Mayor Gerald Aalbers says both MPs will have to work hard to bring the people of Lloydminster’s voices to Ottawa with a Liberal minority government in charge.
Mayor Aalbers is concerned about the divide shown in the election results. The Conservative party were voted into every seat in Saskatchewan and Alberta except for one in Edmonton. Edmonton-Strathcona voted in NDP candidate Heather McPhearson.
“The election certainly followed some division between rural and urban except the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Regina reflected differently than the cities of Toronto and Vancouver.”
He believes having no representation west of Winnipeg will present challenges in getting the voices of the Prairies heard.
“It will be difficult to get the attention of cabinet ministers and that’s concerning as the mayor. We did have some relations with the former Liberal government and the MPs that were elected in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Without having any MPs with the governing party is always challenging.”
Aalbers says it will be imperative for both MPs to bring the message to the Liberal government.
He says he feels honoured and privileged to continue working with both re-elected MPs. Shannon Stubbs was re-elected in the Lakeland riding while Rosmarie Falke is back in the House of Commons as MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster.