Two byelections are happening in Edmonton at the end of June — here are the UCP and NDP candidates running for a seat
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Bhardwaj said he's hearing concerns from constituents about the overwhelming need for more schools and supports in the area as Edmonton struggles to account for the mass population boom over the last few years.
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The second big issue being voiced are concerns surrounding health care. Bhardwaj said the current government is focused on Primary Care Networks in conjunction with nurse practitioners to ensure Albertans receive the necessary care.
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The former teacher said if he were elected he would use his personal experience in the education sector and knowledge as a former politician to bring those concerns to the legislature.
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'People know I'm out and about. I haven't been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs for the last 10 years,' Bhardwaj said.
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'I absolutely wanted to give back to the community from my decades of experience.'
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Brar is a rookie politician making his debut in this byelection. He was a radio and TV host for nearly 14 years. In that time he said he's heard from friends, families and constituents about concerns in the community which led him to run as the Alberta NDP Ellerslie candidate.
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'I knew sometimes there is a gap between politics and the people's real issues, and when this seat became vacant I decided to (make a change) and bring those issues into the legislature,' Brar said.
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Key issues from constituents in the riding are education and health care. He pointed to immigrant families settling into Canada with the dream of a 'world class' education system, only to be met with overcrowding in schools and lottery systems. When it comes to the longstanding issue of health care, Brar said wait times are worsening, which is contributing to the issue.
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He said both issues have worsened under the UCP government who have 'failed to take action' to fix the problems.
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Brar has lived in southeast Edmonton since 2011. He said the constituency has changed drastically over the past 14 years as the population increased and the demand for services has not been met.
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'I'll keep doing whatever (the people) expect from me and I'll make sure this happens in the legislature. This is the right time to send a message to the UCP and Danielle Smith, that their policies are not aligned with the people's needs.'
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