Albertans frustrated by lack of attention
Last Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 | 11:07 AM ET
CBC News
"I think it's outrageous," said Lynn Ingram, a Calgarian waiting in line at the post office. "This province is a powerhouse in Canada and they should be here."
Harris was in Edmonton on the weekend, calling for improvements to elder care and introducing the candidates running in the region.
Otherwise, the party leaders have so far focused their attention on so-called battleground areas – that is, not on areas where the outcome is reasonably secure. There is little doubt that Alberta will again elect Conservatives in almost every riding.
In 2004, the Tories took 26 of 28 Alberta seats.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is likely to visit Alberta in the next two weeks, said Stephen Carter, spokesperson for the party in Alberta. But Harper is focused on areas where he can make a difference.
"Stephen Harper best serves the party by being in Ontario and Quebec because, at the end of the day, being in Alberta is not going to win us the government, and that's what this is about," Carter said.
An NDP spokesperson said Jack Layton's time is better spent in areas where the party holds some seats, but the leader hopes to make a stop in Alberta next week.
A Liberal spokesperson said Leader Paul Martin is committed to travelling Canada as completely as possible and that he hopes to make Alberta part of that tour.
