Face time in Fort McMurray
February 15, 2008 | 09:03 AM
John Archer
I had a chance to chat with Guy Boutilier on the flight up to Fort McMurray from Edmonton on Thursday morning. But the candidate wasn't holding campaign literature or election buttons in his hand. Boutilier's hands were full with his nine-month-old son. They were on their way back after a check-up with an Edmonton pediatrician (They still have a family doc in Fort McMurray, lucky souls).
Boutilier had to make a quick change in travel plans in order to be in place for a visit from the boss Friday.
Ed Stelmach's campaign bus heads north on Highway 63 Friday morning. Boutilier confesses that he was caught a bit off guard — he found out earlier in the week from a local reporter that Stelmach was going to be in the oilsands city before the weekend.
I wondered if this was more of the communication problems that Calgary-Currie candidate Arthur Kent had talked about when he said Stelmach's handlers weren't talking to the people on the ground.
But Boutilier puts the blame on himself. Stelmach's itinerary was sent out to party contacts and the media late last week and Boutilier says he's been too busy campaigning to go through all his e-mails.
Stelmach's time on Friday will mostly be spent on his bus. It heads out from the legislature at 7 in the morning with a scheduled return of 9 in the evening. While in Fort McMurray, it's mostly photo-ops and grip-and-grins.
His 2.5 hours in town will be spent at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre at Keyano College, a local cafe and a meet-and-greet with campaign workers.
Comments: (1)
I am pleased that the CBC actually gave a well balance report of the Premier's visit. My thanks to you all.
Posted February 15, 2008 09:50 PM