Federal Election Candidate Questions

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Taber Times

As part of ongoing local coverage of the federal election campaign in Bow River, the Taber Times reached out to each candidate and asked them to provide their responses to a series of five questions relevant to the campaign. Candidates were limited in each response to a maximum of 100 words. NDP candidate Louisa Gwin did not respond to our questions by the April 21 deadline.

1) With the current economic tensions and the eyes of the world on North America, how do you feel Alberta is being portrayed on the global stage, and in your role and/or future political role, how do you plan to address this?

2) With the tariff uncertainty, what is your stance on interprovincial trade red tape reduction, and how will you address this in your platform?

3) What are two or three issues you feel are the most important to address in our riding?

4) If elected, what is your first priority on your ‘to do list’ and why?   

5) How will your party address the impacts of inflation and continuing increases in cost of living? What do you feel needs to be done to help alleviate the financial stress on families and individuals?

David Bexte
Conservative Party of Canada
1) We need to make Canada an economic fortress, and ensure we are self-reliant. The Conservative plan includes breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, implementing a Bring it Home Tax Cut to lower costs and boost our economy, and repeal anti-energy laws. Further, we plan to introduce a Canada First TFSA Top-Up, allowing Canadians to contribute an extra $5000 to invest in Canadian companies, and the Canada First Reinvestment Tax Cut which will remove capital gains taxes if they invest in Canada. We will work to diversify our export markets, advocate for an accelerated renegotiation of the Canada-U.S Mexico trade deal and propose pausing tariffs during talks and prioritize keeping Canadians working by launching the ‘Keep Canadians Working Fund’ which will provide temporary support to businesses impacted by American tariffs. The Liberals have weakened our economy, it is time for a government that will put Canada First, for a change.

2) I’ve lived here my whole life, and in recent weeks have been travelling the riding talking with residents from all over Bow River. I’m hearing that people are ready for change, essentials such as gas, groceries and housing are becoming more expensive, they’re tired of a government that has ignored rural Canada, attacked hunters, and our way of life. Alongside Pierre Poilievre, I’m excited to axe the taxes, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime.

3) My top priorities if elected will be to: Repeal anti-energy legislation like Bill C-69 and C-48.

Create a Canada First National Energy Corridor. Axe the carbon tax for everyone, for real and for good. Create a ‘One and Done’ rule for resource projects which is a one stop shop with one application and one environmental review. This will provide immediate relief to residents, and ensure we build a self-reliant Canada.

4) Bexte did not provide a response to Question 4.

5) It is clear from the discussions I’ve had with people across the riding that they are struggling to make ends meet. We will axe the carbon tax, for good, for everyone, and this will assist immediately with making essentials such as gas, and groceries more affordable. Some of what we will do includes: Bring it Home tax cut, which will cut income taxes by 15 per cent so the average worker can keep an extra $900 a year. Axe the federal sales tax on new homes up to $1.3 million. Bring in the Canada First Reinvestment Tax Cut to reward Canadians who reinvest their earnings back into our country.

Tom Lipp
Christian Heritage Party of Canada
1) I love Alberta! We have a history of strong self-reliance and entrepreneurship. We must act decisively within Canada and cannot continue to be effectively ignored by the Laurentian elite who have poisoned our country. We must get our products into global markets via pipelines, rail and road. Our high tech and tourism/film industry continue to grow. We should put small modular reactors into those locations where coal plants were decommissioned to use existing infrastructure and to export power. Alberta does not have a self-image problem.

2) To survive global markets, Canada must drop all interprovincial trade/transport barriers. Sadly during the last sixty years under the influence of the Laurentian elite, yet with our passivity, Canada has been destroyed and undermined from within.  If we consume Quebec dairy products, they must consume or at least transport our oil and gas products. This also affects educational barriers. It is ridiculous that the red seal trade certificate is recognized in every province except Quebec where they have their own blue seal for the same skill set. The Master said, “A nation divided against itself cannot survive.”

3) Bow River has three economic pillars: agriculture, oil /gas, and food processing. We must get our products to market. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of succession planning from family-owned farms. According to Statistics Canada, 60.5 per cent of farm operators were older than 55 in 2021. As many as 88 per cent of farmers say they have no written succession strategies in place. I will advocate for simpler transitioning of family farms. The CHP wants to strengthen families and keep wealth within families and away from globalists. We must introduce the FAIR taxation system.

4) It depends on the structure of the new government. If the CHP had a majority or the balance of power we would (1) exit the World Economic Forum and World Health Organization. (2) Stop sending money to globalists and woke organizations (3) Reject all forms of climate hysteria. Carbon dioxide is good for plant life. The earth’s ecosystem self-regulates. (4) Look at the root causes of trouble in our land, largely a lack of justice. We must rediscover and enforce Justice: protection of the innocent and punishment of the guilty.

