Edmonton-Gold Bar

Edmonton-Gold Bar is a provincial electoral district on Edmonton's east side, taking in a collection of mature neighbourhoods along the North Saskatchewan River valley. The riding includes Gold Bar, Capilano, Bonnie Doon, Strathearn, Holyrood, Ottewell, Forest Heights, Terrace Heights, Fulton Place, and several other communities that range from older bungalow-lined streets to pockets of newer infill development. Marlin Schmidt first won the seat for the NDP in 2015, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative MLA David Dorward in a result that reflected the province-wide orange wave. Heading into 2019, Schmidt faced a rematch with Dorward, now running under the United Conservative Party banner — their third head-to-head contest following Dorward's initial 2012 win and Schmidt's 2015 upset.

Candidates

Marlin Schmidt (NDP) — Schmidt holds a master of science in applied environmental geosciences from the University of Tubingen in Germany and a bachelor of science from Queen's University. Before entering politics, he worked for over a decade in site remediation, including a seven-year stint with Alberta Environment as a soil and groundwater contamination specialist. First elected in 2015, he served as Minister of Advanced Education in the Notley government.

David Dorward (United Conservative) --- A chartered professional accountant holding the FCPA and FCA designations, Dorward earned credentials from both the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and the University of Alberta. His political career included representing Edmonton-Gold Bar as a Progressive Conservative MLA between 2012 and 2015, during which time he held the Associate Minister of Aboriginal Relations portfolio in the Prentice cabinet. He was also recognized for community engagement, including coaching youth basketball programs locally.

Diana Ly (Alberta Party) — Ly ran as the Alberta Party candidate in the riding under leader Stephen Mandel.

Steve Kochan (Liberal) --- Running under the Liberal banner, Kochan was the party's standard-bearer in the riding.

Tanya Herbert (Green Party) — Herbert ran as the Green Party candidate in the riding.

Vincent Loyer (Alberta Independence) — Loyer ran as the Alberta Independence Party's candidate in the riding.

Local Issues

The Valley Line LRT construction was the most visible local issue during the NDP government's term. Construction on the southeast segment of the line, running from downtown to Mill Woods, began in earnest in 2016 and brought major disruptions to communities along the route. The Bonnie Doon LRT stop began construction in May 2017, and residents along 83 Street endured torn-up sidewalks, noise, dust, and unpredictable detours through 2017 and 2018. Lane closures around the Bonnie Doon traffic circle added to commuter frustration. While the $1.8-billion project — funded jointly by the city, province, and federal government — promised improved transit connectivity, its construction timeline slipped after crews discovered a large concrete mass nine metres below the North Saskatchewan River during bridge construction in spring 2018.

Infrastructure renewal in the riding's mature neighbourhoods was also a concern. Many of the communities within Edmonton-Gold Bar were developed in the 1950s and 1960s, and aging water and sewer lines, crumbling sidewalks, and deteriorating roads prompted calls for accelerated neighbourhood renewal. The City of Edmonton's Capilano neighbourhood renewal project was one such initiative under development.

The broader provincial economy weighed on the riding as well. The oil price downturn had affected employment and household incomes, and the NDP government's carbon tax and minimum wage policies were debated among the riding's mix of working-class and professional households. Schmidt's record as Advanced Education Minister, including the NDP's tuition freeze for post-secondary students, attracted attention given the riding's proximity to the University of Alberta campus.