UCP leader Jason Kenney and NDP leader Rachel Notley and other party leaders will debate tonight from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. (Canadian Press)
Alberta election
Kenney is dogged by accusations of allying with far-right, anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups.
Analysis
By Ted Alcuitas
Eleven years after Alberta elected its first Filipino member to the legislature in 2008, two Pinoys are hoping to make it on April 16 when Albertans go to the polls.
Cesar Cala is running for the NDP at Calgary East and Marjorie Newman is running for the United Conservatives Party (UCP) for Edmonton-Glenora.
Both are neophytes in the political arena but are hopeful they can make a difference in the Alberta political landscape.
Cala says his campaigns doing well with a significant number of Filipinos and other cultural communities volunteering with the campaign. He sent this email in response for a request to comment:
We are hopeful that the positive responses we are getting in our door knocking and campaign activities will translate to actual votes come election day and in the advanced voting happening on April 9-13 in advance voting polls from 9am to 8pm.
What we are hearing during our door knocking and interactions with voters are their concerns about maintaining the gains on education, keeping healthcare accessible to all Albertans and diversifying the economy so that we can benefit from other income sources and generate more jobs.
Newman did not respond to our request at posting.
Advanced polls is on April 9 – 13 from 9 AM – 8 PM.
Alberta elected its first Filipino MLA in 2008 when Conservative Carl Benito won the riding of Mill-Woods. He served for one term and did not win a nomination after running as an independent in 2013.
Benito is currently facing allegations of immigration fraud.
The UCP has been accused of coddling far-right groups and a number of its candidates have resigned following the allegations.