5) Government handouts are not the answer. Stop printing money. We will introduce the FAIR taxation system to take income tax to zero. Next make the government much smaller. Simplify the GST to a single national sales tax on new goods only. Even businesses would pay no income tax but only a sales tax on new goods. How we shop will determine how much tax we pay. Maximize production and optimize consumption. The CHP wants to strengthen family businesses and farms. We want movers and shakers to come and grow in Alberta. Unleashed from government red-tape, our economy will improve.

Bentley Barnes
Liberal Party of Canada
1) Canada to the top. We will become an energy super power, environmentally responsible ensuring the cleanest energy production on the planet. Alberta unfortunately is being led by UCP and Danielle Smith. It is a time to unite and be a strong partner in Team Canada. Although Smith has other ideas, most Albertans support the Team Canada approach. Maybe with the drop in the price of a barrel of oil she may see the importance of being on a team and being a team player.

2) As much as these tariffs are a disaster for the global economy, this is also an opportunity for Canada to strengthen the unity between provinces. We should look at interprovincial trade while respecting the deals that are in place. If all parties agree we can move swiftly, on different contracts there may need to be more discussion. I do not know every trade deal or every reason for the regulations in place. We must respect all parties involved.

3) (a) I think addressing the tariffs with government assistance where necessary, training opportunities for Canadians and advanced training for trades, medicine, engineering and energy. Again we can take advantage of a bad trade policy to better ourselves with diversification, training, and education. (b) Canadian unity, it is time to send a different voice to Ottawa to strive to achieve the best for all Albertans while being a strong partner in Confederation. We need to send the message we are proud Canadians and want what is best for evryone. We can’t just build a pipeline to anywhere and everywhere. We must go in the direction of the trading partner. As other countries see Canada rise to an energy super power they will buy clean modern energy from Canada. (c) The need to progress with all forms of technology from drones to quantum computers. Did you know Medicine Hat, Alberta is the Drone Capital of Canada? Alberta can lead the way, Canada can lead the way.

4) If I get elected in Bow River riding as a Liberal the world will stop, every newspaper in the country will be coming to Bassano. Now I would get tickets to the conference final round between Montreal-Toronto – that’s Canadian, eh? Did you see they moved the French debate up an hour because the Canadiens have a must win game. Now that’s Canadian.

5) I know my riding has been conservative for 80 years and I don’t see things as changing because of me. I am standing up for Canada, for choice, for equality. Canada is the best country with the best opportunities for a great life. These things take work, constant hard work. Another reason I am running is Mark Carney. Mr. Carney has the skills and experience Canada needs in this period of financial crisis. Mr. Carney is also a gentleman, he has a great sense of humour, really a great sense of everything. Mark Carney is a proud Canadian, a great Canadian and I thank him for his service to Canada. As a proud Canadian I can tell you we will make it through this and we will be better than ever.

Aaron Patton
United Party of Canada
1) In my opinion Alberta is seen as a “rogue cowboy province” doing rogue cowboy things, acting upon their best interest and weighing all options that best suit the needs of its people. My approach to legislation would be in alignment with that of the United Party of Canada, in that I would pursue Alberta’s sovereignty for the ability to govern our province in a way that is best for our people, free from federal override. This would include cancelation of the equalization payments, building oil and gas, and re-allocating funds to areas of need and care for our people.

2) The best way to eliminate the tariff uncertainty is to address the reason for implementation in the first place. JD Vance has stated that the tariffs have to do with the cartels trafficking of drugs and people out of Canada into their country. Step one would be legislation that would address these corrupt organizations’ operations in our country. Step two would be pursuing provincial sovereignty that allows each province to play to their strengths in terms of economic growth, natural resource exportation, and trade.

3) We need to put forward legislation that sees parental rights restored. Total revocation of Bill c-4

 Ending equalization payments, maximizing oil and gas.

 Ending convenience abortion and the MAID program.

4) Push for the ending of equalization payments

 Repeal Bill C-69.

 Promote oil and gas exportation.

 In doing this we see our provincial economy turn around. We then have the ability to re-allocate finances to address failing system structures in our province, and provide new systems and programs that help support young families, stay at home parents, health care provisions for the elderly etc.

5) Implement  family-based tax model-(higher deductions-reduce tax burden).

 Implement “Family Tax Allowances,”- have a higher tax deduction per child, upscaling for bigger families.

 Implement tax break/incentives for stay at home parents.

 Implement child care stipends allowing parents to care for children at home and not have to rely daycare.

 Prioritize family housing initiatives by providing affordable homes for parents with kids.

 Allocate land for affordable housing development.

 Provide subsidized mortgage rates for young married couples.