The People’s Party of Canada candidate for Ponoka-Didsbury is a libertarian from Mountain View County.
Larry Gratton says this is the third general election for the PPC. He adds, they have built their share of the popular vote incrementally in every election. Gratton thinks the NDP in Alberta are going to be even less of a contender or capture even less of the popular vote than the last election. He says “I’m hopeful that, you know, we had 12 percent last time and actually Red Deer-Lacombe riding had I think over 13 percent. So I would love to see, besides seeing myself elected, I would love to see us maybe upwards of 15-20 percent – at least.” In 2021, the Conservatives and Earl Dreeshen won the Red Deer-Mountain View riding with 64.2 percent of the votes. The NDP was second at 13.9 percent and the PPC was third at 12.0 percent.
For Alberta to be respect in confederation, Gratton believes they have to get Alberta representation in Ottawa that holds the balance of power. He says “it was almost achieved with the Reform Party a few years ago. I think a mistake was made in reuniting the right – reuniting with the Conservatives basically – and forming the United Alternative Party which basically dissolved and was absorbed back into the Conservative Party, but that was closest and best attempt so far to have true Alberta representation.”
While Gratton notes the platforms, the policy items of the People’s Party of Canada and the United Party of Canada are quite similar he does highlight one of the differences. Gratton says “I’m going to say we’re more practical. We’re going to achieve equality and sovereignty for Alberta by bringing the federal government back into its constitutional place and out of the business of the provinces.”
Gratton says his resume includes 45 years as an Advanced Care Paramedic and as a manager for the City of Calgary and the provincial heath authority. Gratton adds, he has been working with the PPC as a Riding Director for a few years, prior to this election.
All candidates running in the Ponoka-Didsbury constituency were offered the opportunity to share more information about themselves and their platforms.
Tell us about yourself?
I am a husband, father of 5 grown children and grandfather to 15. My wife Petrina and I reside on the family farm now operated by our son in Mountain View County.
I have a trade, I ran a small business, raised some cattle, worked for large and small companies and have worked for 45 years as an Advanced Care Paramedic and as a manager for the City of Calgary and the provincial health authority.
I have been working with the PPC as a Riding Director for a few years but have never been a politician. I am a libertarian and I am applying for the servant role of representing the constituents of Ponoka-Didsbury as MP.
What do you think is the most important issue for the area and why?
Cost of living. Wages, and business and farm income have not kept up to the cost of living. The hidden tax of inflation stifles everything, especially saving and disproportionately affects lower and fixed income people and families. Inflation is driven by governments through their central banks creating and printing money out of thin air and should be kept to as near to zero as possible.
Why should someone vote for you?
The Peoples Party of Canada does politics differently.
We are common sense. We are grass roots. We are principled. PPC MPs will truly represent our constituents’ values and best interests in parliament and will have the liberty to speak for their people. And in case we don’t, we believe in the principle of recall. The PPC holds the principle that the federal government needs to stay in its jurisdictional lanes, not interfere in provincial matters and certainly not work against the provinces’ prosperity. Imagine a best case scenario of a minority conservative government with a “bloc” of PPC MPs holding the balance of power, representing grass roots Canadians. The PPC will be the provinces’, especially Alberta’s, greatest allies in Ottawa.
What is your position on tariffs and the trade war?
All tariffs are paid by the consumer. So imposing tariffs on Canadians to supposedly punish the USA is cutting our nose off to spite our face. Sure there is a cost to the US economy, but their economy is so massive that the cost is easily absorbed. Our government is simply imposing a double punishment on Canadians; Increased costs for imported goods on top of decreased exports to the USA.
So I’m obviously against tariffs and especially tit for tat escalation of such. President Trump is not a class individual but he’s part of our environment now and for the next 4 years. Canadians thrive in a harsh environment. Going forward we of course should buy Canadian when possible (and always should have been) but most importantly, eliminate any and all barriers to free and open commerce within Canada. This includes building pipelines, eliminating supply management and facilitating inter- provincial trade.
