News Online: MLA Doug Griffiths joins leadership race

Published online at GlobalTVEdmonton.com on February 15, 2011.


Linda Hoang, Global News: Tuesday, February 15, 2011

MLA Doug Griffiths joins leadership race

Alberta MLA Doug Griffiths announced Tuesday he will run for leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.

Griffiths, who is MLA for Battle River-Wainwright, resigned from his role as parliamentary assistant to the finance and enterprise minister and from his role with the Treasury Board.

He made the announcement at McKay Avenue School, which had once served as Alberta’s first legislature with his wife Sue by his side.

“I will be seeking leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta,” Griffiths said.

“Our campaign under my leadership will be about education first, from kindergarten to post-secondary. Secondly it will be about land stewardship and environmental issues. Thirdly it will be about reforming government and empowering government employees to build a Alberta. Fourthly it will be about collectively developing solutions to healthcare because I freely admit I don’t know the answers for healthcare. And number five, we will reinvigorate the Progressive Conservaive Party of Alberta.”

Griffiths, 38, joins former deputy premier Doug Horner and former finance minsiter Ted Morton in the leadership race.

He said Tuesday that he has been and intends on continuing using social media to interact and build an “organic organization” during his campaign, saying its been successful for politicians including U.S. President Barack Obama.

He also said he will fully disclose campaign donations and as premier would not allow the province to rack up long-term debt.

While he doesn’t have Cabinet experience, he says he has experience as a three-term legislature member.

Griffiths was first elected as an MLA in 2002. He was the youngest MLA to serve in Alberta. He is married with two young boys.

Premier Ed Stelmach will officially step down as leader of the Alberta Tories in September.

Click here to read the article on the Global Edmonton website.

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