Wildrose, NDP announce candidates for Edmonton-Whitemud byelection

Premier Jim Prentice has not announced where he will run in a byelection, but the race for the seat in Edmonton-Whitemud appears to be well underway.

Unelected health minister and former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel is the Progressive Conservative candidate running in the Edmonton-Whitemud byelection. The seat became vacant after interim premier Dave Hancock resigned on Sept. 12.

On Friday, two more candidates joined the race Dr. Bob Turner, a cancer treatment physician, for the NDP and Tim Grover for the Wildrose Party. Alberta Party president Will Munsey is also running.

Turner, who has worked and lived in Edmonton for the past 37 years, said part of the reason he is running is that he doesnt agree with Mandels appointment as health minister.

Jim Prentice basically named an unelected man who has absolutely no experience whatsoever in health care to become the minister of health, the most important political position that I know of, Turner said.

Im running to hold Mandels feet to the fire. I mean, what qualifies him to become minister of health?

Meanwhile, Grover said he is passionate about small businesses and said Mandel needs to be held accountable.

Im not facing the old mayor, Im facing a PC candidate, Grover said. Its that simple, and that candidate needs to answer for previous and current PC mistakes.

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said although Mandel is a cabinet minister, there are no guarantees he will get elected.

In this riding, Premier Getty did not win his seat at one point when he ran for it, Smith said. In Calgary-Elbow, as well, they elected an opposition member to send a message, so its not impossible.

Prentice will have to call a byelection by October 1 if the winning candidates are expected to be sitting in the legislature by the time the new session begins in mid-November.