Former Progressive Conservative MLA Jack Hayden has won the nomination for the party for the upcoming provincial election.
Hayden, who ran against County of Stettler councillor Greggory Jackson and Drumheller’s Ed Mau, was declared the victor after the party vote on Saturday, March 21.
Hayden, who formerly served the County of Stettler as reeve and councillor, was first elected to the legislature in a by-election to replace deputy premier Shelly McClellan, who retired alongside premier in 2007, winning the riding in his own right the next year, serving until the election in 2012, where he was defeated by Rick Strankman from the Wildrose Party.
His previous experience in the municipal and provincial governments, as well as a stint first as director of the central district of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties, then as president, means he brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, Hayden said.
“I’m really excited,” he said. Though an election hasn’t been called, since the ascension of Jim Prentice to premier in September 2014, the expectation of an election has loomed overhead.
Hayden, 64, resides on the family farm near Endiang, and is a husband, father and grandfather. During his time as MLA, he served in three cabinet positions: infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism, parks and recreation.
Hayden referred to his own record during his term — in which the riding saw the construction of new seniors’ lodges, schools, community halls and fire stations — and said the area has received “next to nothing” since 2012. He said local communities could achieve more with “proper representation.”
The issue of provincial roads and highways are “hugely important” but acknowledged that with 85 per cent of the province’s population living in urban centres, their needs carry a significant amount of weight. He also noted that many of the county roads were built to carry three-ton trucks and must be rebuilt to withstand modern traffic.
The possibilities of a provincial sales tax and a progressive income tax are two taxes the government would have to consider going forward if the books are expected to balance,
Hayden noted at one of the candidate debates In 2002, Hayden was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and two years later was appointed by then-Prime Minister Martin to represent rural and remote Canadian communities on the Prime Minister’s External advisory committee on Cities and Communities.
The report was completed under Prime Minister Harper’s government in 2006.