The provincial election is 16 days away and Lakeland mayors are getting ready to see which direction the province will go. Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland is one municipal leader who is excited to see what an election will bring. He says oil and gas decisions should be on voters minds when they head to the polls.
“There are billions of dollars that are waiting on the sidelines that aren’t investing in Alberta. We have got to figure out how we’re going to get a pipeline built in this country.”
The oil and gas industry isn’t the only area Copeland would like to see more government focus put on. He says work on Highway 28 has been a high priority for a while now.
“Especially when the oil patch comes back in a hard way. We have no passing lanes, nothing like that. That highway is crumbling apart.”
Copeland also says he hopes either a new government or existing one opens up funding for community hospitals. He says new schools in Cold Lake would be a request to the new MLA. No matter which side of the issues residents are on, Copeland says the most important thing to do is take the time to vote.
“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. I encourage everyone to get out and vote. This is an important election.”
All-candidates forums are being held across the Lakeland in the first two weeks in April. The provincial election is set for April 16th.