MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, Garth Rowswell is retiring after two terms representing the riding.
Given a fixed election date of Monday, Oct. 18, 2027, the sitting MLA has potentially until that date before retirement.
“I don’t think we will be trying to initiate an election before the fixed date,” said Rowswell.
Rowswell was first elected in the April 16, 2019, provincial vote.
Balance budget
“The reason I ran the first time – I wanted to balance the budget, reduce red tape and push back on the war on fossil fuels,” said Rowswell. “The budget and the red tape we were successful at. It doesn’t look like this year it’s going to work out that way.”
This month’s Alberta budget projects a $9.4 billion deficit. The UCP government plans to run deficits until 2028-29. This goes against its fiscal rules that prohibit deficits for more than three fiscal years straight.
Previously, the UCP government delivered a surplus of $8.3 billion in fiscal 2024-25, and a $4.1 billion deficit in 2025-26.
Files outstanding
Rowswell said he was unable to get funding for Lloydminster’s new arena from Alberta.
“Relative to Lloydminster, I was unable to get funding for the Cenovus Hub. I have still got a chance. There is one more budget,” quipped the MLA. “I haven’t been successful to date, so I don’t know if I will be able to bring that one to fruition.”
The issues of the day will remain top of mind, noted Rowswell.
Accomplishments
Under accomplishments, Rowswell lists getting the rules in place to allow medical file sharing between the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan where Lloydminster is concerned.
“We passed the legislation in 2020, but it took until 2025 to get the regulations in place to allow it to happen. There have been a few selective practitioners that are testing the system right now and then it will be wide open for everybody,” said Rowswell.
The MLA also worked on getting nurse practitioners to have an increased scope of practice and able to open their own clinics.
“If I’m going to take credit for something, that’s one I’ll take.”
There are four nurse practitioners in Vermilion with one having their own clinic.
Next is the opening of the renal dialysis unit in Lloydminster, with Alberta putting in $6.2 million and Saskatchewan providing a location.
“We got the money and then the location changed. Then we needed more money.”
On the health file, Rowswell noted “there have been a lot of changes.”
“I like where we are headed, so I can check that one off my list,” said the MLA, who continues to work with the parliamentary secretary for rural health while liaising with primary care networks as well as recruitment and retention committees.
Rowswell listed support for local non-profits, community groups getting funding allocations, work on government committees and province-wide tours and reviews which resulted in legislation being passed.
“We reviewed property rights in Alberta. There were a few things that came out of that. Squatters’ rights got cancelled. We were the only province that still had squatters’ rights and now that’s gone.”
The Property Rights Statues Amendment Act was designed to safeguard private property rights by ensuring landowners aren’t required to constantly monitor their land to avoid adverse possession claims.
Going forward, Rowswell sees “the issues of the day” as remaining core matters for his successor.
“And there will be lots of new ones – the ones I don’t even know about yet, probably will be the ones that the new person will be left with.”
Rowswell noted he has been advocating for coal mines, and he will continue to work on that, but it could be a project for the new MLA to pursue.
