four of the five St. Albert candidates – Wildrose’s James Burrows, Liberal Kim Bugeaud, Alberta Party’s Tim Osborne and Progressive Conservative (PC) Stephen Khan – sat before Vincent J. Maloney Catholic Junior High School students Thursday.
“I really enjoyed the candidates and they way they participated in it,” said teacher and organizer Ken Kordyback. “[Students] were excited about it and I thought the questions, a lot of them, demonstrated some serious thought and I was really proud of how they got involved.”
Students questioned candidates on a variety of topics, like health care, education, natural resources, legalization of marijuana and discrimination.
Many of these were directed at Burrows, who faced several questions in relation to the comments made by Edmonton-Southwest candidate Allan Hunsperger.
“A member of your party, Allan Hunsperger, said in a blog titled Born This Way, “you will suffer the rest of eternity in a lake of fire, hell, a place of eternal suffering” — a quote directed at the gay community,” said Justice Miller. “With all due respect, how can you stand by a man who can say something that infringes so strongly on a Canadian citizen’s rights?”
Burrows assured students that the Wildrose party would not take a stand on conscience rights — something leader Danielle Smith has vowed several times since the issue came forward last week.
He also encouraged students to recognize that Hunsperger’s words do not represent those of the party or its candidates.
“I don't personally agree with Mr. Hunsperger’s allegations of demeaning gay people,” Burrows said. “I have a member of my own family who is a gay person.”
Although the next question, directed at Khan, surrounded the possible relocation of the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s St. Albert Steel, he chose to also respond to Miller’s question.
“Being a leader and good leadership is speaking up and speaking out when somebody who’s on your side is doing something wrong,” he said. “I find it disappointing that there’s other leaders here, and I think you all know who she is, who hasn’t spoken up and said what Mr. Hunsperger said was wrong.”
A second question tied to the comments was again directed at Burrows, this time questioning Smith’s ability to lead the province after dodging media and failing to refute the comments.
“I would say that my leader has absolutely been very forthright. She’s made media access since this controversy blew up last weekend,” Burrows said. “She’s been very accessible to answer the questions regarding this controversy.”
Students discussed election issues during class time, although many have been following the issues on their own time.
“They wanted to ask meaningful questions,” Kordyback said. “They always like to ask the questions that are going to get a reaction.”
He said many students were interested in what Khan had to say, as he had coached them in sports in the past, and added current media attention surrounding the Wildrose also made that party a focus at the forum.
Grade 8 student Julia Donnelly, 13, said she enjoyed the forum and was happy to hear local candidates address important issues.
“I’m glad that the thing about the gay comment was brought up and health care,” she said.
Julia Marchand, 14, agreed, adding education is also a concern for her, which allowed her to connect with Bugeaud.
“I liked the Liberal because she brought up health care and education and she thought they were both really important so that’s what I liked about her,” she said.
St. Albert New Democrat candidate Nicole Bownes declined to attend the event and St. Albert-Spruce Grove ND candidate Rev. J.J. Trudeau was unavailable to attend in her place.
“I always respect that they are the ones that make the decisions about their campaign,” Kordyback said. “The reason we hold this is because we want to involve children early and recognize they are part of the process and I think the four candidates who showed today honoured the students by doing that.”
Kordyback said there was a handful of students interested in learning more about the ND and were disappointed that a party representative could not attend.
