If the only thing Sara Davis knows about Marie Renaud, the newly-elected MLA for St. Albert, is what was written in the St. Albert Gazette on May 9, then she is in for a surprise.
I am a member of the board of directors of the Lo-Se-Ca Foundation and have a sister who is a resident with the foundation. Marie Renaud has been the executive director of the foundation for the past 14 years. I have known her and worked with her for the past five years. I can say without reservation that Marie will be an excellent MLA because of who she is. Yes, she expressed trepidation at the notion of presenting herself as a candidate in the provincial election. To consider such a step is to make a life-changing decision, especially if you get elected.
Marie’s expression that she “is going to say a lot of really stupid things” is perhaps not the best way of saying that she is outspoken. She characteristically speaks and acts for what is right, and makes no apologies for that. In her position as executive director, she has demonstrated that time and again, even at the risk of being sanctioned by government authorities. Rest assured, Sara, that if past experience is any indication, Marie Renaud will be a strong voice and advocate for her constituents, the residents of St. Albert, in the new NDP government. How refreshing to be able to say that!
As for living in St. Albert, that is a really a no-brainer. It certainly isn’t precedent-setting. Marie lives mere minutes from the constituency, and perhaps by coincidence, she had mused about moving to St. Albert quite some time before the election which was called one year earlier than it needed to be.
Lucien (Lou) Duigou, St. Albert
