Although it’s election time in the Yellowhead riding, it’s unclear if anyone’s even noticed.
The 51°µÍø has done its best to provide the community with the information it needs to make an informed decision Nov. 17, but there has been few other opportunities to hear from the candidates, or to even see them in the flesh.
This has not been due to a lack of effort. In fact, the 51°µÍø attempted to organize an all-candidates forum for Nov. 10. We had three candidates confirm; Mayor Richard Ireland as a moderator; the Jasper Legion booked as a venue and Marianne Garrah and Dave Baker lined up to livestream the event.
Everything was coming together. But we couldn’t get two candidates to attend. There were scheduling conflicts for both Libertarian candidate Cory Lystang and Conservative candidate Jim Eglinski.
The Hinton Voice ran into similar issues, as did the Whitecourt Chamber of Commerce, when they each tried to host their own forums, on Nov. 3 and Nov. 8, respectively.
In fact, one candidate in particular was unavailable for each of the dates.
Jim Eglinski.
In the 51°µÍø’s case, we tried to work around Eglinski’s packed schedule and offered to change our date—despite it conflicting with our own publishing deadlines—in order to ensure Yellowhead voters had the opportunity to hear from the candidate representing the riding's most popular party.
But, despite our efforts and numerous phone calls, we never did hear back from Eglinski or his campaign manager.
Now, realistically, this could be a very easy election for Eglinski to win. With such strong Conservative support in the riding—77 per cent of voters in the 2011 federal election ticked the Conservative box—, he essentially just has to keep his head down and avoid an embarrassing gaff.
So, of course, avoiding the press and closing himself off to cross examination from his peers is a shrewd political tactic on his part.
But, shrewd or not, dodging the public is unacceptable.
If Eglinski wants to be the next Yellowhead MP, he owes it to the riding to show up and be accountable to this area and its people.
It’s not enough to spew the party line; we expect more from our representatives.
We expect a voice for the people.
If anything, Eglinski's stock answers and forum dodging prove he's unable to provide that service.
