Donnelly would be a watchdog

Wetaskiwin-Camrose EverGreen Party candidate Mike Donnelly would stand up for Albertans if elected April 23.

"I would be a watchdog for the average Canadian whose voice does not seem to be heard," said the 43-year-old Camrose resident.

"My position would always be to listen and address the concerns of my constituents and all Canadians. We need MLAs that are out there in the communities listening to the concerns of the public and bringing them back to the legislature without the fear of retribution from their respective leaders."

Donnelly would look at all the options that are available for changing the current health care situation in the Camrose area.

"One issue I see that we have is numerous people have been seeking medical treatment outside the city," he said. "We have a limited number of clinics and I would like to find the reason why."

Donnelly does not agree with the Keystone Pipeline either economically or environmentally.

"I feel that the options of upgrading in Alberta, environmentally friendly of course, should be looked at," he said. "This would create more employment as well as lower the impact the pipeline would have running into the U.S."

Donnelly feels larger corporations need to be held more responsible for the harm they are causing the environment, and would like to see policies imposed that would force companies that are destroying the environment to restore it at their cost, without a burden to the taxpayers or consumers.

"We could possibly look back at a carbon tax which would force them (the companies) to lower emissions or pay the fees and have us restore environmental damages ourselves," he said.

"The money could be put toward exploring renewable energy sources."

Donnelly would also like to see the use of more renewable resources such as wind, solar and geo thermal.

"It has been suggested in the past that a feed-in tariff be implemented for those that want to sell renewable energy to the grid," he said. "They would be given a guaranteed price set by the government, and a guarantee they will have access to that grid. We do have the space in the province to harness this energy and it should be put to use. Farmers which have poor seasons can at least rely on a bit of backup with selling to this grid."

Donnelly feels there is a need in this election campaign to focus  more on those who choose not to go to the polls because of a 'my vote won't make a difference' attitude.

"I want to draw those people in and have them start realizing that this is our province and our voice should be heard," he said. "I am running with the slogan of Your Alberta Your Voice, which pertains mostly to a participatory government."

Donnelly feels that the EverGreen Party, which sprung up following the deregistration of the Alberta Greens after the last election, holds a lot of the same values as himself. The Party acknowledges that human beings are part of the natural world, respects the specific values of all forms of life, asserts that the key to social justice is the equitable distribution of resources to ensure that all have full opportunities for personal and social development, and strives for a democracy in which all citizens have the right to express their views, and are able to directly participate in the environmental, economic, social and political decisions which affect their lives. It feels that power and responsibility must be concentrated in local and regional communities, and devolved only where essential to higher tiers of governance, and recognizes the need to maintain biodiversity through the sustainable use of renewable resources.

"I have been following the Green Party of Canada for a number of years and believe we need to change the direction we are going in to have a sustainable economy and environment for our grandchildren's children," said Donnelly. "The Party focuses on restoration of the environment, creating a sustainable economy, restoration of community and the renewal of democracy."

Born in Ontario, Donnelly relocated to Alberta in 1999 and has been living in Camrose for the past seven years. He is presently employed as a printing press operator, an occupation in which he has 25 years of experience, as well as a part-time automotive parts and service advisor. He enjoys camping in the less developed areas of Alberta and appreciates the province's natural surroundings.