OLDS – UCP candidate Tara Sawyer says supporting and advocating for the region’s agricultural producers will be one of her priorities should she be elected.
A farmer and business owner, Sawyer has led both the Alberta Grain Growers and Grain Growers of Canada.
“I do think that’s a strength I bring,” she told the Albertan. “I think the provincial government has a good handle on agriculture and I’m looking forward to bringing insight to those conversations.
“I’ve spent years leading on (agricultural) issues that matter to rural Alberta and I’m ready to take that experience to the Legislature to stand up for our communities.”
Sawyer is running in the June 23 byelection to replace former UCP MLA Nathan Cooper, who has been appointed as Alberta’s representative in Washington, D.C.
Asked where she stands on the issue of possible Alberta separation from Canada, she said, “I understand there’s some frustration out there but at the end of the day what I think is important is having a united Canada but a strong Alberta.
“Speaking to the people, they want to have a strong Alberta and they want to see us pushing back. The status quo is no longer okay with what the federal government is doing.
“I’m excited to be able to help any way I can to keep the strong Alberta that we have. I believe in this province.”
Helping address affordability issues going forward would also be a priority, she said.
“Mostly people are just concerned about their families and how they are going to continue to be able to support them and what are we going to do to help them,” she said.
She said supports the reforms of the Alberta health care system now underway.
“I think it is a positive that we’ve broken it down into four different ministers to oversee that and to have some accountability,” she said.
Regarding education, she said she is in support of Smith government plans to implement new age-appropriate book standards and policies in Alberta schools starting in the 2025-26 school year.
“People are concerned about protecting their children and I do think that is important,” she said.
During a UCP town hall-style meeting held in Olds late last month, Sawyer said she would work to find solutions to Chinese tariffs on Alberta agricultural products.
“Half of the problem with that tariff is the lack of movement on trying to fix that issue with China,” she said. “(If elected) I can say, ‘Now we have a government here who is fighting for us.’ I want to be part of that conversation to represent this constituency.”
